Drove: Mazda5 CD116
Ha, the chimney is called Etna, and it paralyzed air traffic just days before the actual presentation began. They did not put any filters on her, she calmed down herself. But she was still breathing a little hard.
The Mazda5 CD116 didn't blow anything up when we tested it on the road. They're perfect for the MX-5 or RX-8, with ups and downs and countless turns on excellent pavement, which means the Five has been put to the test. Its new turbodiesel engine added six "horses" compared to the replacement, but at the same time it lost as much as 0,4 liters of volume. Considering that it is difficult for a person to get rid of an iron shirt, there is at least a little doubt about this beginning of the "cut".
Mazda has listed as many as 18 competitors in this class of car, which they call the C-MAV, and we call it midsize sedan vans, and many of them offer a range of powertrains. This can be seen from the table, it is not difficult to find the most suitable one through the eyes of each person, but the truth is much simpler: more than 90 percent of customers choose between two or maybe three cars.
For this reason, the Mazda5, which in its first month of sales was only available with 1,8- and 2-liter petrol engines, is now only available with "only" a turbodiesel. And this is a new one, which is commercially called CD116 in the full designation of the car. The figure means the engine power in "horses", and its volume is 1,6 liters. And the engine, of course, is brand new, almost nothing like the previous two-liter.
Because: The new aluminum block engine has only one camshaft and eight valves (fewer components!) In the head, making it lighter and with less internal friction, further reduced by tiny measures and gimmicks. It was then equipped with a more modern common line, which now injects up to five times per cycle and at pressures of up to 1.600 bar. He then received a new turbocharger with variable blade angles on the turbine side and a maximum overpressure of 1,6 bar. Probably, even earlier, it was depleted by the compression ratio, which now is only 16: 1.
It all goes like this. The combustion temperature is much lower, so there are much less nitrogen oxides, but in order for the engine to warm up to operating temperature quickly enough (and therefore less air pollution), a smarter engine cooling system and smarter return of exhaust gases to the system are needed. combustion process. The best is yet to come. Peak torque is now available over a wider rev range, 270 Nm going from 1.750 to 2.500 rpm, and max power is damped 250 rpm earlier than with the old turbo diesel. In terms of economy, the engine has reduced maintenance costs (maintenance-free particulate filter) and driving costs as fuel consumption has dropped from 6,1 to 5,2 liters per 100 km. And carbon dioxide emissions fell from 159 to 138 grams per kilometer. This, in turn, means a reduction in consumption by almost 15% and a reduction in emissions by 13%.
There are also quite large changes in weight loss. The engine is 73 kilograms lighter than the previous one, and the new manual (6) gearbox, which we have not yet mentioned, is 47 kilograms. Only 120! This is far from an insignificant number, and it also has a significant impact on more economical and cleaner driving.
Perpetual skepticism does not believe in the main theory, because the Five is still quite heavy and yet has a large frontal area. And the top speed, 180 kilometers per hour, does not look promising either. But the climbs do not tire her, and the engine drives the body pretty well at permitted speeds, even on the highway, very quickly. Much faster than we dared to predict based on theory. And there is so much noise and vibration inside that we can count Petica among the best among our competitors without remorse.
And a little lesson on the economics of sales. Cars in this segment (in Europe) are 70 percent turbodiesel, and the previous generation Mazda5 was noticeably more popular with petrol engines, at 60 percent.
But after testing, the number could change. Neither because of the cleanliness of the engine (Euro5), nor because of the indicated figures. Simply because the Mazda5, driven in this way, is pleasant, light and tireless, but at the same time - if necessary - dynamic and enjoyable.
Slovenia
Mazda5 CD116 is already on sale. It is available with five equipment packages (CE, TE, TX, TX Plus and GTA). The latter is the most expensive at 26.490 euros, while the TX Plus, which is already very well equipped, costs 1.400 euros less. For TX, €23.990 must be deducted, while TE is another €850 cheaper.
Vinko Kernc, photo: Vinko Kernc
