While Mazda has already shown the first pictures of its all-new compact SUV contender, it used the car's official unveiling at the Frankfurt show today to release more pictures and information.
Sitting on a 2700mm wheelbase, the CX-5 measures 4540mm in length and 1840mm in width, making it slightly bigger than the Toyota RAV-4. Mazda also claims class-leading rear legroom and a generous 500-litre boot size.
Built around Mazda's cutting-edge Skyactiv technology, the CX-5 was designed to achieve compelling efficiency through its lightweight construction and ultra-efficient range of petrol and diesel engines, each with a record-breaking compression ratio of 14:1.
The petrol option is Mazda's new naturally aspirated 2-litre Skyactiv-G direct injection motor, which puts out 121kW and 210Nm, while the 2.2 Skyactiv-D turbodiesel unit with two-stage turbocharging offers output levels of either 110kW and 380Nm or 129kW and 420Nm.
Like its rivals the CX-5 will be available with both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive and the former versions are expected to be rather economical with Mazda targeting a consumption figure of six litres per 100km for the petrol model, equating to 139g/km of CO2. The 110kW diesel model, says Mazda, will sip as little as 4.5 l/100km and emit just 119g/km.
What's more, the diesel engines meet Euro 6 emissions standards without the need for an expensive NOx after-treatment system.
According to Mazda South Africa, the CX-5 is likely to reach our shores, although no timeline has been given at this stage.