Mazda's long-awaited diesel CX-5 has finally broken cover. While fuel economy specs have been known since last year, we now know the vehicle will only be offered in the range-topping Signature trim with all-wheel-drive and a sticker price of $42,045 with destination.
In terms of price, that will make it $4,110 more expensive than the non-diesel version ($37,935). At that point, the diesel CX-5 treads awfully close to the MSRP of a well-equipped CX-9 Grand Touring (priced from $43,685 when equipped with all-wheel drive).
Mazda's target buyer for the CX-5 Diesel is someone looking for the unique characteristics of a diesel and the premium feel many have come to love about the borderline-luxury Signature trim. But with an overall fuel economy rating of 28 mpg, the model's advantage may not be all that great.
The entry-level CX-5 earns up to 28 mpg with a naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder engine (26 with all-wheel-drive). The turbocharged Grand Touring Reserve and Signature get 25 mpg (24 with all-wheel-drive). At most, that equates to a 4 mpg advantage for the diesel over the all-wheel-drive CX-5 turbo.
In terms of output, the diesel produces 168 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. That's less power than the base engine's 187 hp, but a massive 104 lb-ft advantage in torque. The turbocharged four delivers 40 more hp and 20 lb-ft more torque.
To some, this could all make the diesel a questionable value proposition. If you're going to spend over $42,000 for a small SUV that's not from a luxury brand, will the vehicle be worth a 4 mpg boost in fuel economy over a similarly-equipped CX-5 turbo?
Given that Mazda originally promised the vehicle would go on sale over a year ago, a lot of customers may have already purchased a CX-5, especially when the turbocharged variant was introduced late last year.
Meanwhile, the Chevy Equinox has been on sale for a while now and offers a lower cost of entry. Unlike the CX-5, the Equinox offers a diesel in lower-end trims like the LT starting at just $30,795. That's over $11,000 less than the diesel CX-5.
The diesel Equinox is rated at 32 mpg overall, 4 mpg better than the CX-5. The Chevy also makes more power but substantially less torque (170 hp and 203 lb-ft vs. 168 hp and 290 in the Mazda).
Mazda is taking orders for the CX-5 diesel now.
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