2020 Mazda CX-5 further refined, boosts off-road tech

The popular Mazda CX-5 range has gained a host of upgrades for 2020, adding greater versatility, safety and comfort both on and off-road.

Available now, the updated CX-5 adds new technology, advanced safety equipment and improves cabin quietness for a better ride feeling.

Headlining the 2020 upgrades is Mazda’s newly developed Off-Road Traction Assist function, which is added to all CX-5 AWD models, offering greater rough road driving potential for the medium SUV and a higher level of control for the driver.

With the push of a button, this driver support technology brings the AWD and traction control systems together to effectively electronically lock the rear differential in the same way rugged 4×4 vehicles operate. The system then automatically monitors traction to distribute the right amount of torque to the tyres that have grip to extricate the vehicle when stuck, suppressing tyre spin and maximising traction performance.

Driver control is further enhanced for Maxx Sport grade and above, with steering-mounted paddle shifters now offered as standard to allow more convenient manual gear operation.

For models equipped with the Skyactiv-G 2.5L petrol engine, it’s now easier to track fuel consumption and engine operation, with a Cylinder Deactivation display added to MZD Connect infotainment screen. This function allows the driver to see when the engine shuts down cylinders 1 and 4 to conserve fuel.

All grades benefit from enhanced safety, with the advanced autonomous emergency braking function, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), adding night-time pedestrian protection to its operation.

The updated Mazda CX-5 is quieter too, thanks to a range of NVH improvements. In all models, the headliner material was revised to achieve a 10 per cent improvement in low frequency sound absorption, reducing cabin noise when moving from a smooth to a rough road surface. For petrol powered models, a steering vibration countermeasure was added to reduce vibrations from the road surface and felt through the wheel.

For vehicles equipped with the Skyactiv-G 2.5T turbo petrol engine, there is further NVH improvement still, with the capacity of the silencer shell expanded, the exhaust tail sound suppressed and the rigidity of the tyre pan that holds the spare increased, resulting in a quieter, more refined cabin atmosphere.

More updates include a larger 8-inch display for the entry grade Maxx, new generation nameplate badging and key fob design for all grades and the addition of Polymetal Grey Metallic to the body colour lineup.

2020 Mazda CX-5 price (excluding on-roads)

GradeEngineTransmissionDrivetrainMLP
MaxxSkyactiv-G 2.0LManualFWD $30,980
MaxxSkyactiv-G 2.0LAutoFWD $32,980
MaxxSkyactiv-G 2.5LAutoAWD $35,980
Maxx SportSkyactiv-G 2.0LAutoFWD $36,290
Maxx SportSkyactiv-G 2.5LAutoAWD $39,290
Maxx SportSkyactiv-D 2.2LAutoAWD $42,290
TouringSkyactiv-G 2.5LAutoAWD $40,980
TouringSkyactiv-D 2.2LAutoAWD $43,980
GTSkyactiv-G 2.5LAutoAWD $46,090
GTSkyactiv-D 2.2LAutoAWD $49,090
GTSkyactiv-G 2.5TAutoAWD $48,590
AkeraSkyactiv-G 2.5LAutoAWD $48,330
AkeraSkyactiv-D 2.2LAutoAWD $51,330
AkeraSkyactiv-G 2.5TAutoAWD $50,830

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