An SUV is like a pair of sensible shoes that are comfortable and functional. While many ladies lust after sexy stilettoes, practical considerations often leave us no choice.
But I have come to realise that just as sneakers and ballerina flats can be trendy, SUV’s (sports utility vehicles) no longer look and drive like “Some Uninspiring Vehicle”.
The mid-size SUV segment has been hotly-contested of late, especially amongst Japanese carmakers. One contender in particular, the new Mazda CX-5, looks particularly promising.
I confess to being a design junkie. Perhaps it’s occupation-related, or maybe it’s because women are drawn to beautiful objects like bees to honey. If a car looks like a dish rag, it’s getting treated like one, never mind how it fares in other aspects.
Where design is concerned, the CX-5 passes with flying colours that are as striking as its Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint colour. This Takumi paint colour was specially created to accentuate its silhouette, but the CX-5 doesn’t need to rely on an arresting body colour to stand out from the crowd.
The preceding CX-5 was among the first generation of Mazdas to feature the brand’s KODO – Soul of Motion design, and the new CX-5 is an evolution of this theme. It combines a bold and muscular form with elegance and grace to portray a “refined toughness” that is perfect for a car, and absolutely apt for a lady.
Squinting headlamps announce to the world that “I am no pushover”, while the glossy back grille underlined with chrome lends a touch of luxury. From the side profile, the vertically truncated nose and sweeping roof line further emphasise its sportiness, as does the wide and planted stance that is especially evident from the rear.
I really appreciate how the design of the CX-5 has been distilled down to its essence. It exemplifies the “less is more” aphorism where subtle strokes are skilfully applied to create a dramatic effect. Some styling elements have a certain European-ness, yet the CX-5 remains unmistakably, and proudly Japanese.
