Looking into CX-5 for replacement for my Mazda3

[Move Over]

Good evening guys and gals - Awesome forum you have over here, I am a part of the BMW M3 forum and haven't seen another forum as good as M3post until this one!

Little bit of my background, I bought an M3 as a daily a while back, and it has slowly turned into a track toy and weekend driver. I love that car to death, but it's not really practical for a daily anymore. I do 100% repairs and maintenance on all of my cars. So, I purchased a Mazda 3 without much research for a daily driver and it is far too small for my job and lifestyle. I will either be trading it in, or selling it outright to get a small SUV.

I have decided I need a small SUV for hauling boxes, wheels/tires back and forth to the track/shop, softball gear, small furniture, ETC. I have ruled out the cherokee due to the horror stories i hear about the trans. I looking into a CX-5, Forester, Tucson, santa fe sport. I want to keep MPG around 25 mixed driving, and don't want to go the full size SUV route (Grand cherokee, durango etc..) due to crappy mileage.

How are you guys and gals liking your CX-5's? I have seen a couple of 2014-15's go for the mid teens, and the 16's go for high teens. I want to stay between 14-19k.

Thanks in advnace for the info!

 

[wlong01]

Good evening guys and gals - Awesome forum you have over here, I am a part of the BMW M3 forum and haven't seen another forum as good as M3post until this one!

Little bit of my background, I bought an M3 as a daily a while back, and it has slowly turned into a track toy and weekend driver. I love that car to death, but it's not really practical for a daily anymore. I do 100% repairs and maintenance on all of my cars. So, I purchased a Mazda 3 without much research for a daily driver and it is far too small for my job and lifestyle. I will either be trading it in, or selling it outright to get a small SUV.

If you're seeing 16's go for the high teens they're stolen.

I have decided I need a small SUV for hauling boxes, wheels/tires back and forth to the track/shop, softball gear, small furniture, ETC. I have ruled out the cherokee due to the horror stories i hear about the trans. I looking into a CX-5, Forester, Tucson, santa fe sport. I want to keep MPG around 25 mixed driving, and don't want to go the full size SUV route (Grand cherokee, durango etc..) due to crappy mileage.

How are you guys and gals liking your CX-5's? I have seen a couple of 2014-15's go for the mid teens, and the 16's go for high teens. I want to stay between 14-19k.

Thanks in advnace for the info!

If you're seeing 2016's in the high teens they're either wrecked or stolen.

 

[Move Over]

If you're seeing 2016's in the high teens they're either wrecked or stolen.

http://www.sportmazdaorlando.com/in...-sport-fwd-4d-sport-utility-jm3ke2by0g0670593

Not that I want to buy from a dealership, again...I got this one down to 18,600 while talking with the sales manager. It was the first one I drove and looked at, so i didn't pull the trigger.

 

[inlinev]

The cx5 is the smallest cuv in its class. Seems space is important to you.

 

[sillyxone]

In term of space, I stuffed the CX-5 with 4 passengers (and me driving) with two big bags, bodyshields, bo staffs, foods, ... to a karate tournament with no problem. Just went on a 140 miles trip to a science fair with a bunch of things, including a 4'x2' table in the trunk (didn't even have to lower the rear seats).

Given that you've picked a Mazda3, I assume handling and driving experience is somewhat a deciding factor, too? I don't think the additional space of the CR-V (biggest in class) would matter that much, you'll be able to figure out an arrangement to stuff things into the CX-5. I drive with my daughter in the back seat 90% of the time, with her gears and stuffs, or goods from Home Depot/Menards, have never wished for a bigger car.

After I test drove the CR-V back to back with the CX-5 (the two dealers are next to each other), didn't even hesitate to thank the Honda salesman to hurry back to the Mazda lot. You probably can tell how I love the CX-5

At least one user here traded his CX-5 in for a truck, somebody else whined about noise probably will also trade in when there's a chance. So yeah, you could totally get a good used car if you are good at bargaining (I'm not, at all).

 

[jrstinkfish]

I just bought a CX-5 on Saturday, coming from a 2014 Genesis Coupe. I'm used to having no space for anything but the two front passengers, so the CX-5 seems downright cavernous to me, especially with the back seats folded down (had to haul an XL Dogloo doghouse yesterday). I haven't driven a Mazda3, but I can tell you that my Coupe had the tightest steering I've ever felt (loved it), so the somewhat looser-feeling steering on the CX-5 is taking some getting used to. Still handles differently than all the other SUVs/CUVs I test drove.

I saw a review video where a guy hauled four tires for his BMW in the back of the CX-5, so it probably has enough space for your needs.

 

[tibimakai]

I have carried 4x20" wheels myself.
My dropped CX5, feels tighter(CS springs, rear sways and 20" wheels), then my ex 08' VW Rabbit on H&R Sports and on 18"ers(!).

 

[sillyxone]

I saw a review video where a guy hauled four tires for his BMW in the back of the CX-5, so it probably has enough space for your needs.

Yup, confirm that, too. Swapped my wife's Accord Sport tires for winter and spring, all four 18" can sit loosely back there (without the seats down).

 

[Move Over]

Yup, confirm that, too. Swapped my wife's Accord Sport tires for winter and spring, all four 18" can sit loosely back there (without the seats down).

That's big for me considering I take tires to the shop once a month for a balance. If i don't trailer my car to the track, I also will have another person drive my wet tires to the track with me in case it rains.

 

[Mike Romayo]

When people say it's the smallest in terms of cargo capacity, it's all relative. The CX-5 has a ton of space back there. It's not a refined in terms of road/wind noise, creature comfort, and engine noise. Where it shines is drivability. One youtube reviewer uses the word visceral and I would agree. Question of priorities. I went with "fun driver with almost as much space".

 

[BambooBen]

My wife has a 2010 Mazda3, and we decided to get a 2016 CX-5 for my daily driver when my truck reached retirement age. My wife loves getting to drive the CX5, and using it on long road trips is awesome compared to the 3. So much more room. The dog used to have to be confined to one bit of back seat in the 3 on a trip, now he gets the whole back seat to himself to stretch out on. And I don't even have a car top carrier yet.

Also will say we both love how her 2.5L Mazda 3 handles in traffic and on twisty roads, and the CX-5 keeps most of that feeling. I just don't push it as hard on round-abouts and cloverleafs due to the higher center of gravity and not enough built up trust yet like the 3.

Reading through the forum here you will see that the 2016 can be a big step up from the 2015 as far as wind noise and sound deadening. Might be worth considering, as I know it was a big deal for us. Also, when I was getting my oil changed Monday, I think they had the 2016s with 0% APR, which might be a big deal as well for some folks.

There is also rumor their will be big changes for the 2017 if you arn't in a hurry.

Lastly, I have a long commute, and listen to auto related podcasts most trips. They all love the CX-5. For instance in the most recent episode of Hooniverse, the main guy was talking about his wife changing jobs, and the new company gives her an automotive allowance. They went out and looked at a bunch of stuff, but he reminded everyone of a review he had done of the CX-3 a while back, and said something like if he was in the market for a car, he would get one. Well, he ended up in the market but decided the CX3 was a little small for his needs, so got the CX5. He then goes on to explain how much he is enjoying it already. And this is a podcast where they spend way too much time talking about Lambos and Audi and other 100k+ cars and how they handle.

 

[yrwei52]

http://www.sportmazdaorlando.com/in...-sport-fwd-4d-sport-utility-jm3ke2by0g0670593

Not that I want to buy from a dealership, again...I got this one down to 18,600 while talking with the sales manager. It was the first one I drove and looked at, so i didn't pull the trigger.

Don't know if this is important to you. The 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback in CX-5 Sport you're looking for can't fold flat like more expensive trim levels such as Touring and GT which offer 40/20/40 split folding rear seatback. I'm actually a little disappointed the rear seatback on our GT doesn't really fold "flat" like Mazda claimed.

 

[purplengold]

How are you guys and gals liking your CX-5's?!

I actually really really love my new CX-5! I owned a 2013 CRV AWD and the CX5 is way more fun to drive. The CX5 just wants to accelerate and take corners. It handles so well.

 

[minnesotaart]

That one 2016 Sport that you drove was, I'm going to guess, a dealer owned courtesy vehicle. Build date was 5/15 and it has less than 5,000 miles. Pretty unusual. My point is that it may have had a multitude of different drivers with different driving styles and an "I don't care it's just a rental" attitude. This might lead to more wear and tear than the mileage would indicate and could mean more mechanical issues in the future. On the other hand, that's a sweet price and you'll get good mileage since it has the smaller 2.0 engine. Have fun searching! I love my '14 GT with all the bells and whistles! Just got done with a 2,500 mile trip last week. Heading south had terrible headwinds and was only getting 22-23 mpg at 75mph. After a bunch of local driving and then heading back home without much wind (and still doing 75mph), the trip average improved to 27mpg overall and I have the 2.5 engine. Great, trouble-free vehicle for me so far at 33k miles.

 

[Unobtanium]

Good evening guys and gals - Awesome forum you have over here, I am a part of the BMW M3 forum and haven't seen another forum as good as M3post until this one!

Little bit of my background, I bought an M3 as a daily a while back, and it has slowly turned into a track toy and weekend driver. I love that car to death, but it's not really practical for a daily anymore. I do 100% repairs and maintenance on all of my cars. So, I purchased a Mazda 3 without much research for a daily driver and it is far too small for my job and lifestyle. I will either be trading it in, or selling it outright to get a small SUV.

I have decided I need a small SUV for hauling boxes, wheels/tires back and forth to the track/shop, softball gear, small furniture, ETC. I have ruled out the cherokee due to the horror stories i hear about the trans. I looking into a CX-5, Forester, Tucson, santa fe sport. I want to keep MPG around 25 mixed driving, and don't want to go the full size SUV route (Grand cherokee, durango etc..) due to crappy mileage.

How are you guys and gals liking your CX-5's? I have seen a couple of 2014-15's go for the mid teens, and the 16's go for high teens. I want to stay between 14-19k.

Thanks in advnace for the info!

I like mine, but mixed driving it only gets about 23mpg. I drive 70% highway, 30% city by "time in the car", and probably 90% highway, 10% city by actual "mileage breakdown". The CX5 gets terrible mileage at freeway speeds (75-80), with the instant read-out often being high-teens, low 20's, where I'm at. Through the TX flatlands doing 75-80, I get around 26-28mpg. Through Louisiana, headed south, I only got something like 21-23mpg, but may have been windy that day?

Anyway, over-all I love it. Operating cost is stoopid low from dealership service, to the 87 octane I put in the tank. I've owned vehicles in the same "class" your BMW M3 is in, and this CX-5 will bore the hell out of you, but it's not completely disconnected from your sports-car passion. The steering will impress you, even coming from the M3, for what this is. The brakes will disappoint you in their lack of "feel" (but great stopping power), and the torque of the 4 banger will absolutely impress you for what it is. The auto shifts telepathically, and the suspension is very composed.

Long story short? My CX-5 kills me with boredom, but late at night I still take corners a bit "too fast", and it has been a vehicle that I love simply because it hasn't given me a reason to hate it, is best I can describe it.

 

[Unobtanium]

That's big for me considering I take tires to the shop once a month for a balance. If i don't trailer my car to the track, I also will have another person drive my wet tires to the track with me in case it rains.

This will work fine. CX-5 should be able to handle any 4 tires that can fit on a remotely stock-body E46.

 

[Unobtanium]

I just bought a CX-5 on Saturday, coming from a 2014 Genesis Coupe. I'm used to having no space for anything but the two front passengers, so the CX-5 seems downright cavernous to me, especially with the back seats folded down (had to haul an XL Dogloo doghouse yesterday). I haven't driven a Mazda3, but I can tell you that my Coupe had the tightest steering I've ever felt (loved it), so the somewhat looser-feeling steering on the CX-5 is taking some getting used to. Still handles differently than all the other SUVs/CUVs I test drove.

I saw a review video where a guy hauled four tires for his BMW in the back of the CX-5, so it probably has enough space for your needs.

The CX-5 always struck me as more like a car on stilts than an SUV, for space. That's even coming from a 370Z, which most people describe as claustrophobic.

 

[Unobtanium]

If you're seeing 2016's in the high teens they're either wrecked or stolen.

Or from Houston, as of late, lol!

 

[Neil22]

Former E46 ZHP coupe owner here. I'd be interested in your thoughts once you pull the trigger. I currently have a CX-9 which does well for a 4,000lb behemoth, but the 15mpg I've been averaging is killing me. Looking at the CX-5 for the wifey.

 

[mazdadude]

Former E46 ZHP coupe owner here. I'd be interested in your thoughts once you pull the trigger. I currently have a CX-9 which does well for a 4,000lb behemoth, but the 15mpg I've been averaging is killing me. Looking at the CX-5 for the wifey.

How much money will you save a year increasing your mpg from 15 to 25?