What Is Torque? And How Much Of It Does The Turbocharged 2021 Mazda CX-5 Turbo Have?

"The more torque an engine produces," Car And Driver says, "the greater its ability to perform work."

More, incidentally, is the key word when it comes to the torque output of Mazda's turbocharged Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine. The 2.5-liter churns out 320 pound-feet of torque. Better yet, the 2.5 turbo creates a torque plateau that levels off at a low 2,000 rpm. That means the CX-5 doesn't need to be revved and revved and revved to feel powerful – the turbo makes abundant torque available across the entire rev range, even right above idle. 

Torquey engines are designed with real-world use in mind. Some engines make a lot of power, but they don't produce that power until the tachometer is reading 5,000 or 6,000 rpm. Mazda's 2.5-liter turbo was designed with overtaking in mind, so there's a surplus of torque available for your right foot at any time. So when there's slow-moving traffic in front of you, the instant a passing lane opens up, there are 320 lb-ft of torque available to urge the CX-5 into the left lane without even a moment's notice.

It's easy for us to say the CX-5 is quick, but what do the facts say? 

Let's pick some premium alternatives for a CX-5 comparison. The 2021 Mazda CX-5 produces 14% more torque than the Acura RDX, 17% more than the Audi Q5, and 24% more than the Cadillac XT4. Those were the three top-selling so-called luxury utility vehicles in PEI in 2020, but none of them compare favourably to the CX-5's turbocharged engine.

What about comparably priced alternatives? To put it kindly, the turbocharged Mazda CX-5 embarrasses vehicles in its own segment. The CX-5's 2.5T produces 45% more torque than the Volkswagen Tiguan, 74% more torque than the Toyota RAV4, and 82% more torque than the Subaru Forester.

Even when you choose the optional Ford Escape turbo, the CX-5 still produces 14% more torque. The turbo CX-5 out-torques the Chevrolet Equinox by 58%. Keep scanning the spec charts of potential CX-5 competitors and you'll keep making the same discovery – the Skyactiv-G 2.5 turbo is a beast.

Prioritizing performance is part of what gives every Mazda such an exceptional driving experience. No wonder Mazda is the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada's most awarded brand ever. No wonder the CX-5 has won a Car And Driver 10 Best award in each of the last four years. But the CX-5 is much more than a top performer designed to appeal to enthusiast drivers.

Mazda, according to Consumer Reports, is now the most reliable auto brand on the market. Consumer Reports went a step further and determined Mazda is actually the best auto brand on the market, full stop, based on reliability, road tests, customer satisfaction, and safety. And speaking of safety, every Mazda tested earns the highest award – Top Safety Pick+ – from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Safety. Reliability. Performance. Style. Luxury. The turbocharged CX-5 covers all the bases. 

Mazda's Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter turbocharged engine is available as an option on the 2021 Mazda CX-5 GT and is standard equipment in the 2021 Mazda CX-5 Signature and CX-5 100th Anniversary Edition.