---

William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

February 6, 2012

Mazda’s replacement for the Tribute, the CX-5 goes on sale this month with a starting price of $20,695 (*excludes $795 for destination). The $20,695 gets you into a base Sport CX-5 with a Mazda's brand new 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G gasoline engine and six-speed manual. A six-speed automatic will add $1,400, and all-wheel drive adds another $1,250.

Next up is the Touring model which is available with either front or all-wheel drive start at $23,895 and $25,145, respectively, and are only available with the six-speed automatic. Finally, there is the Grand Touring model which starts at $27,045 (FWD) and $28,295 (AWD). Add on the $1,325 technology package added to the GT trim and you’re looking at $29,620 for a fully loaded CX-5.

Press Release is on Page 2

---

IRVINE, Calif. (February 6, 2012) – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced pricing of its all-new 2013 CX-5 five-passenger compact crossover SUV, the first vehicle in the Mazda lineup to fully encompass SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, the brand's all-new fuel-efficient and performance-oriented engineering philosophy. Through these efforts, CX-5 achieves the best highway fuel economy of any SUV sold in North America at 35 miles per gallon (mpg) and offers the best overall fuel economy of any non-hybrid compact crossover SUV at 29 mpg combined.

"The 2013 CX-5 is a look to the future of the Mazda brand," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. "Our achievements in Research & Development have led to breakthrough engineering with SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. It shows not only in the CX-5's impressive fuel economy but also with its dynamic handling and performance, which only Mazda can bring to the compact crossover SUV segment."

The 2013 CX-5 Sport starts at a competitive $20,695 MSRP, which is well below the segment's sale leaders. Paired with the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission, the entry-level Sport trim is equipped with high-level standard amenities such as 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels outfitted with 225/65R17 Yokohama all-season tires, daytime running lights (DRL), power side view mirrors, automatic headlight shutoff as well as stylish exterior cues in body-colored outside mirrors with turn lamps, door handles, a roof spoiler and a color-keyed shark fin antenna.

The comfortably-appointed cabin offers plush Black or Sand Beige cloth seat upholstery (both with seatback pockets), push-button start, power windows with driver's side one-touch auto open/close, cruise control, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, air conditioning, a four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible radio with Automatic Level Control (ALC) as well as auxiliary and USB connection ports – all standard.

CX-5 Sport models equipped with the optional SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission start at $22,095 MSRP. When equipped with Mazda's all-new active torque-split all-wheel-drive (AWD) system (6AT models only), the starting price is $23,345 MSRP. A Bluetooth® Audio Package is available for an additional $400 MSRP and includes Bluetooth® hands-free phone and audio connectivity, a 5.8-inch in-dash color information touch-screen monitor and HD RadioTM Technology.

Moving up to the Touring model, the Bluetooth® Audio Package for Sport models becomes standard as are fog lamps, upgraded cloth seats, a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera (viewable via the 5.8-inch in-dash color monitor), an upgraded six-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible radio, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, steering- wheel-mounted audio, Bluetooth® and cruise controls, a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system as well as a rear-seat armrest with cup holders. SKYACTIV-Drive becomes standard on Touring models, which start at $23,895 MSRP with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and $25,145 MSRP when equipped with AWD.

Available package options for CX-5 Touring are the Moonroof/Bose® and Technology packages. The Moonroof/Bose® Package ($1,130 MSRP) adds a moonroof and a 225-watt Bose® Centerpoint® nine-speaker Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, which features advanced lightweight materials and components yet offers sound clarity and performance similar to larger sound systems. The Technology Package ($1,185 MSRP) adds an in-dash TomTom technology-based navigation system, an auto-dimming mirror with Homelink®, automatic on/off bi-xenon auto-leveling headlights, a pivoting Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), rain-sensing windshield wipers and an anti-theft alarm. Sirius Satellite Radio with a four-month complimentary subscription is a stand-alone option ($525 MSRP) for Touring models.

For those with a sweet tooth for more decadent luxury items is the CX-5 Grand Touring. The 17- inch aluminum alloy wheels of the Sport and Touring models are swapped for 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels and 225/55R19 Toyo all-season tires. Other premium standard features include automatic headlights, heated outside mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a moonroof. Standard cabin amenities include leather-trimmed seat upholstery, heated front seats, an eight- way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support, dual-zone automatic climate control, a Bose® Centerpoint® Surround Sound System and Sirius Satellite radio. Available in either FWD or AWD configurations, the Grand Touring model starts at $27,045 and $28,295 MSRP, respectively.

A Technology Package, similar to the Touring model, also is available on the CX-5 Grand Touring. Priced at $1,325, options include an in-dash TomTom navigation system, bi-xenon auto-leveling headlights with a pivoting Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink®, an anti-theft alarm and Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry.

All 2013 CX-5 models are equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine. At 13:1, SKYACTIV-G features the world's highest compression ratio for a mass-produced car. By comparison, a Ferrari 458 Italia supercar has a compression ratio of 12.5:1. The SKYACTIV-G engine produces 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 150 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. A $425 MSRP trailer hitch (with harness and cover) option also is available on all CX-5 models for consumers to fully utilize the vehicle's 2,000-pound towing capacity.

Never an option, safety is at the forefront of the CX-5's SKYACTIV-Body and SKYACTIV- Chassis to ensure a vehicle structure as reinforced and quiet as it is rigid and impact-absorbing. The chassis includes a front strut suspension and a multi-link rear format to return a precise, predictable feel to give drivers and passengers the peace of mind of control and stability. The body is comprised of 61 percent high-tensile steel for a lighter, stronger structure, and also utilizes 1,800MPa ultra-high tensile steel – a first for any production vehicle – in the front bumper.

Standard safety features include six airbags (front, side and full side-curtain) with rollover protection, power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), a Traction Control System (TCS), Hill Launch Assist, a collapsible steering column and fold-away brake pedal assembly, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH). A Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system is standard on Touring and Grand Touring models only.