Frank admission, I was expecting something radical from Mazda when the invitation came through for the ‘new’ CX-5. This is not the CX-5 you knew, but it’s not the oh gosh, what have you done? update either.

Instead, this is a CX-5 for trainspotters, and in a country where we like our meat, potatoes with three veg dinners, that’s a good thing.

Besides, the CX-5 formula is so successful for Mazda, it must have been tough on the design teams to change it even a little bit and retain the formula’s integrity. That’s the mark of a good vehicle by the way – when it hurts to change it.

So, what has Mazda done? Cleverly, the brand has expanded the range offering more than anything else and this – the Activ – is the most intriguing of the seven-model CX-5 line up, of which five are AWDs.

The Activ is too, which you could probably deduce from the name. It appeals to those fortunate enough to have a company vehicle for their recreational weekend use and is distinguished by flashes of active colour as in-cabin highlights. It’s different and takes that corporate edge off the SUV, suggesting that the owner has a balanced work/play lifestyle.

Other than some little green bits thoughtfully positioned around the cabin, what else does the Activ grade – sitting between GSX and Limited – have to offer?

First, it retains the i-Activ All-Wheel-Drive system, which seamlessly diverts torque from the front wheels to the rear wheels and vice-versa, but it predicts the road and weather conditions prior to changes in wheel spin and engine power to react. CX-5s have had this for a while.   

What’s new is Mi-Drive, or Mazda Intelligent Drive Select, which debuts on this model and offers:

Normal Mode for daily driving on paved roads What most would use their CX-5 for.

Sport Mode for those times when spirited driving is what’s wanted.

Off-Road mode, which enhances the All-Wheel Drive system for a wide range of off-road driving conditions from gravel to snow.

In addition to the mechanical upgrades, the Activ and its stablemates have seen an evolution rather than a revolution of the body shape, a tweaking of the suspension to accommodate the enhanced drive system’s robustness, an upgrade to the seat structure for greater comfort and less fatigue and a reduction in road noise, all of which are patently obvious to the driver.

Something else patently obvious to the driver is the performance appeal of the new Activ grade. It is exactly what you are used to, with a proper – and slickly smooth – six-speed automatic coupled to an equally refined and stress-free, petrol-only powertrain.

As to the rest, the CX-5 continues to deliver high levels of safety, ease of operation and the ride quality which has made Mazda’s mid-sized SUV such a standout performer.