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I’ve long celebrated Mazda’s superb, do-it-all crossover the CX-5. It’s beautifully styled inside and out, taut in the corners, and comfortable for five adults. With a starting price below $27,000, it’s as affordable and satisfying as an authentic street taco.
And yet, for the first time ever, I find myself recommend the less powerful version: the base 2.5-liter. Compared to the 256-horsepower Turbo, the 2.5 is $4,000 cheaper, gets 4 additional MPG and the 15.3-gallon fuel tank lasts much longer.
So just like an authentic street taco, the base model CX-5 doesn’t necessarily need hot sauce; it’s already perfectly seasoned.
– Chris Butsch, Contributor