A month after we drove the new Mazda CX-5 on the sidelines of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda lent us another CX-5 to get a closer look before the car goes on sale. It proved beneficial to drive the car on our local roads.

For a decade, Mazda had a gaping hole in its lineup. It had no genuine small SUV that was coherent with the company’s youthful and sporty image. Technically, it offered the Tribute which only played second fiddle to the more popular but nearly identical Ford Escape. Now Mazda finally has created the 2013 CX-5, which seems to meld practicality, fuel economy, and styling with a dash of exuberant handling.

For more check out the video below.