2017 Mazda CX5

Even Mazda were surprised with the runaway success of the CX-5 when it was first launched in 2012.

It is still the biggest-selling medium sized SUV in the country and makes up one quarter of all of Mazda’s Australian sales.

So they had every reason to be cautious about fixing something that wasn’t broken. Still, when the extensively revised CX-5 was launched in April 2017, it wasn’t before time.

Really, what we have here is a significantly redesigned body and upgraded interior, some important new safety gear and a new variant that’s wedged in the middle of the range called the Touring.

Drivetrains are as they were in the previous model, which is not a bad thing at all. These comprise the 2.0-litre petrol in the entry level models, the 2.5-litre petrol and the 2.2-litre turbo diesel.

Avoid the 2.0-litre petrol though – its fuel consumption is only marginally better than the 2.5, but the difference in performance and refinement is marked.

An important new addition to the CX-5 is the addition of autonomous braking as standard equipment on all models in the range. Further, the auto braking feature also works while the vehicle is reversing.

A rear camera, rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring are all also standard across the range – not bad for a base model.

However, the boot is still not the most cavernous of the medium SUV bunch, with both of its biggest competitors (Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4) offering slightly more cargo space.

In the rest of the interior, the majority of the hard black plastics of the previous model have been replaced with softer touch materials.

Rear air vents are now in all models except the entry level Maxx, and the availability of a powered tailgate in the higher spec models is another new addition.

Pricing for the CX-5 starts at $32,330 for the front wheel drive Maxx, but we tested the Maxx Sport AWD, which is the most popular model.

With its impressive standard safety gear, sharp driving dynamics and revised interior, the new CX-5 makes an excellent case for keeping its crown as segment leader.