long-term test

Driver: Ryan Bubear Ryan_Bubear

595 km 7,09 L/100 km

+ oodles of standard equipment

- infotainment system’s ageing graphics

If you’re an avid reader of this magazine (you really should be), you would likely recall Gareth spent three months with a Soul Crystal Red example of Mazda’s range-topping CX-5 2,2DE AWD Akera just last year. As he so eloquently pointed out in his July 2019 wrap-up, the Japanese firm’s midsize SUV has cemented itself as one of the top contenders in a bustling segment, thanks to its admirable breadth of talents. The second-generation model is surprisingly engaging to drive, boasts plenty of space and is endowed with plenty of standard features.

So, why has another one joined our long-term fleet? Well, it arrives as a speedily arranged replacement for the CX-3 that departed the CAR garage earlier than planned (and interestingly shares that car’s Eternal