An SUV you can buy with heart and head: get a Mazda CX-5 for £6k

Out of town, the naturally aspirated petrols can also feel a bit gutless in a family-size SUV, so the 2.2-litre diesel is far nicer to drive. The 148bhp front-wheel-drive version is torquey and good for 55mpg on a longer run, while the 181bhp four-wheel-drive version will give more like 50mpg.

Crossovers of this ilk are so often bought with the head, but the CX-5 is one of those rare examples that appeals to the heart, too. It’s not quite an MX-5 on stilts, but it is impressive for blending hatchback-like driving dynamics with stylish looks, a cosseting interior, decent running costs and useful practicality credentials.

What we said then

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28 June 2017:  “This CX-5 is great to look at, better to sit in, good to drive, cost-effective to run and brilliantly sized. It comfortably eclipses the bulk of a running order that previously outranked it, and in doing so it provides buyers with arguably the most compelling mainstream alternative to the segment’s current benchmark.”

An owner’s view

Sergei Pokrovskii: “I had heard about the problems with the 2.2-litre diesel engine in the first-generation CX-5, so I stretched my budget to an early second-generation Sport Nav. I’m pleased I did because the interior is far nicer – the white leather trim in my car looks and feels particularly upmarket. I haven’t had any problems 50,000 miles in, and I’m consistently getting more than 50mpg.”

Buyer beware

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Engine: Historically troublesome 2.2-litre diesel engine was mostly sorted out by the time it found its way into the Mk2 CX-5, but it still has a tendency to suffer costly diesel particulate filter problems if driven exclusively in town or on very short journeys.

Vehicle Excise Duty: Most CX-5s will be £200 per year to tax, but the flagship Takumi diesels and 2.5-litre petrols will be £620 until they hit five years old, when it will reduce to £200 annually.

Infotainment: It’s a very intuitive system to use, but the rotary dial might take some getting used to. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were added in 2019. 

Gearbox: Both manual and automatic transmissions are mechanically reliable, but the latter can be sluggish and will knock off as much as 5mpg. It was standard on the 2.5-litre petrol but optional on other models.