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2018 Mazda CX-5 Diesel EPA Figure Is Out And It Is Not Looking Good
Americans have been waiting for the diesel version of the Mazda CX-5 for years, and now that it has arrived, the market will surely be disappointed with its Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings. Though the CX-5 has finally been certified, the bench numbers are not looking good and may even be the reason for the CX-5 diesel’s possible low sales in the US.
EPA published its estimates for a CX-5 diesel at 28 mpg city and 31 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive version and 27/30 mpg with all-wheel drive. The city mileage improved by just 3 mpg compared with the gasoline version while highway mileage, which is normally the reason anyone buys a diesel engine, did not improve at all.
Mazda confirmed previously that the CX-5’s 2.2-liter turbo-diesel four, which is rated at 173 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque overseas, will be available in the US for the 2017 model year. It took some time for the Japanese automaker to have the engine tested by the EPA. Even its promise of a diesel engine for the Mazda 6 sedan is in jeopardy of being realized.
Even before the emissions scandal that rocked Volkswagen, Mazda has been having trouble meeting EPA requirements without sacrificing the crossover’s performance. Its Skyactiv-D engine “could be made to drive the way we wanted or it could meet U.S. emissions, but not both.”
Based on these EPA ratings, it looked like Mazda had chosen to go ahead with its high-performance machine. But since the engine must also reduce nitrogen oxide and particulate matter, Mazda had to increase fuel consumption. This will keep the particulate filter clean by burning off excess soot.
The CX-5 diesel is not looking too good seeing as its competitors have better EPA ratings: the Chevrolet Equinox diesel matched the CX-5’s city rating but trampled upon its highway rating with 39 mpg (front-wheel drive) or 38 mpg. The Jaguar F-Pace 20d is rated at 26 city/33 highway and the much heavier Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel 4WD (21/28 mpg) and Range Rover Sport Td6 (22/28 mpg) are almost rated the same as the smaller CX-5.
