2018 Mazda CX-5 GT + Technology Package
In August of 2017 we bought ourselves a 2017 Mazda CX-5 GT with the Technology Package, so naturally we wanted to see what's new for the CX-5 in the 2018 model year. We took a trip down to see our friends at Mazda du Boulevard in Saint-Hyacinthe, QC to look at the 2018 CX-5 GT with tech package in Mazda's brilliant soul red paint job.
Now first off, there isn't a whole lot that's new for this model year, so if you want to see more photos of the CX-5 and read everything we found about ours, you can check out our full review on the 2017 Mazda CX-5 GT. The biggest mechanical change for 2018 is cylinder deactivation, which is very uncommon on an inline 4 engine. The cylinder deactivation technology will shutdown one bank of cylinders in order to use less fuel during low-load situations, such as coasting down grade, or driving along the highway. We don't believe Mazda has incorporated a light on the cluster to inform drivers that the CD has been activated.
A few interior cosmetic changes have been added to this year. Mazda has added an illuminated element to the driver's power window switch, and also changed the buttons for the radar cruise control system to make the system a little easier to figure out. They've also added two vent dials to the centre vents to allow the front occupants to open or close rather than having them open all the time.
The changes are rather minute but consistent with a carryover year such as this. Since this is only the second model year for the second generation CX-5 we weren't expecting major changes, however there is one interior feature we expected to find and were disappointed not to. If you watch our episode on the 2017 Mazda6 you'll notice the interior lighting has switched over to LED, same for the 2018 CX-9. However this isn't the case with this update for Mazda's compact crossover. We would have liked to see consistency across their vehicle lineup, however we suspect ordering the CX-9's LED lighting from the dealer should be an easy install for most customers looking to update the interior feel of their vehicles.
We also didn't expect to find power folding mirrors or parking sensors for this model year, however we do hope that Mazda offers these features found on European models down the road. You can watch our full episode of TestDrive Snapshot on the 2018 Mazda CX-5 GT with Technology Package below:
