I did a lot of research on the Volvo XC60. They play the Jeep game of shamelessly inflated MSRP. From lurking at owner forums it seems common to get at least 10% off. More if you time it right.
Yeah, I've opened my search to include an RDX now that there are some used 2019+ gens available in my price range and because it offers more space for family stuff than the CX-5. However, I keep getting hung up on the fact that the RDX body style already looks old. The diagonal creases on the...
IMO, Nissan and Honda have switched places with Hyundai and Kia in terms of Asian car brand quality. The former are now synonymous with uninspired rental car-grade junk, while the latter are innovating and putting out intriguing cars that appear to be trouble-free.
Glorified hatches are fine for those markets, but Mazda NA has been their most successful market and they’ve been offering the same two SUVs for nearly a decade. That’s just bad business.
That's what I've surmised as well. If true, it's pretty poor timing on Mazda NA's part. All other companies are pushing all sorts of SUVs/crossovers into the center of the table, and the best Mazda has done is goof around with tiny cars (Mazda3, CX-30, MX-30) that don't sell well in NA...
Only thing worth splurging for is PPF on the front (bumper + at least partial hood).
Never buy an interior protection package. All they do is spray a Scotch-Guard-like product on the carpet and seats and you're basically getting gouged for a shady warranty. You can easily DIY your interior...
The noise that CR reports is almost entirely attributed to the OEM run-flat tires on the X1. A lot of owners report a very quiet car after switching to normal tires. The X1 certainly doesn't skimp on sound-dampening materials - its everywhere.
As for the premium, I wouldn't chock the X1...
Ha, I have an X1 and that’s exactly the swap I’m trying to make before the BMW is out of warranty. I will say that CR’s criticism of the X1 handling and engine noise is nonsense - the car is quite great, it’s just not worth the long term cost of ownership.
Another nice-looking competitor just got revealed - the new Buick Envision. Reminds me of the Volvo XC60, which I really like. Companies seem to be ditching the hard creases and copying Mazda's smoother body panel design. Finally...
I think the rental buying stigma is largely unfounded for non-sporty cars. Sure, some people treat them bad. But tons are airport rentals used by business travelers who do nothing but drive and park at a hotel. Also, most renters are paranoid as hell about getting charged for damage.
Now...
Well, look at it this way. I bought a used luxury SUV (BMW) a couple years ago and now regret it after discovering the CX-5. So now I browse here while shopping for my unicorn CX-5. Way more friendlier and helpful here than the Beamer forums too. :)
Yeah, that was a disappointing announcement. A big whiff for Mazda if they don't have anything truly new for the next 2 years. Their strategy of making subtle tweaks to the current CX-5 (their top seller by far) is completely lost on new customers because Mazda is awful at advertising. I...
Yep, it’s supposed to slot between the RAV4 and Highlander size-wise and compete with Edge, Blazer, Passport, Atlas Cross Sport, etc.
Makes more sense why they “adventurized” the look of the RAV4 now - the Venza is the Toyota crossover for those who want more refinement.
Just announced yesterday. The original Venza was a forgettable wagon thing that was discontinued years ago, but they brought it back as a proper mid-size crossover. I usually rag on Toyota's awful aesthetics, but the new Venza looks quite sharp. The rear profile, in particular, reminds me of...
Unsurprisingly, sounds like Mazda will remain stubborn with its pricing despite the inventory pile-up:
Said Koga: “We will prioritize selling cars from the piled-up inventory and try to regain cash without getting caught up in incentive competition in the market.”...