The Best Diesel for Big Budgets | 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Diesel Review

Yes we're aware it's the middle of March 2020 and we're featuring a 2019. Our Spotlight is on the highly anticipated 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature SkyActiv-D Diesel.
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We've been waiting for the SkyActiv-D Mazda Diesel engine in Canada for years now. It's been rumoured since the start of 2018, spy photos circulated around the same time, and finally after waiting the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature SkyActiv-D became available.. and no one bought it.
Our full tour and review of the diesel Mazda CX-5 Signature goes over the differences with the diesel engine, what price difference on the MSRP exists, and some of the reasons buyers skipped this for other options or different Mazda models. We discuss this specific Machine Grey CX-5 diesel and everything you need to know about it.
We take the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Diesel on a comprehensive real-world road test to talk about the MPG/fuel economy, along with the interior cabin noise levels, diesel engine power and feel, and some of the changes for 2020 that we don't get on this model. We go over some of the direct competition like the 2019 Chevrolet Equinox Premier Diesel and 2019 GMC Terrain Denali Diesel.
We also conduct a 0-60mph (0-100kph) launch.
We wrap up our full tour and review of the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature AWD diesel with our final fuel economy testing numbers, including what buyers might be able to expect in the real world. Our list of likes and dislikes about the CX-5 in general and the SkyActiv-D engine specifically, and what the future of diesels in North America looks like as we end our episode.
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TestDrive is proudly produced in Acton, Québec, Canada.

[@karkule5919]

Totally agree on the power, people give the impression they want to break the 0-60 record, never satisfied.

[@PRNTestDrive]

For what the CX-5 represents I found the power to be good. Heck even my non-turbo got the job done when we had it. People always want more though 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@fgeiger41]

There was so much hype about that engine being a performance /economy champ in Japan.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Tell me about it. It was good in the city which surprised me, but I’d need to spend a lot more time with it to see for sure.

[@jimxu6417]

Fantastic review Nile! Very informative! Please take care during this special time.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thank you, and you as well! We’re going to have limited coverage on the Channel for a little while until things get back to normal

[@ajb627871]

The GMC Terrain and the Chevrolet Equinox uses the same engine as the Chevrolet Cruze Turbo Diesel. The GMC is the preferred diesel SUV over the Equinox due to added features and additional cargo space not found in the Equinox.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I had one of the Equinox diesels booked but it never ended up getting delivered to the press fleet. The Cruze wasn't awful but I didn't see great fuel economy numbers on the highway.

[@ajb627871]

@@PRNTestDrive My testing of the Cruze Diesel have been at/above the 45mpg on the highway by locking my foot on the pedal to the ‘sweet spot’, where I can average between 52-56mpg at 75mph at 1850rpm. Downside is my foot does begin to hurt after a few minutes of keeping it in one spot.

[@TheGermanboy07]

I believe the 2020 hasn’t been released yet due to awaiting needed carb recertifications. I have this model and am pretty satisfied. In normal driving get 30mpg avg, 35-37mpg on highway

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's possible, that was my understanding why the 2019 was launched so late into the year. Personally I really hope Mazda offers the 2020 SkyActiv-D here.

[@TheGermanboy07]

PRN_TestDrive I hope so too, and also that they expand diesel availability down to less expensive trims. I’m a diesel fan and wanted the premium version but it would expand appeal to a broader consumer base if it were more affordable

[@TheKeenMechanic]

Nice looking vehicle. Thanks for your review Nile. Great review as usual

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely a looker in this Machine Grey paint!

[@james2042]

the issue with modern diesels is unless you're towing or driving an hd truck, hybrids are just the better fuel economy cruisers, especially since they have crazy city fuel economy. I think that like 2015 diesel revive was a big fluke. Hell in the US (specifically cities), most don't even know what diesel is. I don't think they'd be willing to buy a diesel vehicle lol. I want a diesel yukon, but I know what im getting into, most don't

[@PRNTestDrive]

Personally I hope the Wrangler diesel and GM's big diesels end up being popular. I'd love to drive the new Escalade with the 3.0L diesel, we'll see if they add it to our fleet or not.

[@james2042]

@@PRNTestDrive The Yukon Denali is going to be the best of the bunch. It will be head to head with the navigator. The Escalade is going to be a technical nightmare. The vehicle I think should be getting the 3.0 Duramax is the CT6 On the note of the ecodiesel, Ram needs to make a midsize with it and not just rely on the stupid Gladiator, also wouldn't mind the Ecodiesel in the Durango but you get what you get. The only issue with the Ecodiesel is how much they charge for it, in the Ram its a little under 4k and in the Wrangler its a little over 4k, vs GM which made it the same price as the 6.2

[@robmalcolm8042]

Diesel engines are more reliable and I’ve never had one but I know the engine design is better than gas. Less to go wrong. No fuel injectors. Only downside to new ones is that def fluid crap. Extra little expense.

[@robmalcolm8042]

Hybrids like the Prius are amazing and have a lot that won’t break compared to a regular gas but I think a diesel in the long run still is a more reliable design than hybrid or gas. The hybrids you need to worry about that hybrid battery and other electric parts to reach a million miles diesels usually can do that just by themselves same with some gas engines.

[@james2042]

@@robmalcolm8042 Good job necro'ing a 2 year old comment. With that said, diesels and hybrids serve different purposes in modern vehicles. Hybrids are for maximum efficiency in city focused cars or maximum performance in sports cars. Diesels are for low end torque for hauling and highway efficiency. Both have their pros and cons. Quarter million mile priuses that lived their whole lives in stop and go traffic are only sold when the 1kwh battery is finally too low to be useful, and for a thousand or so you can replace the battery. Hybrids with regen braking also save you on brakes as pads and rotors last much longer, and you don't need to change oil as much due to engine off. But hybrids in steady state travel give you 0 benefits vs a turbo diesel which just cruises for days. Even with the exhaust treatment, regen realistically doesn't hurt mpg and def you refill with oil changes. If maintenance and reliability are a problem for you then buy an EV, coolant and brake fluid last for basically ever unless they leak or get contaminated, and theres no oil anywhere. And with next to no moving parts theres very few points of failures.

[@Sc0rpy]

great review mate it's got fair power I agree with you .... I don't see why do you have to pay +5000 dollars over the gasoline engine though..

[@PRNTestDrive]

Neither do I. I feel like Mazda was targeting the (dead) BMW X3 xDrive28d and (dead) Mercedes-Benz GLK 250 BlueTec in terms of pricing, thinking that buyers in that $55k price range would see the CX-5 at $46k and jump on it, but none of the luxury manufacturers offer diesel engines anymore in the compact luxury crossover segment.

[@Sc0rpy]

@@PRNTestDrive I think they should go hybrid instead it could work..

[@Jannmell]

Listening your voice and the way you pronounce reminds me of a Phone Reviewers ;) Great car review though. Keep up the good work.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I hope that's a good thing! I started out 11 years ago covering tech news, and developed reviews for podcasts & video back then. I suppose I bring some of that to the car reviews I do today.

[@10tenman10]

If I recall correctly diesel is quite a bit more expensive than gas in La Belle Province

[@PRNTestDrive]

Right now we’re looking at about a $0.20 difference between regular fuel and diesel, about $1.15/L. I’m sure most people aren’t using the premium in the 2.5T that they’re supposed to, but if you were then diesel would be cheaper.

[@jgloc25]

Your roads seem generally good, but I was wondering how the 19" rims would do for less decent roads, as the 17"s don't look too good w/ the CX5.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The roads here in Quebec are awful. For the winter I recommend going for the smallest rim size possible. We did a video on this back in 2018 specifically for the Mazda CX-5 and CX-9, it's possible to go with 17" rims with this vehicle, and I'd recommend it. 19"s will work, but if you hit a pot hole chances are your rim will get damaged.

[@jgloc25]

@@PRNTestDrive Oh, we don't have snow here :) Concerned mainly on slow driving on uneven/rough, or at times (dry soil/sand) roads. Basically how it transmits these roads bumps to interior. But of course I'm not referring to deep potholes.

[@10tenman10]

Good review. Too bad the economics didn't work for this car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

If GM couldn’t make it work at a $500 premium, there was no way Mazda could at $5,000. It’s really unfortunate.

[@alexnutcasio936]

If you want acceleration like 0-100 kmph or 1/4 mile,get a Tesla Model Y.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough

[@miteshshah7859]

7.6l/100 km wow I have 2016 cx5 diesel at it barely gives 9.5 in city

[@PRNTestDrive]

Depends on what you're doing with it, city driving with a diesel isn't going to produce great results as diesel engines thrive on the highways.

[@ThatMagaLife]

Can I have both turbo's always going?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I suppose there might be a way to re-program the ECU to do that, the Mazda CX-5 communities I'm part of on Facebook have some diesel owners in them, I'm not sure if they've done any tuning to see if it's possible.