An Interesting Opportunity to Compare

[Splinter Cell]

If you pull your front seatbelt to buckle up, you'll never reach to the cut-out area as it's too low. Even if you want to design a cut-out on the B-pillar trim cover, you should consider the neighborhood area to match the lines and curves nearby. This's the basic of good design and paying attention to detail. This's nothing to do with whether you need a cut-out or not on the trim. The way Mazda did on 1st-gen CX-5 and now the supposedly better interior 2nd-gen CX-5 for this trim piece is a perfect example of not paying attention to detail in my book!

I suppose that depends on whether you grasp the seat belt over your shoulder or under your arm. I do the later and return it that way also to stop the buckle clattering around and marking the plastic trim. The design serves its purpose just fine for me

 

[7eregrine]

Looks like attention to detail.

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[Studum]

Looks like attention to detail.

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(cabpatch)

Also, I'm +1 into the camp that Mazda has the stick shifter right. Love it in this config, to the point where other way around trips me up.

Would be nice to have but I've got them on my 6 and I must say haven't used it that much along with manual shifting with gear stick. Used sports mode more. Glad this CX-5 has that at least [emoji16]

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Sport mode is where the manual shifting really shines with the quicker shifts and more sensitive throttle (drive2). That said, I only really use when having fun while taking the long way somewhere.

 

[Xeler8ing]

At least the manual shift mode on the stick is oriented the correct way.

Correct!

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[Studum]

Both upshifting and downshifting. I found downshifting when coming to a stop was sometimes quite clunky/jumpy. (Like someone who can't really drive a stick shift smoothly). Very jerky in 1st.

Treat it like a manual: don't downshift into 1 unless you're stopped, or damn near stopped.

You also don't need to downshift when slowing to a stop with the auto in manual mode. The transmission will do that for you when in manual mode with the clutch disengaged (i.e. smoother). If you roll up to a stop without downshifting yourself and are still rolling it'll put you will be in 2nd if you hit the gas again. It won't put you in 1 until you're pretty much stopped. Using this method it will be much smoother as it's hopping to the correct gear as you slow with the clutch disengaged vs locking into every gear with a manual shift input. The danger is remembering you're in manual still when you take off again LOL.

 

[Xeler8ing]

My preference is just keep it in auto "Set and forget", use my foot to adjust the throttle as needed and just use sport button when necessary

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[ColoradoDriver]

I like how Mazda oriented the shift up/down. To me, that is the correct way. It's like driving an actual stick-shift where changing from 1st to 2nd gear is pulling the shift knob down. So to me it is much more intuitive this way.

 

[7eregrine]

Never had a manual. Learned how to shift on arcade games. Away is up, Back is down.

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[Monterra]

Never had a manual. Learned how to shift on arcade games. Away is up, Back is down. ��

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Screw saab, hell screw Volbeat, that just became your top priority effective now...old miata, used frs/brz, my old 128 coupe, new camaro, whatever floats your boat really. To not experience a good shifting (preferably rwd) sporty stick car at some point for someone who likes cars is a crime. Ill also accept most honda products..gen 1 tsx stick was pretty sweet my wife still mad that i didn't `let` her get it...she had debt and i wisely talked her down.. She went civic stick to forester xt stick which was a pretty nice sleeper...she still misses driving a manual.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

My only experiences with sticks were Jeeps.

Hoping to rectify that in a couple years

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[Chris_Top_Her]

I flip to first gear sometimes when I'm about to floor it to get back up to speed, like if someone is turning into a sidestreet suicide lane or driveway. I don't like being out of the high power band off highway and depending on your RPM the cpu won't always downshift twice. Sometimes that extra 700rpm the cpu didn't shift for is the sweet spot. But alas, I'm tuned for 93 and i have more power on tap throughout the power band.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Never had a manual. Learned how to shift on arcade games. Away is up, Back is down. [emoji39]

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Same here. I prefer to just bury my foot into the carpet when needed and it will do the rest. Most reviewers here say how good the Mazda 6 speed automatic works

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[Red MC]

Screw saab, hell screw Volbeat, that just became your top priority effective now...old miata, used frs/brz, my old 128 coupe, new camaro, whatever floats your boat really. To not experience a good shifting (preferably rwd) sporty stick car at some point for someone who likes cars is a crime. Ill also accept most honda products..gen 1 tsx stick was pretty sweet my wife still mad that i didn't `let` her get it...she had debt and i wisely talked her down.. She went civic stick to forester xt stick which was a pretty nice sleeper...she still misses driving a manual.

I've only ever owned manual transmissions in my cars. Wife has only ever owned auto trans in her cars. I tried teaching her, but it became clear after an hour or so that if I persisted I was going to need a new clutch. Her last two cars had a manual mode, and I've driven many others with it, and the only ones that I've sort of liked shifting were DSGs.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Can't stand DSGs especially at initial takeoff hesitation. Mazda's auto gearbox has been lauded here and have stated has none of the DSGs hesitations.

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[7eregrine]

I flip to first gear sometimes when I'm about to floor it to get back up to speed, like if someone is turning into a sidestreet suicide lane or driveway. I don't like being out of the high power band off highway and depending on your RPM the cpu won't always downshift twice. Sometimes that extra 700rpm the cpu didn't shift for is the sweet spot. But alas, I'm tuned for 93 and i have more power on tap throughout the power band.

"tuned for 93"?

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[banjos-n-beer]

Treat it like a manual: don't downshift into 1 unless you're stopped, or damn near stopped.

You also don't need to downshift when slowing to a stop with the auto in manual mode. The transmission will do that for you when in manual mode with the clutch disengaged (i.e. smoother). If you roll up to a stop without downshifting yourself and are still rolling it'll put you will be in 2nd if you hit the gas again. It won't put you in 1 until you're pretty much stopped. Using this method it will be much smoother as it's hopping to the correct gear as you slow with the clutch disengaged vs locking into every gear with a manual shift input. The danger is remembering you're in manual still when you take off again LOL.

Yeah, I've done all that. But the point of manu-mode is to shift for yourself. Not to let the car take over when slowing down. I agree letting it do that on its own makes it more likely one will forget they're using it in the first place.

All in all no biggie. I have friends that agree with me on shift orientation.

Xcellerating- Saying it's the same as 1st --> 2nd is negated by the movement of 2nd --> 3rd. Repeated with 3-4 and 4-5, etc etc.

 

[7eregrine]

But it's the FIRST movement of the shifter that gets you moving forward. That how I took it.

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[banjos-n-beer]

But it's the FIRST movement of the shifter that gets you moving forward. That how I took it.

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I tried telling myself that as well. Fail.

When you look down at it, the lever can move forward(up) or backwards(down). That's why pushing up to move "down" gears is stupid. Lol ��

 

[AreDee]

Our CX-5 is my wife's car. She wanted to perform due diligence prior to purchase so we tested a Hyundai Tucson as a part of the process. I tested the car in manual mode but old habits die hard from my CX-9. The scream of the redline was 2nd only to the noise the salesperson made. Oops...

 

[Monterra]

OK banjos so imagine you and Mango lined up at your favorite race track..green flag you nail it, you get nailed BACKWARD into the seat so you pull the lever in the same manner..90MPH into turn 1 neck and neck (because you have the gen1 car) you wait till the last moment to brake (mango now in your rearview because he was nervous and broke too soon before the hairpin, hit the brakes hard and you slide a bit FORWARD in the seat..bonus because that's the same motion you need to downshift..it all works in perfect harmony, requires no thought just feel. My wife's Toyota is the opposite and I don't use it because A) its wrong and B) it shifts bad anyway..