Mazda adds sports-minded CX-5 GT SP to range for ‘21

MAZDA Australia has continued its run of including sporty-themed GT SP variants to its portfolio, this week adorning its best-selling CX-5 medium SUV with the nameplate as a part of the household hauler’s 2021 model-year makeover.

Identical to with the CX-9 and Mazda6, the addition of the GT SP badging ups the CX-5’s visible aptitude by including piano black wing mirror caps and black 19-inch alloy wheels whereas the inside scores some black inside trim highlights, distinctive black Maztex and Grand Luxe Artificial Suede upholstery and crimson stitching.

Regardless of utilizing the high-end GT trim-level as its foundation, the SP is simply obtainable with the selection of petrol or turbocharged petrol engines – no diesel possibility – these being the acquainted 2.5-litre Skyactiv-G four-cylinder (140kW/252Nm) and Skyactiv-G ‘2.5T’ four-banger growing 170kW/420Nm.

In each cases, energy is shipped to all 4 wheels by way of the equally acquainted six-speed automated transmission.

Due to their sportier options, the CX-5 GT SPs carry a $500 premium over the common GTs, checking in from $47,490 plus on-roads for the petrol and $49,990 for the turbo.

As for the remainder of the vary, there have been some minor tweaks to plain gear right here and there, the primary being the transfer from 17-inch metal wheels to 17-inch alloys on the entry-level Maxx variants.

Greater up the vary, a brand new 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen has been fitted to the GT, GT SP and Akera variants together with the most recent model of Mazda’s Join infotainment system.

The ultimate change of notice is the usual inclusion of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto throughout the vary, nonetheless not one of the above modifications come totally free with costs rising throughout the board by between $200 and $1050 relying on the variant.

No mechanical modifications have been made wherever throughout the vary with the powertrain choices nonetheless consisting of the aforementioned petrol engines in addition to the smaller 2.0-litre petrol unit good for 115kW/200Nm and the acquainted 2.2-litre twin-turbo diesel (140kW/450Nm).

Customary security options nonetheless embody blind spot monitoring, parking sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, sensible metropolis brake assist with night-time pedestrian detection, driver consideration alert, excessive beam management, lane departure warning, lane-keep help, radar cruise management with cease and go operate (the latter solely on automatics), sensible brake assist and tyre strain monitoring.

In accordance with Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi, the model was excited to be increasing its SP nameplate into the CX-5 portfolio given it has been Mazda’s top-selling mannequin Down Underneath since 2019.

“With a spread of key updates coming on-stream, the 2021 Mazda CX-5 continues to supply robust attraction for its styling, security, specification and worth in what’s the best market phase on this nation,” he mentioned.

Mazda offered 2081 CX-5s in January, incomes it a robust 16.3 per cent share of the whole sub-$60,000 medium SUV phase gross sales for the month, second solely to the Toyota RAV4 (3066/24.1%).

2021 Mazda CX-5 pricing*

*Excludes on-road prices

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