Mazda CX-5 Homura 2.2 Skyactiv-D (184 hp) review

Almost a year after Miguel Dias put the petrol Skyactiv-G through its paces, the Mazda CX-5 Homura returned to Razão Automóvel’s garage.

This time it arrived with the 2.2 Skyactiv-D Diesel producing 184 hp (it’s also available with 150 hp), which raises an obvious question: is this the engine that best “fits” Mazda’s Japanese SUV?

After all, in the previous test Miguel Dias noted that the pairing of the 2.0 Skyactiv-G with 165 hp and the six-speed manual gearbox felt a little “short” for an SUV like the CX-5. Does the 2.2 Skyactiv-D make a stronger case?

Better than ever

Before answering, it’s worth noting that the CX-5 has been “freshened up” in the time between these two tests. Alongside exterior tweaks at both the front and rear, Mazda has also stepped things up on the technology front.

The centre display has grown to 10.25” (up from 8”), and there’s a new infotainment system to match. The screen is easy to read, and the updated interface deserves praise for avoiding an overload of menus that often end up never being “visited”.

Where Mazda has made the biggest strides in recent years is the overall cabin quality, and the Mazda CX-5 Homura is no exception. I’m not exaggerating when I say the gap to the premium brands is getting smaller and smaller in this area.

As for space, I’ll echo Miguel’s assessment. Rear-seat room is generous, and it more than covers what a family needs. The 510 l boot, complete with a rubber mat, is also more than capable when set against what rivals offer.

And the engine - is it worth it?

If you take the saying that first impressions count most at face value, I can’t claim the 2.2 Skyactiv-D immediately won me over.

When cold it’s particularly noisy, improving as it reaches its ideal operating temperature, but without ever becoming a benchmark for refinement - a notable contrast with the rest of Mazda’s acoustic insulation work.

Performance is certainly not disappointing, yet it never truly impresses either. On paper, for instance, the CX-5 Homura is quicker than a Tarraco 2.0 TDI with 150 hp and a DSG gearbox, but in the real world the extra 34 hp doesn’t make itself felt as much as you might expect.

Part of the “blame” lies with the six-speed automatic. It’s smooth in operation, but it isn’t especially quick and, above all, it uses long ratios that reveal the CX-5’s preference for motorway work - and I have to admit that’s where I liked it most.

On the motorway, those long gears make the engine “sing quietly”, keeping revs in the sweet spot at around 2000–2500 rpm, even when you’re travelling a bit faster.

It’s also in these conditions that the CX-5 Homura’s comfort stands out the most, along with its strong sense of stability.

When the road turns twisty, however, the long gearing can end up “betraying” the precise, direct steering and the well-tuned chassis. Always safe, predictable and stable, the CX-5 naturally can’t deliver the same level of driver enjoyment as Mazda’s smaller models, but it isn’t far off.

Finally, on fuel consumption, the long gearing only really pays off if you spend plenty of time on open roads and motorways. There, it allows averages of 5,8 l/100 km a 6,2 l/100 km without much effort.

In town, by contrast, you often have to use manual mode to “wake up” the 2.2 l, and that shows in the figures: it’s difficult to get below 6,5-7,0 l/100 km in these situations.

Is it the right car for me?

Understated and with an overall quality level very close to the German benchmarks, the Mazda CX-5 remains a strong option for anyone looking for a comfortable, spacious family SUV.

The CX-5 Homura brings a more distinctive look and, above all, a solid standard equipment list - an area where it clearly distances itself from potential German premium rivals, which Mazda’s Hiroshima-built models increasingly seem ready to take on.

As for the engine, while it suits the CX-5’s family-focused character better than the petrol alternative, the truth is that even in this 184 hp and 445 Nm version it doesn’t wow on outright performance.

Instead, it “fits like a glove” with this SUV’s more relaxed, family-friendly nature, proving a strong companion on long journeys - especially on the motorway, the CX-5 Homura’s natural habitat.