Finally, thanks for some good info, even if this is a cherry-picked sample size of 1 diesel unit, from one source, subject to typos, production variations, selective variations due to tuning by the supplier/manufacturer (yes this does happen), etc. Surprise, surprise, this is the only source showing this much variation in measured acceleration 0-62mph, even Mazda UK only shows usual 1/2 second difference.
The UK has two diesels. The poorer of the two outperforms the petrol, but only be a small distance.
We don't sell that diesel in Australia. We only sell the greater of the two.
Completely agree on your comment that the petrol outperforms the diesel in most cases. So do the car magazines.
In every comparison for performance reasons alone, they will choose the petrol over diesel.
But Wheels stated in their comparison, there is a major difference with the CX-5. The design of the diesel differs from all competitors due to it being a very light, high revving diesel.
The said that in the VW Tiguan for example, the diesel was the better for fuel economy by a large margin, but the petrol Tiguan was the better performer by a large margin. Not a surprise.
Ironically though, the CX-5 Diesel (top diesel, not the lower UK one), was significantly higher in performance (30% better acceleration off line, 50% on highway), but marginally better fuel economy.
In a like for like comparison with the Tiguan, the said that the Diesel CX-5 was similar to the petrol Tiguan and the petrol CX-5 was like the diesel Tiguan. It had them confused.
Performance wise it was:
Petrol Tiguan slightly ahead of Diesel CX-5 (except on highway overtake) - then massive gap back to petrol CX-5 which was a little ahead of diesel Tiguan.
Economy wise it was:
Diesel CX-5 a little ahead of diesel Tiguan, a little ahead of petrol CX-5 - then a massive gap back to petrol Tiguan.
CX-SV - you seem to make lots of comments on how close they are, and you haven't even driven them both?
I'd suggest to go to a country that has both and drive before comment.
I am quoting magazines, but I have driven both petrol/diesel CX-5 and petrol/diesel Tiguan. The comments are spot on correct. And it's the reason I bought the Diesel CX-5 in the first place. I was actually in the market for a diesel VW Passat when I was shopping, but fell in love with the performance of the CX-7 turbo.
When I first drove the petrol CX-5, it couldn't match the CX-7 at all. But the CX-7's biggest problem was fuel.
After driving the CX-5 Diesel, it had similar performance (turbos are addictive on both) - CX-7 still has edge.