2016 Mazda CX-5: For the Enthusiast in All of Us

Some people think that they have to stop having fun behind the wheel when they have kids, that it's now time to sell the sports car and get into a minivan or a boring SUV to shuttle the little ones around.

While some begrudgingly accept their fate and buy a Grand Caravan or a RAV4, others are not ready to give in: you’ll see them with their baby seats strapped in the back of a coupe.

• Also: 2016 Mazda CX-5: Hard to Beat
• Also: An Update on the Mazda CX-5 Recall

Mazda has a reputation for delivering fun-to-drive vehicles in every segment, so the arrival of the CX-5 was a pretty big stirrup in the compact SUV world. You could now get a vehicle capable of seating five people plus their luggage (or two adults and two kids in booster seats) that was also fun and didn't drink an outrageous amount of fuel... Best of both worlds, right?

However, it's been a few years since the CX-5 was launched. The competition hasn't been idle all this time, and some of them now offer more powerful and more modern iterations of their own compact SUVs.

Is the 2016 Mazda CX-5 still a valid choice in its segment?

Freshening up the look

The 2016 Mazda CX-5 received some cosmetic changes to help it stay relevant. While the overall styling is pretty similar, the front end saw its headlights and front grille updated with the most recent cues from Mazda's KODO design language. If you like the Mazda6, you will probably find yourself doing double-takes if you pass a CX-5 on the road; both look pretty similar, in my opinion. At the back, we are treated to different, darker taillights.

Inside, it's pretty much the same: Mazda's infotainment system sits awkwardly on the dashboard like an iPad, the very-useful dial used to navigate through the various menus is located between the front seats and the simple single-colour LCD screen is nestled between the tachometer and the speedometer. The end result is really good-looking: even though it is now three years old, the CX-5 doesn't feel dated.

And wait until you drive it.

If you like driving

Driving feel isn't easy to explain: basically, you instinctively know when a vehicle feels good or doesn't.  It inspires confidence, it makes you enter your favourite corner a little faster each time. It makes you smile every time you exit a curve.

This is what enthusiasts fear to lose when they get in an SUV. I am happy to report that the CX-5 hasn't lost sight of what makes driving fun.

Just like the Mazda3 and the Mazda6, the CX-5 is very poised and stable on the road. The steering is nicely weighted, and sudden changes of direction won't upset the chassis. Even though the suspension is firm, it won't beat you up over small bumps.

Mazda offers two engines in the compact SUV: a non-turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder powerplant producing 155 horsepower, and a 2.5-litre unit with 184 hp. While they don't turn the CX-5 into a dragster, they are more than adequate in everyday driving, and the bigger engine has enough grunt to pass a semi on a back road without too much trouble.

It is also frugal if you don't keep your foot buried in the right pedal. The transmission I had in my test vehicle was a very efficient six-speed automatic; its ratios are wide and make good use of the engine's power band. You can also get a manual gearbox with the base engine for added driving pleasure.

It will keep its crown

It's no secret that automotive journalists like the Mazda CX-5. The little SUV reminded everyone that high-riding vehicles with smaller engines didn't have to be boring and dull to drive. With the few changes made in 2016, I don't doubt the CX-5 has many more good years ahead of it. Who knows? It might even win The Car Guide's Best Sub-$40K Compact SUV title for a fifth consecutive year...