The dashboard is solid, uncluttered and well-designed, with sophisticated trim and straightforward controls. The 5.8-inch display can be controlled by touch or by a round multifunction knob on the console, making navigating the computer a painless process.

CX-5's interior is well-finished and roomy, with a high level of features in the Grand Touring model. (Photo: Mazda)

My test vehicle was the Grand Touring edition, which upgrades many things, including leather upholstery, 19-inch alloy wheels, an eight-way power driver seat and a nine-speaker Bose sound system with satellite radio.

Aiming squarely at the lucrative young family demographic, the CX-5 offers an array of safety features, such as automatic headlamp-beam controls, a rearview camera and a “Blind Spot monitoring system,” which checks nearby lanes for other cars.

The rear seat is roomier than much of the competition, but don’t stick three of your friends back there for a long road trip. The kids will be plenty happy, though, and the backrests are set up with a 40/20/40-split arrangement for long cargo. With the back seat folded down, the cargo hold offers 17 cubic feet of space, plus an underfloor stash spot.

Base price for the entry-level front-wheel-drive Sport model is $20,695, the FWD Touring costs $23,895 and the fully loaded Grand Touring test car with FWD came out to $27,840, including shipping. All-wheel-drive versions cost about $1,200 more across the board.

With the CX-5, Mazda has boldly put its best foot forward, hitting all the marks that most people look for in a family vehicle: plenty of space, fuel-efficiency and safety. And while these things can also be found at your local Honda or Toyota dealership, you won’t find them in such a cool, fun-to-drive package.

Details

Vehicle type: Five-passenger, five-door SUV crossover, front-wheel drive.
Engine: 2.0-liter inline-4, 155 horsepower at 6,000 rpm, 150 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm.
Transmission: Six-speed manual or automatic.
Wheelbase: 106.3 inches.
Overall length: 179.3 inches.
Curb weight: 3,208 pounds manual, 3,272 pounds automatic
EPA fuel mileage: 26 city, 32 highway for automatic; 25 city, 35 highway for manual, and 29 combined for either.