Designed to be a driver’s car, Mazda’s modern car manufacturing technologies have been polished through endless training and exercise as well as ancient horse-riding philosophy, resulting in what the company calls Jinba-Ittai – becoming one with the car.
Mazda’s CX-5 Kuro Edition has updated the exterior and interior look from its Elite model counterpart to be sportier and more elegant. Black detail -hence the name- decorates the Kuro Edition’s front grille, wheels, side mirrors and side roof rails, creating the more dramatic look that Mazda strives for in their design philosophy: Soul of Motion. The car also emphasizes the concept of effortless, joyful driving where the human-centric design is aimed at making the whole driving experience even more accurate and enjoyable. The Mazda CX-5 Kuro Edition is not a car to adapt to, instead it is a car that adapts to its driver.
Mazda’s first step in increasing the driving pleasure experience starts with the interior. Cancelling as much resonance between the suspension system and the cabin as possible to reduce noise especially when driving on rough surface, the Active Driving Display will project your speed to the windshield along with early warnings from the i-Activsense driving support system. Minimizing the need to mess around with your smartphone, a Qi wireless charging port on the middle console is available allowing Mazda Connect to access the car’s entertainment and setup system by voice. Also equipped with a wireless smartphone integration system, this makes accessing your favorite movie or much needed navigation easier than ever. The main LED screen is also where you can view the 360° View Monitor System which helps to minimize blind spots, detect surrounding objects, and helps with parking. The Mazda CX-5 Kuro Edition comes equipped with the BOSE 10-Speaker Premium Audio System, emphasizing three main elements: clarity, cleanliness, and power ensuring the audio system delivers clear, distortion-less sound. Your Mazda CX-5 Kuro Edition is available in 6 body colors with captivating red stitching details that adorn the black leather and interior trim.
Mazda has equipped the CX-5 Kuro Edition with a smart driving assistant system. Cruising and Traffic Support (CTS) will reduce driver fatigue, contribute to keeping safe distances, and stabilize the car. CTS works in tandem with the Lane-Keep Assist System, Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert which not only appraise the obstacles and other drivers around, but also road markings. At night, the Adaptive LED Headlight technology not only avoids blinding oncoming traffic with Glare-Free High Beam, but it also illuminates a wider area at low speed and further ahead at higher speed.
The Mazda CX-5 Kuro Edition manages an efficient performance thanks to its smart SKYACTIV-G 2.5L engine. A staple in modern Mazda CX models, the Skyactiv puts out 190hp and 252Nm in torque and is able to deactivate 2 of its 4 cylinders mid-drive to increase fuel efficiency. This is in addition to the i-Stop system that shuts down the engine while stationary and delivers a near instantaneous engine restart when it’s time to move again.
Driver Experience
As proven in my maiden drive with this car, a 143km 3 hours-ish drive from Eurokars HQ in South Jakarta to a seaside hotel we’re going to spend a night in Anyer, Banten province due west from the capital, the first thing I noticed after I closed the door is how quiet it was. Visibility is wide, and the pillars obstruct very little. Even as the car starts moving, the interior remained quiet so much so that I couldn’t hear the road or the engine, making my driving experience more comfortable and making a longer drive more bearable.
Moving on normal roads, the radar system kept reminding me about the existence of the impending doom of other road users. Even when stationary, approaching objects such as swerving motorcyclists, jaywalkers or other cars which put themselves an inch or two too close for comfort would trigger the alarm. The car also didn’t appreciate it whenever I stopped too close behind the car in front of me, activating the 360° surveillance camera system so I could reflect on my mistake and see how close I had come to ruining my own day.
To make life in the car even easier and focused, a finger activated voice recognition system helps to access the entertainment system and GPS navigation without having to lift your hand off the steering wheel nor eyes off the road. Steering movement is precise and adequately responsive, so light as if the 19’ wheels are made of cotton candy. As I drove at higher speeds, Mazda’s own smart driving assistant came into play. Reading the road lines and steering the car back into the lane whenever I was about to veer onto the next one. This automated action can be cancelled by simply letting the car know that you are still fully in control performed in this case by turning on the indicator before you switch lanes.
Once I reached the highway, everything started to fall into silence again. The Mazda CX-5 Kuro Edition boasts its sporting DNA and, even after all that, it’s still a tame beast in congested inner-city highways. But, once the crowd starts to disperse, it silently turns into something else. I was driving with Normal Mode engaged and had no trouble gaining power for immediate overtaking. The car simply glides like butter on top of a hot pan accompanied with a little growl as a reminder that we are both in action right now.
Mazda’s Skyactiv-G 2.5L engine is specially designed to embrace its own generated power while also being considerate with the fuel consumption, meaning you can drive faster and further. On longer drives, with more stable speed, Mazda’s engine deactivates 2 of the 4 cylinders, resulting in more fuel in the tank to spare.
