Can a CX-5 tow a caravan?

In this article, we will discuss whether a Mazda CX-5 can tow a caravan. We will discuss everyday drive with a Mazda CX-5, what you need to know about its engine and performance.

Can a CX-5 tow a caravan?

A CX-5 will manage just great to tow a small caravan, camper or even a one-horse trailer. This top-selling SUV has a towing capacity of 1800 kg, which is more than enough for most of us. 

The Mazda CX-5 comes with exciting engines and innovative technologies, it offers you a smooth ride, comfort and safety even when towing a caravan.

Mazda CX-5 Towing Capacity

Everyday drive with Mazda Cx-5

The CX-5 is such a successful and well-sold SUV that it made Mazda give up its big brother CX-7. Thus, the compact CX-5 benefits from top technologies, becoming Mazda’s top-of-the-range SUV (and only) in almost every market in Europe and the US.

Undoubtedly, the design is the strong point of this car. It has dynamic and expressive lines, a prominent bonnet and, above all, coherence. The same attributes can be placed next to the interior.

One of the very interesting top technologies on the CX-5 is lane departure assistance. On some cars, the steering wheel vibrates, but not on the CX-5. If you cross the dotted line or continue without signalling, the camcorder in the windshield thinks that you are asleep and a warning sound is heard from the speakers on that side. 

On the right or left, depending on the side on which you ride the marking. If you set the menu to make the alert strong (High), you have all the chances to be scared of the sound message that mimics a resonant mark. It sounds at least 3-4 times louder in the car than the most prominent resonant marking you’ve ever put your wheels on! Of course, on Medium or Low, the sound/volume is reasonable.

The same video camera, mounted behind the centre mirror, can decide the automatic activation of the brakes, at low speeds, to avoid imminent accidents in the city. The technology is called Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) and was first unveiled on the 2008 Volvo XC60.

And the multimedia system consisting of Bose audio installation and TomTom navigation is decent. True, the graphics are a bit spartan and the processor is a bit slow, but it does a decent job and has a reasonable price.

 The control module is located in the tunnel between the front seats and is reminiscent of BMW’s iDrive, but it’s a bit more spartan and less intelligent. However, the controls can also be entered directly by hand, thanks to the 5.8-inch touch screen.

Awarded by Euro NCAP and praised is the RVM system, which monitors traffic from behind and from blind spots to avoid rear accidents.

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Mazda CX-5 engine and performance

But let’s get back to the engine and efficiency. Mazda has set itself to the following two things: To make cars as light as possible and to equip them with engines as economical as possible. So, this CX-5 weighs just over 1,600 kilograms and is therefore at least 100 kilograms lighter than its direct rivals.

In combination with the 2.2-litre Skyactiv-D, biturbo diesel engine, the CX-5 consumes about 7 litres of diesel / 100 km in the suburbs and less than 13 litres of diesel / 100 km in the city. These are very good values ​​for a 175 horsepower (hp) SUV.

The engine is very prompt and quiet, and when it is heard, the sound is pleasant. With this modern engine and without unnecessary weight, the CX-5 proves to be a very agile and balanced SUV. The steering is neutral and delightful in operation, as you are rarely allowed to see in the segment of non-premium SUVs. 

The agility of the CX-5 brings with it that of the first BMW X3 but without the disadvantages of that car (high weight, very rigid suspension and low driving comfort).

The Skyactiv-D engine develops a torque of 420 Newton-meters (Nm), double that of the 2-litre gasoline engine and 150 hp – Skyactiv-G (208 Nm). But even so, acceleration to 100 km / h is not significantly better: 9.4 seconds for diesel, compared to 9.6 seconds for gasoline. However, the higher cylinder capacity of the diesel engine and the high torque is much better reflected in comfort.

The modest six-speed automatic transmission is no longer as undecided as in the case of the CX-5 petrol. Thanks to the higher torque, the box no longer has to struggle to find the right gear for acceleration. Simply put, the CX-5 Skyactiv-D (diesel) is a more pleasant car, without being significantly faster or more economical than the CX-5 Skyactiv-G (petrol).

Talking about transmission, let’s be honest for a second: It’s not bright! It has no sports mode, is a bit slow and becomes undecided on mountain roads. You must use it manually in the latter case. Besides the DSG transmission that can equip the Volkswagen Tiguan, the one on the CX-5 looks old.

Surprisingly, the all-wheel-drive system on the CX-5 is smart enough to reasonably handle available grip. Thus, even with a wheel in the air or in conditions of low grip, the torque is intelligently distributed to the wheels with better grip and in the end, you manage to pass the hop.

Mazda CX-5 main competitors 

First, on our list would have been Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan, but the options in the compact SUV segment have diversified enormously. 

Thus, instead of CX-5, you can choose Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi ASX, Skoda Yeti, Ford Kuga, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Renault Koleos, Opel Antara, Hyundai ix35, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage and, why not, the more affordable Dacia Duster.

Conclusions

Our opinion is that Mazda aims a little too high with the CX-5, but the car is indeed reliable, looks good and benefits from high technologies. 

It’s a pity that Mazda gives the impression that it hurried to launch the CX-5 and the engineers missed some embarrassing disadvantages: the hood vibrates at high speeds or while off-road, the mirrors tremble at highway speeds and the interior looks like it was done in a hurry.

Overall, the CX-5 is a decent car for towing a caravan. As long as you don’t exceed the towing limit, this compact SUV will offer you a smooth ride.

Do you agree with us? Please feel free to leave any comments or questions on the content in the comments section below. 

FAQ on Can a CX-5 tow a caravan?

Can a Mazda 5 tow a trailer?

A Mazda 5 can tow a lightweight trailer. As long as you are careful and the trailer’s weight doesn’t exceed 85% of the car’s kerb weight, you should be able to tow with a Mazda 5. 

How much is a tow bar for a Mazda 3?

A tow bar for a Mazda 3 can vary from $350 for a Mazda 3 Sedan (2003-2013) to $735 for the newer models (2013-2019).

Can a Mazda CX-3 tow a caravan?

A Mazda CX-3 has a maximum towing capacity of 900 kilograms, making it able to pull a small and lightweight caravan. 

References

• The Practical Caravan Mazda CX-5 review – YouTube
• Mazda CX-5 tow car review: Camping & Caravanning – YouTube
• 2021 Mazda CX-5 Crossover SUV – Fuel Efficient SUV | Mazda USA