FRESH LOOK FOR BIGGER, MORE PRACTICAL CX-5

Mazda adds size, space and new tech to its third-generation SUV

- WILL RIMELL

The Mazda CX-5 has grown for its third generation, bringing more space and new family-focused elements and introducing an array of features that are set to be rolled out across the rest of the Japanese firm's lineup.

The CX-5 remains a chunky SUV aimed squarely at young families. Mazda has tweaked the design and increased the size of what the firm calls its “most important global model” - more than 4.7 million units have been sold since its 2011 launch - in a bid to further widen the car's appeal and make it easier to live with.

The new CX-5 is 4690mm long, 1860mm wide and 1695mm tall, making it slightly larger than the car it replaces, but Mazda says it's the 115mm of extra wheelbase length that significantly improves the model's roominess, especially in the back.