I’ve had the opportunity to drive the Mazda CX-5 before and my feelings about the vehicle have always been positive. But moving to Los Angeles and driving it while I began laying the groundwork for an actual normal life took my impression of the crossover SUV to another level completely.

My first week in LA was super overwhelming. From starting a new job to apartment hunting to navigating traffic to just straight up not being in the rainforest of Costa Rica anymore, I had a lot on my mind. The last thing I needed was to worry about figuring out how to operate a new vehicle.

First and foremost, the 2016 CX-5 Grand Touring Forward by Mazda is easy to drive. It’s the type of vehicle that is so intuitive to operate you can just hop in and hit the freeway. The 184 horsepower engine and features including front-wheel drive and electric power assisted steering gave me all the power I needed to handle all of LA’s freeways from the 10 to the 405.

One of my favorite features was the backup camera. Combined with the rear cross traffic alert and blind spot monitoring system, I had extra help to stay while driving 60 miles per hour on the highway, changing lanes, and, something I hadn’t done in a while – parking in parking garages.

Being a crossover SUV, the Mazda CX-5 also has incredible visibility. With such large windows and mirrors I had unobstructed views of my surroundings. Being so high off the ground not only made me feel safer, but also gave me more confidence to navigate the city’s infamous traffic.

The Mazda CX-5 also gets excellent gas mileage – 29 combined city and highway to be exact. I drove a lot during my first week in LA – from my brother’s apartment near USC to my office near LAX to Culver City, Hermosa Beach and Santa Monica while apartment hunting, and I used less than a single tank of gas for all my journeying.

I started my first day at my new job with an off-site business meeting. I wanted to make a positive first impression. I pressed a dress and blazer and put on my nicest pair of black pumps. Knowing that I’d be driving to the meeting in such a sleek and stylish soul red metallic vehicle gave me an extra boost of confidence as well. The CX-5 definitely holds its own in the looks department and made me feel like I fit right in in LA’s business scene, even if I’d spent the past year and a half living in the rainforest.

I love the Mazda CX5. After driving it around SoCal for ten days I can honestly say it’s the perfect car for a young professional in Los Angeles.

Prices start at $28,220, which is extremely competitive, and excellent value for money. When my budget reaches the next level of its post-jungle phase, I would definitely consider purchasing this vehicle for myself.

Note: I was provided with a 2016 Mazda CX-5 for review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.