Power Hungry
Admit it or not, the American market is spoiled when it comes to horsepower. Case in point, the U.S. never gets the true base engine. Also, most of the world is content with about 200 hp (depending on the kind of car), but America is the land of big SUVs that can hit 60 mph in the six-second range… and still consider it just right.
We’ve seen enough reviews that say 0-60 mph in seven seconds is slow. Truth be told, most folks outside the U.S. are content with anything that does the same task in under 9 seconds. But one thing we can all agree on in this day and age is that anything over ten seconds is lethargic. Of course, we can accept that result in, say, a 1.0-liter subcompact hatchback or a 660cc kei car, but for something like a compact sedan or crossover, that’s basically an eternity.
That brings us neatly to the European-spec Mazda CX-5.
Euro vs. American CX-5
The all-new Mazda CX-5 is finally close to reaching showrooms this year after it made its world premiere in mid-2025. The folks from Hiroshima promised that there will be more powertrain choices on the way, but in the meantime, the familiar 2.5-liter engine will have to do.
In the U.S., it’s the SkyActiv-G engine that’s familiar to most folks by now. It’s carried over from the previous generation, so it still makes 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. It’s par for the course for non-hybrid compact crossovers, with the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Subaru Forester hovering in the 180 hp range. It won’t be quick, but it’ll get the job done.
If you think that’s not enough, then wait ’til you see what the European version has to offer, or rather not. It still uses the same 2.5-liter engine, and it’s been saddled by a mild-hybrid system. However, that’s been, er, recalibrated for efficiency, so it makes a fair bit less power than the American model. The result, the e-SkyActiv G engine makes – are you ready for this – 139 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. America, count your blessings.
Mazda
Does it…Move?
Of course it does, eventually. Now, 139 hp is okay for a compact or subcompact car, but in a crossover? It’s a totally different matter. Bear in mind that the e-SkyActiv G engine is the only option Europeans have right now, so that lump is fitted even to the most expensive trim over there.
So, when does it hit 60? In this case, Mazda lists the official 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) time for the front-wheel-drive model at a leisurely 10.5 seconds. Hook that same engine up to an all-wheel drive system, and the added weight means it gets to the same speed in 10.9 seconds. Perhaps you can shave a tenth or two for its 0 to 60 time, but there’s no escaping the fact that it takes its time to reach highway speeds. At least it’s not as slow as the Fiat 500 Cabriolet Hybrid that takes a glacial 17.3 seconds to 62.
More Power Coming Soon
But no matter how you look at it, the new CX-5 will be slower than the model it replaces. It’s bigger and heavier than its predecessor, but power figures remained the same. There’s no turbo option on the cards, either, so this is as good as it gets for now.
We say “for now” because Mazda has promised it will roll out a more powerful option soon. It will come in the form of the Skyactiv-Z engine and will feature an in-house-developed hybrid system. It won’t be carried over from the CX-50 Hybrid that uses a Toyota-derived hybrid arrangement. Of course, Mazda isn’t saying how much power it’ll produce, but safe to say it’ll pull the new CX-5’s weight with less effort. The Skyactiv-Z engine will be available by 2027, and frankly, the Euro version needs it stat.
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