IT'S been 10 years since the first Mazda CX-5 first graced our roads and now the latest model offers extra choice for its loyal fanbase.

There's a selection of award-winning engines, numerous generously-equipped trim levels, manual or auto gearboxes, plus two or four-wheel drive versions to select from.

Whichever model you opt for, it's guaranteed to be a practical five-door SUV that's packed with all the latest on-board technology and safety systems.

We tested the CX-5 in Sport trim, powered by a 2.2-litre, four-cylinder diesel engine delivering 184PS and 445Nm of torque. It could complete the 0-62mph dash in 9.2 seconds and topped out at 129mph while offering a combined 50.4mpg and 147g/km of carbon emissions.

While the CX-5 is not the cheapest family SUV on offer - ours cost £33,110 - it is a beautifully styled vehicle with LED headlights and LED daytime running lights, privacy glass, black wheel arches, a black grille housing the Mazda badge, body-coloured bumpers, a tow bar and 19-inch black alloy wheels.

Moving inside, the cabin is modern and clutter-free with black leather upholstery, powered and heated front seats, a head-up display and a pitch perfect 10-speaker Bose surround sound system.

A 10.25-inch touchscreen is the main focal point and it's simple to connect a smartphone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Other creature comforts include a sat nav system, wireless phone charging, a heated steering wheel, reversing camera, Bluetooth and lots more besides.

When it comes to performance, the CX-5 is not as dynamic to drive as some rivals but it's still fast enough out the blocks. It quickly reaches motorway speeds and is a comfy cruiser clocking up the long miles.

It's nicely balanced when fizzing through the twisting B roads and there is little sign of body movement through tighter bends. It's an agile car to manoeuvre in city settings despite stretching 4,575mmn in length and the excellent all-round driver visibility is another plus point -especially as this vehicle will likely feature on the school run.

Refinement levels within the car also impress with barely a sound filtering through from the outside world and the efficient suspension set-up smoothing out bumps and dips along the way.

There is ample space in the back for a couple of adults to sit comfortably provided the front seats are not pushed too far back. Add a third person and it gets a little cosy, but would be ideal for three youngsters.

The boot is well sized with a 510-litre capacity. This increases to 1,626 litres with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped. And it's worth noting the CX-5 can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to two tonnes.

There are four USB ports to keep smart devices connected and lots of convenient storage compartments, including a glovebox, door bins, a central cubby box, seat back pockets and some trays.

When it was tested for its Euro NCAP safety rating, the CX-5 secured a maximum five stars with systems such as advanced smart city brake, blind spot monitoring, high beam control and a number of other driver assistance aids to help protect occupants and other road users.