1. The Exterior Is Super Stylish . . .

Mazda has been consistently refining its Kodo design language since the style first appeared on the Shinari concept in 2010 and, later, on the current-generation Mazda 6 sedan. Today’s CX-5 represents one of the best applications of the Kodo theme yet. It looks athletic and refined, two descriptors that almost nothing else in this class (or even one class above) can lay claim to. With a prominent snout and curving front fenders, it has a slightly premium, rear-wheel-drive look despite its humbler front-wheel-drive underpinnings. The CX-5's surfacing and detailing could have come directly from a luxury automaker, and even the base-level CX-5 Sport has high-end touches such as LED headlights.