By Kirk Bell & James Tate

The battle for supremacy in the hotly contested -- but unimpressive -- compact SUV/crossover market has really only been a three-vehicle skirmish among the Ford Escape, Honda’s CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

But a promising contender is jumping into the fray this year: the 2013 Mazda CX-5. The new Mazda boasts all the right stuff to be a game-changer in the segment: distinctive looks, spaciousness, technology and efficiency -- not to mention it’s a hoot to drive.

Does Ford, Honda or Toyota have cause for concern? Yes!

We drove the CX-5 on Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and the twisty roads of California's central coast.

Here's a quick look at what we like and don't like about Mazda's newest crossover.

Pros

Sporty handling: Hands down, the CX-5 is the most fun-to-drive vehicle in this class. It handles like a sporty compact car.

Quality interior: The CX-5's interior design, layout and materials are at or near the top of the class. It's not just a sea of hard plastic like you'll see in too many competitors.

Fuel efficient: The CX-5 is the most fuel-efficient offering in its class, with an EPA rating as high as 26 mpg city/35 mpg highway.

Cons

Slow: The CX-5's 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine struggles on hills and during passing maneuvers. It'll keep up with traffic, but it won't excite anyone.

Navigation systems: This is simply one of the worst navigation systems we’ve ever used. It lacks common features, it’s unintuitive, and flat-out gives bad directions.

No steering-wheel shift paddles: A vehicle with the CX-5's sporty character should have shift paddles on the steering wheel. The automatic transmission can be manually shifted only through the gearshift.