DarkskiesIL
2025 Mazda CX-5 S Pref
30k: now you can consider this beauty broken in. Enjoy the next 130k !!
gtbigup
24 CX-5 SIG
If you give it a go and it works. Get some of that paint protection film they used on the exterior of cars and carefully cut, and install, or let a professional shop do it. And yes piano black sucks lol.
Looks great for 30K miles! My daughters has 40K miles and looks like it went through a war zone!
yieldchase
2016.5 Mazda CX-5 GT AWD w/Tech Pkg
Online claims that the pre facelifted is 72.4inches wide, while facelifted is 72.6?
N7turbo
2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
Facelifted? It's a picture of a KE vs KF, different generations.
Right. Eh. Close enough. Lol
Try parking CX-5 in UK, much more narrower than that. Spaces made for minis
N7turbo
2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
It's probably just an illusion then with the body panels. CX-5 KF has some junk in the trunk. Overall I think it looks better, though. The 1st gen looks more soccer mom or high-school girl while the 2nd gen looks more like anyone could own it. They may have intentionally tried to broaden the appeal.
N7turbo
2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
It's going to be a long time before mine is "broken in". I'm at 8k and some change. 30k will take years
I agree. But I prefer the previous gen for being lighter and more readily available with FWD.
Then again, I am biased due to owning a Mazda 6 from that era of styling..
N7turbo
2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
I was hesitant on AWD. I always preferred FWD due to lower cost and better economy.
But I have changed my tune. I now prefer Mazda's current iteration of AWD. There is very little hit to economy if any at all since they moved to 100% FWD during constant speed cruising, and the handling improvements are real.
But I have changed my tune. I now prefer Mazda's current iteration of AWD. There is very little hit to economy if any at all since they moved to 100% FWD during constant speed cruising, and the handling improvements are real.
Sounds like a practical perspective. I also like that FWD is considerably lighter, though, having a driveshaft that's relatively distributed towards the rear of the vehicle does help with weight distribution.
The turbo 2.5 makes such a generous wallop of torque - you sort of end up needing the AWD system. When I was messing around with the CX-5 turbo demo, I was amazed and not at all expecting the system to shove power to the rear the way it did - high throttle cornering from low speed. It oversteered with a level of precision and response I never thought to be realistic for such a heavy vehicle. However, for normal driving, I can't justify the extra weight.
Then there is the argument of wet traction. While a FWD car is not balanced like a RWD car, it is perfectly fine with good tires and an LSD. Open diffs are crap. Take a look at what Honda/Acura has been achieving on a FWD chassis for decades.
Lower trim CX-5's with the NA engine, 17" wheels and FWD address the biggest gripes I had after testing the signature turbo - but then again, like I mentioned in my review, my preferences and requirements in a vehicle are drastically different from the average consumer, and I unfortunately I don't think the NA will offer quite enough grunt for even a lighter base model CX-5 on 87 octane.
Concerning my 3200LB Mazda 6 with the 91 octane tuned NA and 17" wheels, these things just aren't an issue like they are on the CX-5 I tested. - Back to the topic of FWD vs. AWD. The only problem I have experienced in starting off in snow, and that's because of the open differential, not the fact that there is no power being sent to the rear. In another life, I drove a 1995 Nissan Maxima SE with the very rare 5 speed manual and LSD stock from the factory. That thing put down V6 torque to the front wheels unimaginably well.
N7turbo
2023 CX-5 2.5T ... 2024 MX-5 RF GT
It's only 3,800 lb, the same as a BMW M2. You want to talk heavy vehicles, let's talk Stellantis. I'm pretty sure Mazda can make something to rival the Trackhawk, but at a much lighter weight and with much better handling.
The driving experience of that is significantly worse in every conceivable way except ride comfort--but wheels and tires can be changed, the rest cannot be. I have owned every version of the CX-5 over the last 11 years.
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