Is the 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Diesel Worth It?
We’ve driven the newly available 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Diesel and deemed it a good compact SUV with luxury aspirations it can’t quite deliver. But after seeing our vehicle’s as-tested price of $44,335, we got to wondering: Is the diesel really worth that much?
Related: Mazda CX-5 vs. Volvo XC40: Is Mazda’s $42K CX-5 Diesel a Luxury Car?
Part of the pricing issue is that the new engine — a turbocharged diesel 2.2-liter four-cylinder — currently comes only on the CX-5’s top trim, Signature. The CX-5 Signature starts with standard all-wheel drive and a turbocharged gasoline 2.5-liter four-cylinder; before adding the optional diesel engine, you’re looking at a compact SUV that starts at nearly $38,000.
Our test car, which had premium paint and half a dozen accessories, ran almost $6,400 more. But the biggest single chunk — the diesel upgrade — added $4,110. That’s a hefty price to pay; where’s the payoff?
In terms of fuel economy, the EPA rates the CX-5 Signature Diesel at 27/30/28 mpg city/highway/combined, while the gasoline CX-5 Signature is rated at 22/27/24 mpg. The combined diesel ratings are 17 percent better, but whether the mileage translates to monetary savings depends on location and driving style. More city driving means more fuel savings, but actual fuel costs will depend on where you gas up.
As of this writing, AAA says the national average price for diesel fuel is 25 cents cheaper per gallon (8 percent) than premium gas, which is what Mazda recommends with the Signature’s turbo 2.5-liter four-cylinder. But that engine can also run on regular gas at a cost of 23 horsepower, down to 227 hp versus 250 hp with 93-octane premium. Compared to regular, diesel is 36 cents more per gallon (14 percent).
Diesel powertrains are usually more about efficiency than performance, and the CX-5 Signature Diesel is no different. We found it adequate and reasonably refined, but it didn’t offer any benefit in driving experience. Our experience with the CX-5 Signature’s gasoline 2.5-liter turbo didn’t exactly impress, either, despite it offering up to 250 hp and 310 pounds-feet of torque (the torque figure unchanged regardless of fuel) versus the diesel’s 168 hp and 290 pounds-feet.
Simply put, the gasoline Signature lacked nearly as much zoom-zoom as we expected. Some editors even drove it exclusively in a driver-selectable Sport mode just to make the SUV feel like something. The CX-5 Signature Diesel doesn’t even have a Sport mode. Predictably, it isn’t much fun either.
More From Cars.com:
- 2019 Mazda CX-5 Review: Posh and Poised, But Tech Needs Tuning
- Mazda Unveils 2019 CX-5 Signature Diesel: Premium Oil
- 2019 Mazda CX-5 Earns Sixth Straight Top Safety Award
- 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature: Luxury Contender or Pretty Good Pretender?
- 2019 Mazda CX-5 Adds Turbo Engine, New Trims
The choice for shoppers comes down to initial price and then driving-style preference. If you’re someone who wants driving fun, the diesel isn’t for you. But if you’re looking for more mileage — especially if you do a lot of city driving — the initial cost of diesel might be worth the potential long-term savings at the pump.
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