Mazda CX-5 test drive since 2012 crossover

Mazda in a mask

Secrets are always interesting! Therefore, the news about the next photo spios of the future serial machine is very popular. And it doesn’t matter that it is hidden in camouflage for the most do not indulge, and any information is just the fruit of someone's imagination. The main thing is that there is a subject for discussions and numerous discussions. The more unexpected was the invitation to be on the other side of the barricades!


Purpose: Mazda CX-5, or rather, its pre-production prototype. Place: Iceland Island, almost equally remote from Europe and North America. Task: to try the car on the go even before its official premiere! And at the same time, share their impressions with engineers and specialists. A good opportunity to try to make a future serial car a little better. After all, even modern machines often sin some small shortcomings in seemingly obvious moments.

Armed with cameras, we (and from Russia there were only three of the fifty journalists from around the world) went to the country of ice. However, hopes to get exclusive pictures have disappeared instantly cars glued with a black-and-white masking film, only license plates and lighting equipment remained. And the interior is assembled, as they say, on the knee. Well, well, Mazda has already published the first official photographs, so there was another secret to how she was going?


Why Iceland? The Mazdovites explained this by the fact that there are many different roads and practically no traffic. But, unfortunately, we traveled only on asphalt, and even along the ring route. And the fines for speeding here are huge! 126 km/h with permitted 90 cost one of colleagues in 325 euros! And this is with a 25 percent discount, which the local policeman kindly provided. Like, a discount for the first time ...

I can’t say that compact crossovers are being started, but I was eager to drive the wheel of CX-5! Why? Not so long ago, Mazda arranged a technical seminar in her new Skyactiv concept. For a Japanese manufacturer, this is practically a revolution, which is the cooler of which their branded rotary piston engine. You can learn about this in detail in our Skyactiv review, and if briefly, the Japanese developed completely new gasoline and diesel engines, mechanical and automatic gearboxes, and also took care of reducing body mass and chassis. And the first swallow, in which all these technologies came true, became just the CX-5. So what worked?


When the first photos of Mazda CX-5 appeared, many suggested that it would compete with Mitsubishi ASX, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Yeti. But the CX-5 is much larger! Length 4.54 m (24 cm longer ASX and 22 Qashqai), width 1.84 m (+7 and +6 cm, respectively), and wheeled base 2.7 m ( + 3 and + 7 cm, respectively) . Unfortunately, the equipped mass of the CX-5 is still kept secret, we could not recognize it

To answer this question, we had three hours of communication with engineers and the same number on a riding program. We get in the cars one at a time, on the right, one of the specialists of the company, responsible for a particular aspect of development. And writing every spoken word, simultaneously noting actions behind the wheel. Are they really going to change something in the car, which after 10 days they will represent at the Frankfurt car dealership, and six months later they will put on the conveyor?


You can’t judge the quality of the interior now, it’s better to rain the premiere in Frankfurt, since many panels are made of technological plastic, if only to cover the holes. But the design is unexpectedly conservative for Mazda. And the architecture of the front panel, a large decorative insert and climate block remind of BMW

There were four prototypes. These are two crossovers with a diesel diesel with a pen, the other with a machine gun. And two with gasoline engines. Moreover, they are in different specifications! This is the first European version on mechanics and with front -wheel drive, and the second was made specifically for Russia. Try to guess what is hidden under the body?


The prototypes are special. The car, although located at the final stage of refinement, is still experienced. Therefore, after each test, engineers read the indicators by connecting a computer, and check if there are errors. For example, on one of the cars, the i-Stop control lamp often blinked (it dramatizes the engine when stopping). By the way, I -Stop works very intelligently vibrations when starting the engine is minimal, and the operation time is 0.35 C for a gasoline engine and 0.4 for a diesel engine

It is not difficult to guess, in general. We will get CX-5 with all-wheel drive transmission, here without options. The gearbox is of course, automatic. And the engine, and here, too, without surprises, gasoline. Moreover, especially for our market, its power is reduced from 165 to 150 horses. What for? As it turned out, solely because of the binding to the transport tax. That is, the fuel has nothing to do with it.


The instrument panel is one for all versions (the CX-5 will not have different highlights depending on the configuration, such as, for example, Mazda3) and differs only in the tachometer scale (in the diesel engine it is marked up to 6). We were not allowed to use the multimedia system, referring to the fact that the test is dedicated only to running qualities. But, apparently, not everything has been debugged yet.
You can manage navigation, music and other functions with the help of a color sensory display with a diagonal of 5.8 inches, and a controller located behind the gearbox lever. Moreover, their capabilities are completely duplicated.
Everything that is below the horizontal molding on the front panel has amber backlight, and what is higher, white. What for? It turns out that the designers wanted to divide the zones. Like, everything that is directly related to driving is white, and more warm and less contrasting orange is used for secondary devices. This decision seemed strange to us. By the way, the transparent plastic of the climate control unit highlights greatly. Also the costs of the pre -production version?
All glass lifts have an automatic mode of operation (finally!), But only the driver's glass button is highlighted. Saving? The interior specialist tried to get a phrase from me: at high speed it is so easier to find his button without being distracted from the road. But why open windows at high speed?
The algorithm of the sequential mode of the automatic machine is traditional for the Mazda. From yourself down, up. Personally, this scheme seems much more convenient to me than inverted. Still, to smack reduced ones on braking is much more logical and natural. It is not for nothing that this scheme is used in motorsport precisely

The Japanese are absolutely sure of the engine with a compression degree of 14: 1 will work perfectly on our 95th gasoline. However, for the US market and Japan, the SZh was reduced to 13: 1 so that the motor could digest the 92nd without negative consequences (in the States they ride precisely on the 92nd). Strange, why not bring this unit to us? After all, ours is already deformed up to 150 forces, and the bonus in the form of the possibility of using 92nd gasoline for Russia is very relevant. The Mazdovites could not answer this question right away, but they recorded in their notebooks.


Despite the fact that the CX-7 has 5 cm longer a wheelbase than the CX-5, in the back in the five more space for the legs! And the front seats pleased with a good profile and lateral support. Machines with machine guns were equipped with electric drives and had a leather upholstery

Well, let's try our option. The two-liter engine confidently drags the CX-5 prototype from about 3 thousand revolutions, and the dynamics, according to the sensations, approximately corresponds to the level of the front-wheel drive Mazda CX-7 2.5. That is, in the region of 10-11 seconds to hundreds, which is quite enough for a car of this class. That's just the voice of the engine at the top becomes too intrusive. And it is necessary to twist it with a peak of power at 6000 rpm, and twisting at 4000 rpm. By the way, despite the loss of 15 horses at once in comparison with the European version, the moment decreased from only 210 to 208 nm.


The four-cylinder gasoline engine Skyactiv-G has a volume of 1997 cubes and direct injection. The compression degree is actually record for the serial engine 14: 1. However, the Japanese argue that no problems with detonation arises even on ordinary fuel a new control unit fights this negative phenomenon very effectively. In modification for Europe, the unit develops 165 hp. and 210 Nm. For our market, the indicators will be more modest than 150 hp. and 208 Nm. By the way, in the foreseeable future, Mazda is going to imagine a turbocharged version of this motor. True, it is still unknown whether it will appear under the hood CX-5

But if the Russian atmosphere did not become a revelation, then the machine gun was clearly a success! It not only quickly goes down, it is worth stomping over the gas pedal, but also holds the lower steps if the driver goes actively. I also liked how the box works in manual transmission mode switch quickly and smoothly. Moreover, the machine does not heated if you run into the cut-off, it will not go up, everything is honest. But the electromechanical power amplifier alerted. In the parking lot, the steering wheel is weightless and this is excellent. And with an increase in speed, it is filled with effort. However, with a strong side wind, you have to steer, while there is not enough sensitivity in the nearoral zone, you go to the touch. Write, write to your notebook!


The SkyActiv-Drive automatic (left) and the SkyActiv-Mt mechanics are fully designed in the walls of the Mazda. When asked why they did not order gearboxes from specialized firms, Masakhiro Moro, Mazda Marketing Director, said that it was so cheaper for a relatively small company. In addition, within the framework of one company, it is easier to create an unit that fully satisfies the necessary requirements. Both automatic transmission and manual transmission are available in two versions. For a gasoline engine, the limit of the transmitted torque is 270 nm, for a diesel 460 nm. Naturally, a gearbox for diesel is somewhat larger and heavier.

But on long arcs, she is a continuous pleasure, you choose the angle of rotation of the steering wheel accurately. It is a pity that there were no slow hairpins on our route, because according to the first impressions of the chassis, it is clearly imprisoned for drivers who love winding paths. The rolls are moderate, the chair holds the body well (and regardless of whether it is covered with tissue or skin), and the steering wheel itself is very convenient. But the suspension is traditionally harsh for Mazda and repeats the profile of the road in detail.

And also the burdocks of the mirrors, which were so pleased from the point of view of visibility, at speeds of more than 100 km/h become a clear source of aerodynamic noise. My partners in every car assured me that it was because of the camouflage film. Well, in the future we will check! But if the film can be removed, then the insufficient insulation of the wheeled arches is not received anywhere in the cabin again the constant noise of the tires is heard. Do you really need to invite the writer to find out about this? Looking ahead, let's say that all of the above applies to any of the CX-5 versions. In fact, the whole difference between these prototypes is only which engine is under the hood.


This short test in Iceland made it clear to be Skyactiv technologies! This is not only marketing, Mazda engineers managed to do what they were talking about managing the CX-5 is really nice and even during a half-hour trip it feels like I drove this car for a long time, it is not necessary to get used to anything. Booking

Gasoline on the handle is expected faster, although it is necessary to take into account not only a mechanical box and an additional 15 forces, but also a mass reduced due to the lack of all-wheel drive. But that day I was most amazed and happy with something else. That from which I did not expect anything at all and did not even think that the Russian group would be driving on a prototype with this engine. Diesel! Until this moment, I sacredly believed that a diesel with mechanics is either for lean people who are traveling long distances and saving fuel, or for avid jeepers, or just for masochists. A narrow working range, forcing to constantly wield a gearbox lever and a rigid clutch, the pedals of which constantly live vibrations, is it worth it to endure, even if you receive a diesel traction in return? If even the 184-horsepower BMW 320D motor is not distinguished by good manners, then what can we say about the Ssangyong New Actyon, whose power unit repels the whole hunting generally driving.


Skyactiv-D diesel engine breakthrough for the venue. Let no one bothers the same volume (2148 cubes) as the previous generation motor. In fact, he is completely new here and the piston stroke, and the diameter of the cylinder. The engine is characterized by an aluminum cylinder block, as well as two turbochargers. One, small, works at low speeds, riding the motor from the turboyam, the second, large, comes to work later. Recordly low compression degree for a passenger diesel engine (also, by the way, 14: 1) made it possible to optimize the combustion process without the use of expensive high-pressure equipment, and a decrease in the mass of a connecting rod piston group and crankshaft made an increase in maximum speed. The indicators are impressive: 175 horsepower at 4500 rpm and 420 Newton meters at 2000 rpm. In addition, there will be CX-5 with a deformed modification of the same engine (150 hp, 380 nm)

Still, it was not possible to get rid of the characteristic plasticism and small vibration at idle, but how good Skyactiv-D is on the go! The clutch does not require the foot of the weightlifter, and the mechanic is no worse than on gasoline models. But this is not the main thing. In memory, the impressions of the action are still alive. So, we switch to 3 thousand and do not lower the tachometer arrow below the mark 2. But it turned out that the engine with a volume of 2.2 liters is already confidently pulling from one and a half thousand and pleases with a powerful acceleration up to five! And, therefore, when overtaking on a two -lane road, it is not at all necessary to closely monitor the tachometer. I liked the fast feedback on gas, and the pedal itself in the CX-5 is floor!


Just yesterday, Mazda published two more new photos of CX-5. And if all interested faces have already seen the face, then ...

And the noise of the motor is not so impudently bursting into the salon, like that of the CX-5 gasoline. Miracles and nothing more. But the combination of a diesel engine with an automatic machine is even more pleasant! The avalanche of torque easily allows you to forget about manual mode, although click the lever forward-to-the-far into high. The box quickly reacts to the command to lower the gear, and the motor manages to make a bit, so it switches very smoothly! If my eyes were blindfolded and my ears shut up, I would never have believed that a motor is hiding under the hood, where the combustible mixture is ignited due to compression. I do not believe! What is the catch? Maybe in the cost of a diesel version? How much more expensive such a modification will be? Alas, it is still unknown.


... we see the food of the serial CX-5 for the first time

As a result, all the conversations came down only to the discussion of diesel. And, it seems, we buzzed all the ears of the Mazdovites, because they promised to think about the prospects of the CX-5 diesel modifications in our market. But there are justified fears that such a CX-5 will be too expensive, and our climate is severe, and the gas station is akin to the lottery in winter (who will definitely say, the winter or summer diesel fuel will fall into the tank?) So the decision has not yet been made. It is only known that the serial Mazda CX-5 will first appear in Russia! This is expected in February-March next year, and the price tag for the basic all-wheel drive CX-5 2.0 with automatic transmission will try to keep within a million rubles. But even before that moment, the premiere test of the car will take place. It was then that we learn how the Japanese reacted to our comments. No wonder we enjoyed the alien landscapes of Iceland in the company with a pre -production version?

Vadim Gagarin
Photo by the author and Mazda

 

Source: Auto.mail.ru