CX-5 Sales continue to set records

[dougal]

Minivans are in the same price bracket as mid-sized three-row crossovers (Pilot, Highlander, Explorer etc.), but are a lot bigger inside. Minivans are cheaper than full-size SUVs (Tahoe, Yukon, Suburban, Sequoia, Expedition, etc.) which are comparable to a van in terms of carrying capacity. So they aren't cheap in an absolute sense, but if you think of it in terms of who and what they can carry for the money (and size, weight, fuel economy), they're a better deal than a large SUV. They're just not fashionable.

Yeah, we had a Toyota Sienna mini-van (POS) that we had to replace. We looked hard at the Highlander, the CX-9, MDX's and Pilots along with other SUV type offerings. The mini-van from a space consideration is just hard to beat. You can fit 7 people inside and all their crap very easily. That is not the case with the SUV's.

 

[concept]

Actually, the Toyota SUVs and vans are the most reliable, overall. The Honda Odyssey is just average in that department.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Yeah, seems the CX-5 is the real high volume item for Mazda. I can see why, it's a great SUV with great driving dynamics, a decent price point, good fuel mileage for what it is, and practicality for multiple needs. The CX-9 as it stands to reason is of course a lower volume seller, as it's more expensive and, while more spacious, more for larger families that can fully utilize the space.

Indeed. And if people want 7 seats and uber luxury, they go for Lexus 570, Merc GLS or Infiniti GX80

 

[Xeler8ing]

You STILL haven't got a car yet? Have I missed something?

They don't have the 2018's yet in Aussie land if I recall correctly.

April 2018 is the release date

>5,000 posts in less than 10 months, for a vehicle he doesn't even own yet.

I'd think saying he's excited is a bit of an understatement!

Remember the CX-5 very similar to the 6 hence my ability to comment

 

[Xeler8ing]

In our region as well suv and crossovers are the majority. Minivans have been on a down slide for years. The market for 3 seat suv / crossover is growing.

Same here

 

[CX-5um]

Actually, the Toyota SUVs and vans are the most reliable, overall. The Honda Odyssey is just average in that department.

Hard to disagree. While Toyota and Honda V6 engines are comparable in terms of reliability, Toyota transmissions seem to hold up way better..especially in trucks. Honda historically have issues on trannies linked to V6's.

 

[J.R.]

Unfortunately, imagining that most people would say it's about the whole package/driving experience, is just wishful thinking.
Folks like us who belong to one or more car forums, and actually care about stuff like driving dynamics, are in the minority.
There's a reason why so many people buy appliances for cars, 95% of whom do little to no research, or comparison shopping.
They are too lazy, or just don't give a crap.
I know so many people that bought their cars for the wrong reason. It's frustrating to see it.
I mean, how do you explain people buying cars like a Chrysler 200, or a Jeep Compass, or the like?
One example is a friend of mine who is as tight with his money as anyone I know.
His only criteria when buying a car is gas mileage...period.
Doesn't matter how it drives, what it looks like, what features it has or even what make it is. If it gets 100mpg, he'll buy it.
I told him last fall I was buying a Mazda 6, and the first thing he asked me was how was the gas mileage.
I could not get him engaged in a conversation about the looks, dynamics or features of the car. Not interested.
Like I said, you and I, and others on forums like this, are a very small minority of car buyers.

The 'people' I was referring to in that post were specifically Mazda owners and even more particularly, the enthusiasts on this site.

 

[dougal]

Actually, the Toyota SUVs and vans are the most reliable, overall. The Honda Odyssey is just average in that department.

Toyota mini vans suffers from automatic doors that fail and wheels that corrode. The engine and transmissions are solid but everything else is garbage. The web sites are full of people with issues with those cars. I personally will never buy a Toyota again.

 

[Padre Dave01]

We have a 2015 CX-9 GT (with V-6), a 2016 CX-5 GT, and an awesome 2010 Speed 3, which is my retirement project car. New CX-5 is very nice, but looks too bulky to me, compared to my wife’s 2016 model. If Mazda would put some style into a merge of the 3 hatchback and the CX-3 (I agree this is a “WHAT?” Kind of car). The suggestion to go more upscale and compete with Infiniti and Volvo is a good one for a small company, but with the Mazdaspeed division gone, the “ZOOM-ZOOM” seems to be on pause.....sad. I am now a diehard Mazda guy.

 

[Xeler8ing]

Mazda seem to now make grown up cars. More refined etc

 

[Unobtanium]

You haven't looked at Minivans Unobtaniun. A base model Odyssey is $30. That's more then a CX-5 Touring. The next one up is more then a GT at $34K. Top of the line with no packages is $40.

You haven't looked at SUV's.

Do you know what a Suburban costs? A Tahoe? An Explorer? A 1 year old minivan whose value has blown out since it was titled is a bargain...AND the mpg they throw down plus the more car-like handling seriously appeals to some of the main clientele.

 

[7eregrine]

Can you never say "o wow, you're right, I was wrong"? Come on man. Just can't admit, it can you?
You said mini Vans are so popular (wrong) implying this is so because they are cheap.
Yea, I did look. Admit you didn't.
I compared a fully loaded Honda van before I posted (44k) with a fully loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee (50k). I had no idea they were that expensive.

 

[Unobtanium]

Can you never say "o wow, you're right, I was wrong"? Come on man. Just can't admit it can you?
You said mini Vans are so popular (wrong) implying this is so because they are cheap.
Yea, I did look. Admit you didn't.
I compared a fully loaded Honda van before I posted (44k) with a fully loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee (50k). I had no idea they were that expensive.

I know people who have sold SUV's to buy minivans (because kids). Never met someone the other way around. I think you'll find SUV's are popular with the kind of person who doesn't even need or use them for their intended purpose, while the minivan is a vehicle of pure necessity. This is 'Murica, and Want is always going to outsell NEED. I am not speaking to true prevalence on the roads, but rather, to the specific applications.

 

[Red MC]

Now this is a fully loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee:
https://www.caranddriver.com/jeep/grand-cherokee-trackhawk
$87k

Admittedly, not many people are going to buy the Trackhawk, or even the SRT. Next trim down the list from the SRT is the Summit, which is over $60k with AWD and leather. These things have gotten way expensive, but they sell well.

 

[7eregrine]

I think you'll find SUVs are popular because poeple don't like being called a soccer mom or looking like a soccer dad. It's purely image. Minivans make a lot of sense for someone with 3 or more kids. But **** that! I'm an attorney! Or a business owner! Or a firefighter! I can't be rolling around in no mini van. Get serious. #image

 

[Unobtanium]

I think you'll find SUVs are popular because poeple don't like being called a soccer mom or looking like a soccer dad. It's purely image. Minivans make a lot of sense for someone with 3 or more kids. But **** that! I'm an attorney! Or a business owner! Or a firefighter! I can't be rolling around in no mini van. Get serious. #image

On this, we agree 100%.

 

[Unobtanium]

Now this is a fully loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee:
https://www.caranddriver.com/jeep/grand-cherokee-trackhawk
$87k

Admittedly, not many people are going to buy the Trackhawk, or even the SRT. Next trim down the list from the SRT is the Summit, which is over $60k with AWD and leather. These things have gotten way expensive, but they sell well.

At least for $87K you get something unique....THIS is overinflated...

http://www.foxnews.com/auto/2017/09...uty-limited-is-fords-first-100000-pickup.html

 

[Red MC]

Yeah, truck prices have gotten obscene. I see a lot of very expensive trucks in my area now, and many of them have pristine beds without a scratch, looking like they've never carried anything. When I see a $70-80k truck and it looks like the bed and hitch are never used, I just shake my head and wonder why? I know it's an image thing. But personally, I would feel way more self conscious driving a blinged up truck around than a minivan.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Yeah, truck prices have gotten obscene. I see a lot of very expensive trucks in my area now, and many of them have pristine beds without a scratch, looking like they've never carried anything. When I see a $70-80k truck and it looks like the bed and hitch are never used, I just shake my head and wonder why? I know it's an image thing. But personally, I would feel way more self conscious driving a blinged up truck around than a minivan.

Well, I worked for an energy company for about a year and I swear everybody on my team had a big ass truck. We were in the corporate office. They didn't use the trucks for any damn purpose except to measure how small their dicks were.

There were 2 people who did not have a truck and oddly enough they were the only 2 people I really got along with. (rofl)

 

[Unobtanium]

Yeah, truck prices have gotten obscene. I see a lot of very expensive trucks in my area now, and many of them have pristine beds without a scratch, looking like they've never carried anything. When I see a $70-80k truck and it looks like the bed and hitch are never used, I just shake my head and wonder why? I know it's an image thing. But personally, I would feel way more self conscious driving a blinged up truck around than a minivan.

When I worked for Ford, back in 2004-2005, a decently equipped F150 was in the 30's/40's. F250, 40-50's (6.0, which sucked, but...), and b arely cresting 60ish for a loaded out King Ranch, IIRC. The Mustangs were 30-40K....just like they are today. So don't anyone try to spin the "but they have evolved and inflation and..."