2013 Mazda CX-5

Like many other new production and concept vehicles, the 2013 Mazda CX-5 is making its first appearance on U.S. soil at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show.

Mazda's entry in the compact SUV segment, which made its world premiere in Frankfurt this past September, will go up against the also new Ford Escape and Honda CR-V as well as the current Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and VW Tiguan models.

The CX-5 is the first Mazda to fully encompass the Japanese brand's SKYACTIVE TECHNOLOGY, which is a suite of powertrains and a chassis architecture designed to save fuel and reduce emissions while retaining a sporty drive.

"Entering an extremely competitive segment, the all-new CX-5 has to offer more than just flash and features, but also has to perform and provide consumers with the dynamic response they've come to expect from Mazda - and it does," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda North America.

"With its SKYACTIV underpinnings and best-in-class fuel economy, CX-5 proves that fun needn't be sacrificed for fuel efficiency and that compact doesn't equate compromise," he added.

In the U.S., the CX-5 will launch early next year with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter gasoline engine rated at 155-horses at 6,000 rpm and 150 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm. Buyers will have a choice of two transmissions, the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic.

Mazda said that EPA fuel economy for the CX-5 is estimated at 26 city/33 highway for a front-wheel drive model equipped with a manual gearbox, and at 26 city/32 highway for a FWD model with an automatic transmission.

The all-wheel drive version of the CX-5, which will be available only with an automatic, is expected to return 25 mpg city /30 mpg highway.