Worth the money SUV, the Mazda CX-5

Bermaz just started exporting CKD units to Thailand, signifying a big milestone for the niche Japanese brand in this region. The CX-5 is also the first with SkyActiv technology, which comes with the new chassis, high compression engine and a 6-speed transmission. 

When the car was brought in as CBU, it is the best value SUV in the market, with fully loaded package and bigger wheel till cost cutting for CKD happened. The ride of the CX-5 is of big difference when compare to the Mazda 6. Immediately, you could feel the bumpy ride from the lousy CKD tyres Bermaz has fitted.

Overall drive, you could probably forget about the jargon of SkyActiv, as I still feel my MX-5 is better.  But for a SUV this class, with 6-airbag, traction control, tyres pressure monitoring, it still beat the CRV by many miles.  It also looks gorgeuos when compare to the ill-proportioned Honda.

The centre console climate control looks old-styled, similar to the Mazda 6, this completely spoil the advanced look of the whole car.  Especially the "after-market-add-on" look of the clock below the centre A/C vents.  Mazda could do better or completely do away with the clock and use the entertainment unit screen for the clock.

The steering and meter cluster looks normal, but the right binnacle being a digital display screen, but with not much useful information as the A/C and entertainment control are not integrated to the screen.  Do it the European-styled, the screen could do more than displaying the average fuel consumption.

Starting from RM137k for basic model of 2WD, RM145k for high spec 2WD and RM155k for 4WD, the CX-5 already is a good alternative to CRV and X-Trail, with waiting period of 3 months though the car has been launched for a year now with CKD operations.  Mazda loses out on its warranty which is only 3-year, where Honda now provides 5-year.