2023 Mazda CX-5 Sport Design Video, Review, And Pricing

By: Joshua Lee
May 5, 2023

The Mazda CX-5 is one of the company’s most popular models and remains its best seller. That’s great news in the compact crossover segment, as it continues to stand out from its many competitors. We reviewed the Kuro Edition last year and found that this SUV has a great balance of styling and handling.

2023 Mazda CX-5 Sport Design - Driveman.ca

If the Kuro Edition doesn’t give you enough pizzazz, Mazda Canada let us borrow the 2023 Mazda CX-5 Sport Design for the week to marvel at its latest styling enhancements. Our CX-5 Sport Design has the same 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G four-cylinder engine that was in the Kuro, producing 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque at 4000 RPM with a six-speed automatic transmission.

As mentioned previously, this engine is adequate for a vehicle this size, but it could benefit from more power. The base engine is still fun to operate and is smooth when accelerating from a standstill. The handling is responsive and engaging to drive, with a light steering feel and a firmer suspension setup. The CX-5 is standard with i-Activ AWD and G-Vectoring Control Plus. It can even tow up to 2000 pounds (907 kilograms).

Luckily, the optional turbocharged 2.5-litre SkyActiv-G engine can be ordered with this trim model, producing 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque at 2000 RPM using 87 octane fuel or 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque at 2500 RPM using 93 octane fuel.

If we had the Kuro and the Sport Design at the same time, it would take a keen eye to notice what differences these two vehicles have from each other. Our tester also came with the Polymetal Grey Metallic paint finish and 19-inch black metallic alloy wheels wearing 225/55R19 Pirelli Scorpion Winter tires. The Sport Design trim is all about that glossy black; the B and C pillar garnishes are finished in Piano Black, whereas the exterior mirrors, front grille surround, front and rear lower bumpers, wheel arch, and rocker trim are all finished in Brilliant Black.

The exterior accents do add some sparkle to the CX-5, and the Sport Red grille accents on the grille and increased diameter exhaust outlets are a nice touch as well. The Sport Design is also fitted with LED front and rear signature lighting, power folding door mirrors, and an adaptive front lighting system that are not available on the Kuro.

We must admit that the Garnet Red leather interior in the Kuro is quite nice, but you can never go wrong with a black leather interior with red accent stitching. The seats are comfortable, with a 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar adjustment and a 6-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. You get a clear view out on the road, and a heads-up display is standard in this trim. There’s plenty of room for everyone; a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats are standard.

The 10.25-inch centre display infotainment system is the same on all trims, and it was easy to connect Apple CarPlay and Android Auto while your phone rested on the wireless charging pad underneath the climate control buttons. A 10-speaker Bose Premium Sound System is fitted into the Sport Design trim and provides an immersive audio experience. Cargo capacity is 871L with the 40/20/40 split rear bench up and expands up to 1680L with them down.

Mazda Canada rates the CX-5’s fuel economy as 9.9L/100KM city, 7.9L/100KM highway, for a combined 9.0L/100KM. The non-turbo 2.5-litre engine has cylinder deactivation, which improves fuel efficiency by running the engine on two cylinders in certain driving conditions. The transition from two to four cylinders is seamless, and we say it does work as we got 9.3L/100KM during our test.

The base GX trim starts at $31,250, the GS at $34,800, the Kuro at $38,600, the GT at $39,850, the Sport Design at $41,050, and the Signature at $44,250. Our Sport Design comes to $49,064 including taxes.

There really isn’t much to criticize about the Mazda CX-5. It still proves to be a reliable compact SUV that provides good value for consumers. The overall shape hasn’t changed since its second-generation debut, and it doesn’t need to when this compact SUV still looks sophisticated. If you enjoy the gloss black accents, the CX-5 Sport Design is the trim for you. We like that the turbo engine is an option, and the cabin feels premium and well built. It’s a great, user-friendly vehicle that continues to attract buyers.