[2017 MIAS] Joey Mead-King Unveils The All-New Mazda CX-5, CX-9, and MX-5 RF (With Video)

There’s no denying that Mazda makes some of the best looking cars in the industry, and that’s regardless if we’re talking about the mainstream or premium segment. In a fabulously designed pavilion, Mazda Philippines, hosted by Asia’s Next Top Model model mentor and wife of Ian (Angie) King, Joey Mead-King, has unveiled the 2017 Mazda collection, featuring the gorgeous Mazda CX-5, Mazda CX-9, and the Mazda MX-5 RF.

Mazda CX-5

Perhaps crucial for Mazda in the Philippine market is the CX-5. The brand’s best selling model has been given a refresh, and it debuts the “Mazda Premium” ethos, in a bid to transition Mazda into a more upmarket manufacturer, and in a sense, they have succeeded. First impressions of the Mazda CX-5 are very good. The exterior design is evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, refining the details of the already good looking SUV.

Inside is where there are plenty of changes to make it a premium vehicle. The Mazda CX-5’s sore point has been its interior looking plain in an otherwise good looking SUV. The interior is now filled with plenty of stitching details and soft touch materials, elevating the sense of luxury inside the CX-5. There’s a tasteful blend of plastics, faux aluminum trim, and other stitching details.

Power comes courtesy of three engines in three variants. All are SKYACTIV engines with direct injection and a high compression ratio. The entry level FWD PRO variant comes with a 2.0 liter SKYACTIV-G petrol engine, producing 155 hp and 200 Nm of torque. The AWD Sport comes with a 2.5 liter SKYACTIV-G petrol engine, producing 184 hp and 251 Nm of torque. The AWD Diesel is powered by a twin turbo SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, producing 173 hp and 420 Nm of torque. All are mated to a SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-Speed Automatic Transmission.

The Mazda CX-5 comes packed with features, with automatic LED headlights with LED daytime lights, LED fog lights, leather interior, electronic parking brake, stability control, MZD connect infotainment, rear view camera, rain sensing wipers, and auto dimming rear view mirror. AWD variants get 19 inch alloys, BOSE surround sound system, head up display, sunroof, and Blind Spot Monitoring, while exclusive to the diesel are a power liftgate, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, and Adaptive LED headlights.

Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 has finally arrived in the Philippines, almost 1 year after its global reveal. The large SUV is quoted by the brand as their most “luxurious” offering to date, and somehow, we don’t deny that. The exterior expresses a sense of luxury, rather than all out sport and youthfulness that the CX-9’s smaller siblings possess. At 5,075 mm long, it is shorter than the previous generation by 30 mm, but it has a 55 mm longer wheelbase, which means the car has shorter front and rear overhangs, enabling that CX-9’s dynamic stance and roomier cabin thanks to the longer wheelbase.

The CX-9’s interior is fantastic, to say the least, with plenty of premium materials, and Mazda’s first ever application of real aluminum trim inside the vehicle, which substantially elevates the Mazda CX-9’s interior ambience.

The Mazda CX-9 is powered by Mazda’s first ever turbocharged SKYACTIV-G petrol engine, a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine, which produces 227 hp on standard grade fuel, and 250 hp on premium fuel, and a torque figure of 420 Nm, regardless of fuel grade. It is mated only to a SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-Speed Automatic. The 2.5 liter engine’s turbocharger is not just any ordinary turbo. The “Dynamic Pressure Turbo” is the “world’s first turbocharger with the ability to vary the degree of exhaust pulsation depending on engine speed”.

The CX-9 is also packed with features, such as a power liftgate, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring, BOSE surround sound system, sunroof, and Adaptive LED headlights.

Mazda MX-5 RF

Based on the responses on Go Flat Out’s Facebook page, the MX-5 RF might be one of 2017 Manila International Auto Show’s most popular cars, alongside the Honda Civic Type R. RF, which stands for retractable fastback, sets itself apart from the standard MX-5 with its folding metal roof. The overall shape of the MX-5 has now become reminiscent of a targa top, defined by its buttresses, which highlight the MX-5’s fastback roofline. The MX-5 RF is arguably one of the best looking cars to ever come out of Hiroshima, and it also has an interior to match its seductive looks.

As standard, the MX-5 RF has a black leather interior, but for P70,000, the interior can be wrapped in plush Nappa leather in brown. Compared with the standard MX-5, the RF has a more grown-up look, catered more to buyers who desire a sense of luxury out of their roadsters, and it’s a character further emphasized by its premium 9-speaker BOSE surround sound system.

The MX-5 RF is powered by a 2.0 liter SKYACTIV-G petrol engine, which produces 155 hp and 200 Nm of torque. Further cementing its grown up character is its sole transmission option, a SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-Speed Automatic.

Along with the great looking cars that Mazda has launched this year, the Mazda Pavilion has also won the Best Booth Award at the 2017 Manila International Auto Show, further cementing Mazda as a purveyor of all things good looking. Interested in any of these Mazda’s, you won’t regret your decision as these cars come with YOJIN3, Mazda’s 3-year car care program for new owners. YOJIN3, if you still don’t know by now, comes with Mazda’s free 3-year maintenance, which can reap huge ownership savings for any Mazda owner in the Philippines.