I don't normally write these things, so apologies if it's too long or I'm missing anything.
TLDR
Overall, I think it's a nice concealed compartment for those interested in having such feature if you can afford it and don't mind paying the price. Thanks for everyone sharing their opinions and hacks in place of this accessory, it's always interesting to see how other people fulfill their needs.
Context
I live in an urban environment where an enclosed garage is not available for my car. I was looking for a clean, concealed storage accessory to hold things such as emergency kits, blanket, etc for some additional security. There are just some things that I prefer to just keep in the car rather than taking them every time I get in and out of the car.
Is it worth it?
Depends... This product is indeed expensive. I'd say $150 or so would be a more fair price. However, I am fortunate enough to be able to afford this as I don't really have the desire take my time for alternatives or hacks... and I don't spend money on things like wheels or racks. I just wanted to find something that is simple to install and looks clean (not to show off to others but just for myself). If this fits your use case, this is a good solution in my opinion.
Potential issues
It's not a big deal for me, but someone mentioned that they move a lot of stuff around and this tray might get in the way.
Yes, this tray will definitely hinder that particular use case. The screws that hold this tray in place, while easy to screw and unscrew, is not the most efficient process to take the tray in and out really fast. So if you move a lot of big stuff around frequently, this is not a good solution. The tray does take a lot of space and constraints quite a bit of height clearance, so again, if you move a lot of larger stuff with your cargo space, this is not ideal.
Am I keeping it
While it's not perfect, it does fulfill what I was hoping for it to do and I think it looks pretty nice. I personally don't lug a lot of large stuff around so the tray works for my day to day use. Could I have gotten a more expensive car with hidden luggage compartments? Sure, but I just really like this car as a whole package (my second 2017+ CX5 after the first lease).
Details
How the tray looks without cargo cover.
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The 'tray' sits on these brackets that are installed via strong adhesive strips and some kind of glue application. (Install time should be about 30-45 min)
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The tray itself is fastened by these bolts that are easy to screw on and off. by hand, but of course, you'd need to move things out of the way if you have stuff in your tray. The brackets hold the tray in place so no need to keep the tray up while you fasten.
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The cover is accessed via zippers and the cover is a rubberized material with felt on the inside. This allows for any objects that's a bit taller to fit.
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For those wondering if this would replace the cargo cover, it does not. There is a substantial gap beyond the tray.
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My purchase of the car came with cargo cover so I reattach it to ensure that the visibility remains blocked.
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Hope this helps!