![]() ![]() If looking good is the first step on the road to a premium image, the CX-5 nails it. As for being a bargain alternative to luxury small SUVs, the new Signature trim level comes oh so close, but falls short in a few areas.Ģ019 Mazda CX-5 | photo by Fred Meier Exterior At a recent comparison of seven fully loaded compact SUVs, both the Volkswagen Tiguan and Jeep Cherokee topped $40K, and the CX-5’s styling, interior and driving manners are more than a match for them. That’s rich for any mainstream compact SUV, but the CX-5 is not the only one in that realm. The Signature I tested came to $39,325, including Mazda’s flashiest red paint ($595) and a few add-on accessories, such as a cargo cover. The Grand Touring Reserve is a sort of Signature Light, getting most of that trim’s features - plus the turbo and AWD - at a more midrange price for those who balk at the $5,000 jump from the Grand Touring to the near-$40,000 Signature. The Signature gets every available feature, including the turbo engine and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The CX-5’s two new trim levels come on top of 2018’s Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trims: a Grand Touring Reserve and a new top-of-the-line Signature. Both new trims get the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine found in the Mazda6 sedan and CX-9 SUV. Mazda turns up the heat on its ambition to be a premium brand with not one but two new higher trim levels for the 2019 CX-5 compact SUV. ![]() More available luxuries and an optional turbo engine sweeten the deal for 2019. Versus the competition: While less spacious than some rivals, the CX-5 offers higher style and head-of-the-class handling, even with the base engine. Verdict: The CX-5 moves oh so close to premium with a new engine option and two fancier trim levels, but falls short due to the multimedia system’s lack of polish and a not-quite-premium ride. ![]()
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