2024 Mazda CX-5 G35 Akera (car review)

The Mazda CX-5 has been a stalwart of the small-medium SUV segment for more than a decade. Having shifted to a second generation in 2017, and with a series of updates since, we thought it time to jump behind the wheel of the 2024 G35 Akera.

Much like the SP trim a step down the range, you can specify your preferred engine for the Akera – with, or without a turbo attached to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder. In our case it’s the former, with the G35 starting from $55,576 drive away.

The styling of the CX-5 is unmistakably Mazda, with some nice details particularly around the front grille and headlights, and that almost shark-like front treatment. There’s a subtle ‘Turbo’ badge on the tailgate to indicate what engine is under the bonnet.

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Draped here in Polymetal Grey, it can also be had in the equally safe Jet Black, Deep Crystal Blue or Zircon Sand, as well as Soul Red. For the Akera trim, the car rides on 19-inch wheels and includes body-coloured wheel arches.

Ours came optioned with the deep brown leather trim dubbed Dark Russet. It’s a subtle colour that becomes more noticeable in certain light. It feels and looks quite mature. The front seats are comfortable, and their electric adjustability is appreciated.

The driver’s seat features 10-way power adjustment and two position memory while the front passenger seat has 6-way movement. Both are heated and vented, while the steering wheel and outer second row seats are heated.

Accessing the rear pews is super easy thanks to the CX-5 doors opening almost a full 90-degrees. Comfort is adequate for taller passengers but on the smaller side for this segment. A rear-facing child seat as it would compromise those sitting in front.

Even so, the CX-5 offers three anchor points for them in the second row. The Akera trim provides a power sliding and tilt-glass sunroof, though many competitors are now offering this along with a panoramic roof, allowing for extra light into the cabin.

Audio is provided by a decent ten-speaker Bose premium sound system. Native maps are provided by Mazda via the 10.25-inch infotainment screen, which you’ll need to navigate with the Mi-Drive selector wheel if the car is moving.

The Japanese car maker disables the touchscreen when the vehicle is in motion. The system supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay too, but again, you’ll need to dial for that. There’s a cord-free charging pad as well.

The boot can be accessed via the automatic tailgate and features a usable 438-litres, opening up to 1340-litres with the second row folded flat. Mazda offer the versatility of being able to fold down any of the three rear seats and flip the boot floor.

With the keys in your pocket, the car can lock itself automatically once you exit – which can take a bit of getting used to (and double checking if you are used to locking the car yourself).

Mazda claims fuel economy figures of 8.2-litres/100km the boosted 2.5-litre engine, which produces 170kW of power and 420Nm of torque. We struggled to get it below a 10..0-litres/100km figure, which wasn’t far off the harder to work with G25 Touring variant.

Needless to say, the G35 is the engine you should be optioning at this trim level. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, you can use the gear lever or paddle shifters to change or hold gears, while Sport mode has a tendency to deliberately hold back a gear.

It got really annoying and we found that even after forcing the gearbox into a higher gear, Sport mode will drop back down again – just because. Around town, in its natural habitat, the CX-5 Akera gets about business with ease.

The ride is comfortable and the view from the front seats is ample, if not commanding. The extra seat adjustability can mean you sit more in the car than some other variants, and there’s some confidence in cornering, with power being sent to all four wheels.

The higher centre of gravity will remind you that this is a CX-5, not an MX-5 though. Extra cameras in the Akera trim level provide a 360-degree monitor for parking assistance, coupled with front and rear sensors.

Other safety features include driver attention alert, forward obstruction warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, rear cross traffic alert, smart brake support and traffic sign recognition.

We found the blind spot monitoring to be a bit over-sensitive with the lights in the mirror still on well after the vehicle we were passing was distant in our rear view. Backed by a 5-year unlimited kilometre warranty, the CX-5 comes with the MyMazda app.

It allows owners to access the car’s manual, schedule services and activate roadside assist. Through Connected Services, the app can also provide a remote control, health and status checker, vehicle locator and the ability to send destinations to the navigation system.

While the current generation CX-5 feels like it has been around for some time, it still makes a compelling case for those looking for a smaller medium sized SUV that can reliably get mundane family business done with little fuss.

With a quality appearance and interior the Akera is a good option for those families that don’t need rear-facing child seats, but still want to take the youngsters out for fun weekends away from time to time, and can still do the weekly shopping run in between.

You can find out more on the Mazda Australia website or by talking to your local dealership. To get a low rate finance quote on your next vehicle purchase, talk to Australia’s best reviewed car finance broker; Credit One.

To see a great range of vehicles for sale, check out OnlyCars.com.au.

Our test vehicle was provided by Mazda Australia for independent review purposes.