After 10 months in daily use the CX-5 we’re running on a long-term test recently went into the workshop.

We already knew it was due a service at around 12,500 miles, but the multifunction computer display on the instrument binnacle popped up a useful reminder.

It also indicated that the wheels required their second rotation in order to encourage even tyre wear.

As we stated on the first occasion, the 6,000 scheduled rotation seems slightly inconvenient for owners covering relatively high annual mileage even though it is a useful opportunity for the customer to touch base with their dealer and maintain that crucial relationship.

Helpfully, when we requested an annual service booking with the nearest Mazda dealership to AM’s office, Donalds of Peterborough, the service receptionist offered to include the tyre rotation with the service at no extra  charge.

The receptionist also remembered that we prefer for them to collect the car from our office and bring it back before the end of the working day, so offered to do so again with no need for prompting.

Both of these are superb examples of how a customer can be made to feel cared for, simply by making correct use of the data being held in the dealership’s records.

Come the day of the actual service, Donalds’ performance was spot on, collecting the car as arranged and taking payment by credit card over the phone before dropping it back, serviced and cleaned.

Another nice touch was that the invoice contains a short message of thanks and points out that a Donalds’ Service Plan would enable the customer to pay monthly instalments towards their next service.

All in all it was a superbly convenient service.

Besides us plenty of consumers have fully switched on to the CX-5’s appeal.

It ranked fifth overall in the recent Auto Express Driver Power Survey of 46,000 car owners and was the second highest placed SUV behind the Skoda Yeti.

Further good news for the Mazda dealer network is that Mazda Motors UK has been able to secure a 60% greater supply of CX-5s for 2013 than the 4,000 it was allocated last year now that the yen has weakened slightly.