5 Reasons To Love The Sporty Crossover Mazda CX-5 #DriveMazda #DriveShop

When it comes to transportation throughout the resort, nobody does it better than the Walt Disney World Resort but sometimes a girl just wants to be able to drive to Starbucks at midnight or show up on her son’s doorstep to surprise him or run to the store to stock up the fridge and thanks to my friends at Mazda and Drive Shop I was able to do all of that and more last week when I attended the 2017 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration Disney Land and Sea last week in Orlando when they loaned me the use of the all new Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD during my stay.

This 5-passenger sporty crossover vehicle was the perfect car for getting us everywhere we needed to be in comfort and style and it’s easy to see why CX-5’s capable performance, efficiency and boldness have made it a favorite in its class. Equipped with all the latest that technology has to offer, with ample cargo room and designed with comfort as a top priority, here’s just a few of the things we came to love about the Mazda CX-5:

Plenty Of Room and Then Some

I admit it, I don’t travel lightly- I do pack everything in the house and the kitchen sink but the CX-5 had easily fit my two huge suitcases, plus by C-3PO suitcase, computer bag as well as Bob’s overnighter without ever having to fold the seats down still leaving us plenty of room to comfortably seat five once we picked up my son and his friends giving them the much needed extra leg-room in the back that they needed.

And had we needed more room for my gear, or during our grocery store run-because what good is it having mommy come to visit if she doesn’t take you grocery shopping to restock the pantry and cupboards, the easy-release 40/20/40 split fold-down rear seatback lets us customize the seating with up to 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space.  

SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY FIRST

Whether you’re trying to get out of the busy Orlando International Airport or backing out of you parking space at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where exhausted Park goers may inadvertently walk behind your car as it backs up or traversing the roadways of the area where everyone seems to think turn signals are merely suggestions apparently, thanks to all of the built in safety features of the not just the CX-5 but all of the Mazdas we have been lucky enough to test out thanks to Drive Shop, the engineers at Mazda go the extra mile when it comes to making me feel completely safe when I’m behind the wheel of one of their cars.

The Active Safety Technology is the best when it comes to helping prevent accidents by supporting my ability to predict and avoid hazards through visual and auditory alerts. As I’ve said before, backing up is not one of my strong suits but the Mazda CX-5 backup camera allows me to see different angles as I back up and then even warns me when cars or people are in my blind spot or even close to the rear of the car.

The I-ACTIVSENSE Safety System Includes:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control w/ Close Proximity Warning
• Smart Brake Support w/Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• High Beam Control
• Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Rearview Camera

And just in case Advanced dual front airbags PLUS the car received 5 stars from the government for side crash test on the front seat and the rear seat, and 4 stars for rollovers.

Technology At Its Best

Whether I needed to know how to get from Disney’s Animal Kingdom to my son’s apartment or from my son’s apartment to Target and then to a 24 hour Starbucks, the Mazda’s The Grand Touring Tech package included in the vehicle we drove had the navigation systems right at my fingertips-just type in a location and go.

The touchscreen display comes equipped with Navigation, Bluetooth, Rear View Camera and Sirius XM Radio, which can be controlled, on the touchscreen panel or by a navigational knob that sits behind the gear-shift and allows you to easily switch from entertainment mode to GPS mode without ever taking your eyes off the road. Even better, the steering wheel has all the controls you need right at your fingertips to enable you to use you Bluetooth enabled phone which pairs with the car or your music and of course the cruise control.

So Comfortable You’ll Forget You’re In A Car

Just like the other Mazdas we have tested over the last year, the Mazda CX-5 is tops when it comes to comfort. The leather seats give you the feel of a luxurious ride, with plenty of room in the front seat as well as the back seats,even when your son happens to be 6’4” with legs that go on forever.

Also in the back there was a convenient pull down armrest between the seats with built-in drink holders and perfect if the littles happen to be with you and are in need of their own personal space. Because we can never seem to settle on one temperature that works for us both, the dual climate control means neither one of us are ever too hot or too cold allowing both the driver and passenger to ride comfortably. And yes, there are some mornings that even in Florida that first thing in the morning or late at night, there is nothing better than a heated seat. 

Sporty All The Way

The Mazda CX-5 is a crossover vehicle, meaning it’s between a car and an SUV, but the way it drives is definitely more like a car. It has the looks of a sleek and smooth sports car, with alloy wheels and details that give you the feel that you’re behind the wheel as a high-priced luxury vehicle but the reality it’s price tag makes if affordable whether you are a young family needed something for the everyday rigors of daily life, or your like we are with the last child having left the nest and the world is ours-but sometimes the grandkids are along for the ride. But at no time did I ever feel as though I was driving a “grandma-mobile” as my kids used to call my own mom’s car. And the icing on the cake-the sunroof was perfect to let in all of that sweet Florida sunshine.

Sleek, smooth, sporty and just plain fun, the Mazda CX-5 is the perfect compact crossover vehicle that let’s you live large as you zoom, zoom, zoom as only a Mazda can do. Thanks to Mazda and DriveShop for our magic carpet ride last week while we visited the most magical place on earth, the Walt Disney World Resort.

And as if all of that weren’t my favorite part of our weeklong test drive was actually not just the car but also Mazda’s commitment to giving back. Giving back to communities has always been at the heart of Mazda. Now in it’s fourth year, Mazda Drive for Good® gives drivers the chance to be a part of the spirit of giving.

Since its launch in 2013, the Mazda Drive for Good® charitable program has donated more than 12.9 million dollars and has pledged more than 192,000 charitable service hours and continues to provide monetary donations and community service throughout the year. Part of my family’s weeklong test-drive included being presented with a $25 Charitable Giving Card which allowed us to make a donation to the charity of our choice. Thank you Drive for Good® for helping us to touch the lives of others.

Sleek, smooth, sporty and just plain fun, the Mazda CX-5 is the perfect compact crossover vehicle that let’s you live large as you zoom, zoom, zoom as only a Mazda can do. Thanks to Mazda and DriveShop for our magic carpet ride last week while we visited the most magical place on earth, the Walt Disney World Resort. Check out the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD and experience the over-achiever of its class for yourself. At Mazda every little detail matters because driving matters!

Check out our other Mazda Reviews:

On The Road With The Fun And Luxurious Mazda CX9 Signature AWD

Our Review of the 2016 Mazda 6i 

Want to find out more about the Mazda family of cars? Check them out on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram and follow along with them by looking for the hashtag #DriveMazda across Social Media.

Disclosure: We were given a Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD automobile to test drive for one week through our partnership with DriveShop however the thoughts and opinions expressed here are 100% our own.