Our fleet: Mazda CX-5 Skyactiv-D 150 SE-L NAV - August 2015

A true SUV should have a boot that measures up to  the demands of family life –  otherwise it fails to live up to its billing.

Practicality is key, and anything less will leave potential suitors looking elsewhere.

Luckily, Mazda has gone to great efforts to ensure the CX-5 doesn’t disappoint, with a cavernous boot which compares well to rivals.

It boasts 503 litres, against, say, the Ford Kuga’s 456 litres. Mazda has chosen a cube shape, with no unwanted protrusions or dead space, with a liftgate designed for easy loading.

Fold down the rear seats and the 503 litres grows to 1,620 litres of total volume thanks to the CX-5’s useful 40:20:20 split-folding rear seats – standard on all models. It enables you to fold down one, two or three sections flat.

The CX-5 is available in three grades: SE-L, SE-L Lux and Sport Nav. The range comprises three 2.0-litre petrol two-wheel drive variants equipped with six-speed manual transmissions, and thirteen 2.2-litre diesel versions – six of which are available with all-wheel drive  – fitted with a choice of six-speed manual  or automatic transmissions.