Here?s a fact we bet you didn?t know about Mazda?s CX-5 compact crossover: Nearly half of them are sold in top-of-the-line Grand Touring trim. Keep that in mind when you study the redesigned CX-5?s base price of $24,985, which is slightly higher than the cost on an entry-level Ford Escape, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, or Nissan Rogue. The CX-5’s base price is exactly the same as that for the new Honda CR-V and less expensive than the Toyota RAV4. Mazda says it is aiming the CX-5 at a more premium buyer than the compact-segment norm, so it has stuffed the SUV with far more standard equipment than last year?s model had.
On its face, the 2017 CX-5?s base price looks a lot more expensive than last year, but the comparison isn?t apples to apples. The previous CX-5 came standard with a six-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive, and a smaller, weaker engine. In the new lineup, all CX-5s have the same (previously uplevel and burlier) 2.5-liter inline-four and an automatic transmission. Compared with last year?s front-drive 2.0-liter Sport with an automatic, the $24,985 2017 model is just $910 more, and besides the engine upgrade it now includes LED headlights, a 7.0-inch color dashboard display with Mazda?s fancy Commander knob, a second USB port, G-Vectoring Control, and Smart City Brake Support, Mazda?s low-speed automated-emergency-braking system. That new equipment joins previously standard equipment such as Bluetooth, cruise control, keyless entry, push-but...