I think I have finally decided to get the 2016 CX-5 FWD Touring model. I am a current owner of a 2005 Mazda3 hatchback that has given me many good years of service and time to replace. I considered getting a sedan, Mazda6, Legacy or Accord, but determined a compact SUV would provide the best overall utility for me. The question I have for current owners is whether they feel the Tech package for the vehicle is worth the money. For the US model it runs around $1600 and the major items including are the NAV system, smart braking support, homelink and LED lighting. In going through this forum I get the impression that the NAV system on the CX-5 is not that great. My current car doesn't have NAV and I just use the Waze app on my mobile device. Waze BTW in my opinion is great. So, I know this is a personal opinion but in general do current owners now that they have the car feel the Tech package was worth it? Thanks in advance for any replies.
2016 Touring Tech Package (US) - Worth it?
- Thread starter mnm
- Start date
I have the same question.
Currently I don't think it worth.
For the NAV, I will always use my cellphone, for more search result. No matter how good the car NAV is, it can not search resturants, stores etc online.
The LED look really good, but I don't think they worth $1600.
Currently I don't think it worth.
For the NAV, I will always use my cellphone, for more search result. No matter how good the car NAV is, it can not search resturants, stores etc online.
The LED look really good, but I don't think they worth $1600.
The main reason we stepped up for the Tech was to get the Xenon lighting which, while better than the halogens, aren't nearly as good as the Xenons in our Golf. If the LED headlights are part of the LED lighting package, I'd say go for it. I've read nothing but good about LED headlights. I also like the keyless entry/ignition.
I agree that the TomTom Nav system leaves a lot to be desired but it has always gotten us where we needed to go without annoying us to death with it's idiosyncrasies. (shrug)
I agree that the TomTom Nav system leaves a lot to be desired but it has always gotten us where we needed to go without annoying us to death with it's idiosyncrasies. (shrug)
Interesting how in the US, the LED lighting is a bundle separate from the GT Package.
In Canada, the LED lighting is part of the GT package (not an option)
I absolutely love the LED lighting and if it was bundled with the tech package, I would still spend the extra money to get it.
In Canada, the LED lighting is part of the GT package (not an option)
I absolutely love the LED lighting and if it was bundled with the tech package, I would still spend the extra money to get it.
The one thing I believe I read even about the 2016 NAV system is that it does not provide realtime traffic data. Maybe I got that wrong though. I have been reading so many different threads that it may have been for the earlier systems. To me realtime or nearly realtime traffic data is pretty important.
In my opinion I don't think its worth it. My budget is $25k before TTL. I plan on getting a FWD Touring without any packages at all. I hope you realize that to get the Tech package on Touring its mandatory that you also get the Bose Moonroof package as well. That certainly adds up $$$$! The Touring 6-speaker stereo is fine with me, I don't need Bose. I don't really want a moonroof either...I think the ride is quieter without it plus I've had bad luck with past cars getting leaks in the sunroof. The tech package to me is a bunch of unnecessary bells and whistles that I really don't need for the extra money. Honestly I don't even want the LED lights, halogen is just fine. The only thing I would want is the navigation, but I plan on just adding it later. Its just an SD Card that you pop in anyway. You can buy it at any time from the dealer for about $400 or wait a few months till they start to pop up on eBay for about $100. In the mean time I'll just use my stand alone Garmin Nuvi or Waze on my phone. The only tech I think is necessary is the Blind Spot Monitoring and the Rear Cross Traffic Alert...and luckily both of those come standard on the Touring anyway. Good luck to you.
Correct me if I'm wrong...but I think the cracked windshield prob also seems to occur on vehicles with the tech package thing putting stress on the top middle of the glass. So if that's indeed the case...theres another big reason for me not to get the Tech.
Correct me if I'm wrong...but I think the cracked windshield prob also seems to occur on vehicles with the tech package thing putting stress on the top middle of the glass. So if that's indeed the case...theres another big reason for me not to get the Tech.
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I think the Nav is available for ~$300 with no package. For 2016, this is just an SD card. You can get it on Amazon/eBay or directly from Mazda (for a little more).
That's the only thing that I would get (the new one, not the crappy TomTom, which was available for 2015 and before).
That's the only thing that I would get (the new one, not the crappy TomTom, which was available for 2015 and before).
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- Plano, Texas, USA
For Touring, you do need to get Moonroof/Bose Package in order to get Touring Tech Package which is another $1130 MSRP on top of $1625 MSRP. The Pivoting Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS), and Rain Sensing Wipers included in the Touring Tech Package are also very useful and your can only find these options on luxury brand of cars or SUV's.
Yes, LED lighting, which includes low/high beam headlights, fog lights, "Signature" Daytime Running Lights and tail lights, is very unique and useful. With AFS, they improves the night vision so much. They were the reason we got the Tech Package! Totally worth it!
I bet your past experience of leaky sunroof was from a VW... Honestly, other than our VW Passat, we have no water leak issue from every other car with moonroof! That was simply the bad design and crappy material used by VW!
$1625 MSRP for Touring Tech Package is not just for an LED lighting but with many other nice safety features which are not available on the same class of the SUV's such as Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, Subaru Forester and Ford Escape. And you think Mazda's LED lighting alone is not worth $1600? Porsche Panamera charges $2735 just for LED headlights!
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- 2015 CX-5 Touring 2.5L FWD
What do they use in 2016+ ?
2016 uses a Navteq system. i like it quite a bit
Just wish it integrated live traffic reports into the Nav maps. Sounds like this is often and easily pulled from an HD radio signal. I wonder if the system would ever allow for a dealership-installed update that would fix this?
Like others have said, most of the complaints with the Nav system stems from earlier models. Mazda addresses this issue with the update for 2016. I drove one and thought it was a very nice system to use. It very much reminded me of the BMW X3 we drove a week earlier. I really like the center console infotainment controls.
I do think that upgraded lights would be worth the price, even if that's all you got in the package. Of course not many would opt for a $1600 headlight system but seeing where you're going is just so important. And I hate the way halogen bulbs dim over their life span and burn out all the time. I think the New LED lights would have a very good life span. And please don't think that you can just get the regular headlights and install one of those $35 ebay HID kits. The halogen projectors are not designed for that and technically it's illegal. To upgrade the lights just by themselves you're problably looking at around $800.
At the end the decision is all yours. I would say that I do think the tech package is worth it. Maybe you use the nav system maybe not so much cause you have your phone but at the end of the day wouldn't you rather have it and not use it much then not have it and wanting it? It's going to work out to only be a few more dollars per month so why not?
I do think that upgraded lights would be worth the price, even if that's all you got in the package. Of course not many would opt for a $1600 headlight system but seeing where you're going is just so important. And I hate the way halogen bulbs dim over their life span and burn out all the time. I think the New LED lights would have a very good life span. And please don't think that you can just get the regular headlights and install one of those $35 ebay HID kits. The halogen projectors are not designed for that and technically it's illegal. To upgrade the lights just by themselves you're problably looking at around $800.
At the end the decision is all yours. I would say that I do think the tech package is worth it. Maybe you use the nav system maybe not so much cause you have your phone but at the end of the day wouldn't you rather have it and not use it much then not have it and wanting it? It's going to work out to only be a few more dollars per month so why not?
I've taken a couple of trips in my 2016 with the Tech Package and have been favorably impressed with the navigation system, even compared with a Garmen Nuvi I have used for many years. I like how it shows the distance to the next 3 interstate exits and tells you what services are available at each exit. The points of interest database seems to be the full Navteq database. I had a Denso OEM navigation unit in another car and it was horrible; this is great improvement.
My non-practical car is a Porsche Cayman which has Porche's excellent HID headlights. While I don't think the reach of the CX-5 LED headlights quite match the Cayman's, they don't fall much short. The Tech Package was worth it for me, but everyone's needs and wants are different.
My non-practical car is a Porsche Cayman which has Porche's excellent HID headlights. While I don't think the reach of the CX-5 LED headlights quite match the Cayman's, they don't fall much short. The Tech Package was worth it for me, but everyone's needs and wants are different.
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- Plano, Texas, USA
HID (or Xenon) headlights are different from the latest LED headlights. Although the brightness is similar, but it takes about 30 seconds to let HID light growing to its full brightness oppose to instant full brightness on LED. Thus flashing the hi-beam becomes a problem on Bi-Xenon headlights but not on LED low/high beam headlights. The hard-to-find AFS will automatically level your headlights up and down based on load and turn headlights left and right based on your steering wheel angle. Even on popular Lexus RX350 you can only pay extra to get HID headlights and auto leveling only system. Porsche Cayman offers only HID, no LED yet.
Thanks everyone for your replies. Given the feedback I am leaning now towards getting the tech package. I tend to keep my cars for around 10 years unless something is dramatically wrong and the cost of that package over that lifespan isn't much. Now I am wondering if I should splurge for the GT. I'll figure it out sooner or later. I have time as my current car is still working fine.
I'll definitely be going for the tech package when I pick up my cx5. Not only do the features you get look much better, they truly do offer a better, safer driving experience. To me it's definitely worth it. I thought about not getting it to save money but in the end, I know after a couple of months I'm going to regret not having gotten it. It's going to be a long term car for me as well therefore I'm going to get it exactly how I want it. I can't wait either!
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- Plano, Texas, USA
CX-5 GT w/Tech is the most popular and best configuration with the choice of FWD or AWD. You'll find out it actually costs not much more than a Touring w/Moonroof/Bose/Tech. A friend of mine got a FWD GT w/Tech for $27500 before TTL with all the incentives. Just watch for specials from Mazda.
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