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- RDX Aspec Adv.
Yep. Nissan did this with the 370, and GM with the Camaro 1LE. Its a very successful forumula.
Test drove a '19 GT-R and Signature today
- Thread starter erhayes
- Start date
Yep. Nissan did this with the 370, and GM with the Camaro 1LE. Its a very successful forumula.
7eregrine
The man, the myth, the legend
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- Land of Cleve
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- 2016.5 CX5
Your CX5 does...pretty well? Who are you and what did you do with unob?
SignatureCX5
Member
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- 2019 Signature CX-5 Black Mica
Bought a Black Signature for my wife last Friday. Although black is a pain to keep clean the CX5 sure looks sexy in this color. The ergonomics of CX5 fits her well which was not true for some other cars she test drove. Last year she test drove the NA and was not happy with the lack of power. She also test drove the Forester 2XT last year and liked it but couldn't see herself in a station wagon. The turbo on the CX5 suits her style of driving and the 6 speed auto is nicer than any CVT. Her only disappointment is there's no manual but the turbo and amenities won her over. Fit and finish is excellent and the cabin has a high end feel. I think she will be happy with it for years to come. I drove it today and put it through some esses at a good clip and stretched its legs. The chassis is communitive and although the suspension is soft it really handled well. It was much better than I was expecting. Now I just need to sneak in a strut bar, stiffer sway bars, better tires to tighten it up a little when shes not looking...LOL
NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
I*m talking more power on top of whatever it has already, like a Ford Edge ST. That 330hp sounds about right, buying a Ford, not so much...
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- 2014 CX-5 Touring White
Boom!
Right where I am thinking. That and a little bit of brake and suspension upgrade would make me think that looking at Euro models is ridiculous. When I look at something like a Macan I am not necessarily looking at the top trim that has over 400 hp, air suspension and oversized brakes. The base model Macan and Stelvio have just that right amount as a daily driver that would make me happy and the new CX5 T is just a tad bit short. So I am in the middle of the two classes looking down to the CX5 and looking up at the Macan, Audi SQ5, Stelvio class. There are those like the Edge ST and I think kudos to them for wanting to add this level of performance, but at $43K I just soon have something else.
I see no reason that Mazda couldn't do the same thing. If Kia can add a lot of performance to the Stinger and keep the cost under 40K than it is not that difficult to make a performance level that is refined and has attractive features. Mazda could easily do this if they wanted. I am sitting on the fence between an apple and orange comparison. It wouldn't take much to keep me enticed. Are there others like me? I believe there are several on this board and potentially a lot more mature aged men and women that would like a touch more performance.
NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
Boom! Exactly my thinking, Felt Rider. Trust me, we*re not alone, and it*s a larger margin than some think...
They just did!! It's called the GTR and Sig.
Gee, the cars haven't been on US soil for a month and guys are whining that they want more. (most of whom haven't even driven a 2.5T CX-5 yet.)
Yes, I'd love to see Mazda do something like what Audi did with the SQ5 but there's only so much a small/resource limited company like Mazda can do. I think Mazda will want to see how the CX-5 2.5T's do in the market before they go much further. Given the very limited production of the CX-5 2.5T's, I think they are proceeding with great caution.
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NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
Uhh, no they didn't! They did absolutely nothing to it but slap the 2.5T in it when it comes to "performance". Sure, you get some added interior features on the Siggy, but nothing performance oriented (no suspension upgrades, wheels, bars, etc, zilch)...
Gee, we're just talking here, you know, getting a feel. I'm the first to admit that IF, and that's a huge IF, something like some of us are wanting ever comes to fruition, it will be several years down the road...
Enjoy your new 2.5T, it is nice no doubt, especially for the money, and I hope it treats you well, and the model sells well as a whole, but there is aboslutely nothing performance about it, it's just trying to keep up with the masses at this point. The 2.5T was needed for that, and now it probably is the best overall in it's class. Job well done...
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NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
"While I'm a big fan of all the current models and I really like the latest gen Miata...It's unfortunate Mazda does not currently offer a high-powered sports car or even a high-powered coupe!" -Antoine (owner of this site)
I totally agree, and since the SUV/CUV market is the hot ticket right now, bring it there instead to start. Wishful thinking for some, panty buncher for others...
I totally agree, and since the SUV/CUV market is the hot ticket right now, bring it there instead to start. Wishful thinking for some, panty buncher for others...
Thanks. It puts a smile on my face whenever I drive it. Yes, I hope these 2.5T trims are a resounding success for Mazda to signal that the performance oriented segment is alive and well and "keep them coming".
NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
Yes, please, please do! I hope it sparks a rebranding of sorts. We don't need Mazdaspeed, you don't even have to call it anything, just bring it! Haha
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- 2014 CX-5 Touring White
Especially with those of us that want this little bit of spice are mostly likely to debadge any way so that it has no identifier. We don't need no stinkin badge
NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
Especially with those of us that want this little bit of spice are mostly likely to debadge any way so that it has no identifier. We don't need no stinkin badge
I thought it was worth 5 extra hp!
I feel ya, though...
Congrats!
NelsonLewis
Banned
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- 16.5 CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech BRMica
not to attack you but I don't think mazda wants to go the "performance" way. I think they just slap the 2.5T to satisfied the costumers who have own a cx5 and spoke out loudly that a 2.5T engine would make them stay with mazda. Mazdaspeed is officially dead, RX-ANY is dead. they're not going that way anymore and I doubt we will get any performace trim/ add ons or anything from mazda any time zoom or at all. they most likely want to go against luxury brands interior wise, materials used and everything else except performance. im sure the 2.5T will go to the mazda3 next. they're testing waters carefully. theyre too much of a small company to throw everything at us in one shot. I mean ofcourse we would all love a performace trim or atleast add ons but unfortunately I don't think that will be the case anytime soon.
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- 2021 CX-9 Sig
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- 2021 CX-5 GT
Poor Mazda, it's just trying to keep up with the masses...
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15380025/best-small-compact-suv-truck/
But what do they know?
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15380025/best-small-compact-suv-truck/
But what do they know?
I previously had a 2016 SQ5 as my daily driver for 1 year and about 22K miles. The engine and power was fantastic but the transmission logic sucked and didn't match well with the engine output.
Our 2017 CX5 has a much better balanced powertrain than the previous gen SQ5 did. For the money and considering the relative size of Mazda, I appreciate our CX5 considerably more than the SQ5, and definitely more than any of its direct competitors. The only "performance" SUV/CUV I would consider is a Macan (the PDK is awesome) and maybe the BMW X3M when it comes out (or a leased Stelvio).
We did upgrade the wheels and tires on our CX5 which reduced the weight at each corner by 7 pounds. This did help acceleration and cornering ability quite a bit (looks 100% better too). We will eventually do coilovers to eliminate some of the body roll and then we are set.
Also, the general consensus on this forum a year ago was that Mazda would never put the 2.5T in the CX5. I applaud Mazda for making this improvement as it keeps the CX5 competitive in the quick growing CUV segment.
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- Canada
Nailed it right on the head. To put some speculation to rest:
"Mazda's new global boss, Akira Marumoto, told Australian motor journalists at the Los Angeles show that there won't be an MPS in the cards. As Drive quotes Marumoto: 'Mazda is a small player, and if [you are asking whether] that segment has a high particular priority for Mazda, my answer would be no. Therefore we not planning for MPS in the future.'
Marumoto stated that Mazda would rather establish itself as a genuine premium carmaker comparable to its European rivals, stressing that this would be achievable through quality, comfort and refinement improvements in the existing lineup rather than expanding into other segments.
https://www.autoblog.com/2018/12/03/mazda3-mazdaspeed-mps-hot-hatch/
We can still wish for a rebirth though. Maybe something like a Mazda 3Z, or CX-5Z (for "Zoom"). Corny as all hell, I know, but Mazda is well-known for their Zoom Zoom slogan since they started using it in 2000. I feel like it could be offered like this:
-sport
FWD or AWD, 2.5 NA, 6-speed auto with manual option, cloth interior, 4-way manually adjustable seats, back up cam, AA/ACP, piano black trim, GVC+, other basic features
-touring
Sport plus: memory seating (driver's side only) with 4-way power adjustable seats, heated seats, 360 cam, Mazda's safety suite, larger infotainment screen with navigation.
-mazdaspeed or equivalent
Touring plus: AWD-only, factory-tuned 2.5T, HUD optional, automatic 6-speed with manual option, LSD, bigger and better brakes, CF or brushed aluminum interior trim, an appearance package (that includes a leather seat option), and "sport-tuned suspension" i.e. springs, dampers, upgraded front and rear sway bars, lighter wheels and better tires.
-grand touring
Touring plus: AWD 2.5T (same found in CX-9), auto 6-speed, 10-way power adjustable memory seats (driver and passenger), heated and ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, power folding mirrors, HUD, MRCC with Start and Stop, LED headlights and taillights, larger wheels.
-signature
GT plus: nappa leather, autodimming frameless rear-view mirror, wood trim, sound deadening and acoustic glass, chrome trim pieces, LED interior and exterior accent lighting, etc.
^^ organizing these features was a fun way to spend a few minutes
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