Mazda announces CX-5 prices

Mazda has announced the prices for its new CX-5 range.

The compact SUVs will start at £21,395 and offer motorists a chance to get to grips with the new SKYACTIVE technology.

Mazda has been promoting the benefits of its groundbreaking technology for some time and now it will finally be available in the UK.

The advancements will allow motorists who need the rugged, go-anywhere power of a 4x4 a chance to lower their carbon footprint and reduced the impact of their motoring on the environment.

Those who opt for the 150ps diesel version will find that its carbon dioxide emission reading of 119g/km is much lower than the class average of 144g/km.

However, the SKYACTIV engines can also help reduce motoring costs as well as pollutants.

Some models in the range are capable of travelling up to 61.4mpg, which means that the costs associated with buying diesel and petrol will fall significantly for some drivers.

"Thanks to its solid environmental credentials, fun-to-drive performance and attractive pricing, the Mazda CX-5 is expected to have huge customer appeal," said sales director for the manufacturer Peter Allibon.

He added: "The range of SKYACTIV technologies allows Mazda to build cars that deliver class-leading fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, without the price premium charged by other brands for hybrids and electric vehicles."

However, many people may feel that prices starting in excess of £21,000 represent a huge investment.

Those motorists who like the idea of saving money with SKYACTIV engines could use a car leasing scheme.

Hiring a CX-5 will give drivers all of the benefits that Mazda's engineers have implemented, but they can bypass the high upfront costs associated with purchasing the vehicle outright.

Once a person is sat in the fully-heated seats surrounded by leather trim and looking at a fully-equipped dashboard it will make no difference - other than on the balance sheet -whether the car is owned or leased.