Mazda CX-5: chunky but clever The CX-5 is yet another entrant in that most overcrowded sector of the car market: the compact SUV (sport utility vehicle). Even if it weren't hobbled by gormless marketing, the CX-5 would struggle to make its presence felt, but its appearance is no help at all. The vehicle's rounded outline and chunky midriff are so undistinguished that it could be taken not only for any old SUV but even for another species of car altogether - such as an MPV. Mazda's leading strength, however, has always been in making good cars rather than in making them look good, and in this department the CX-5 fully lives up to the company's reputation. Though it is no more enjoyable to drive hard than a Honda CR-V or a Volkswagen Tiguan, the CX-5 abounds with clever engineering and meticulous manufacturing methods. Few owners will ever have reason to learn about the race breeding of the engine's pistons or the complications of the exhaust manifold in their CX-5 but it is through the accumulation of a mass of such details that overall excellence is achieved. Owners will, however, frequently be aware and glad of the massive load space (biggest in class) and, if they are true, the impressive fuel consumption figures, which purport to offer more than 60mpg for the 2.2-litre turbodiesel version and more than 42mpg for the 2.0-litre petrol engine. It might be reasonable of Mazda to demand a small premium in purchase price for such excellence and the CX-5 is certainly not cheap by comparison with its rivals; but surely it is short-sighted to restrict the warranty on this car to three years or 60,000 miles? When Kia is offering a seven-year warranty and Hyundai five; when Vauxhall is covering its cars for up to 100,000 miles, it looks timorous of Mazda not to have comparable confidence in its own products. I would probably back a Mazda to hang together for five years - but, then, I speak as one who very nearly went trailing off in search of sky hooks a long time ago.