Interested prospective cx5 buyer

[Cejay]

Hi all

I'm in Australia and my wife and I have taken the cx5 for a test drive, we are interested in the maxx or maxx sport fwd, but we're mainly after owners opinions, prefer the petrol model after reading about all the issues with the diesel.

Are most petrol owners happy with the overtaking ability of the car?
How does the fwd model handle in the wet?
How do people find the six speed auto to live with day to day? Does it hunt etc?
Are people getting issues with dash rattles etc?
Is the fuel economy consistently good?
Any issues with paint? As I have heard Mazda paint can be quiet thin?

We have taken one for a drive but not on the freeway or a steep hill.

Thanks for the replies in advance.

 

[Kayger12]

Hi all

I'm in Australia and my wife and I have taken the cx5 for a test drive, we are interested in the maxx or maxx sport fwd, but we're mainly after owners opinions, prefer the petrol model after reading about all the issues with the diesel.

1. Are most petrol owners happy with the overtaking ability of the car?
2. How does the fwd model handle in the wet?
3. How do people find the six speed auto to live with day to day? Does it hunt etc?
4. Are people getting issues with dash rattles etc?
5. Is the fuel economy consistently good?
6. Any issues with paint? As I have heard Mazda paint can be quiet thin?

We have taken one for a drive but not on the freeway or a steep hill.

Thanks for the replies in advance.

1. With the 2.5, definitely.
2. Can't help you here. AWD.
3. Absolutely does not hunt. Very smooth shifting. Great trans.
4. Zero rattles or noises for me.
5. Yes.
6. Haven't heard much about this. I have a 10 year old Mazda in the driveway with zero paint issues.

 

[loximoto]

I own my CX-5 for a week.
All I can tell you is that maybe if I could go back probably I would choose manual transmission.
The automatic goes up with gears too fast and if you live in a city with many up and downhills this is a problem: you have constantly to push the accellerator in order to have a proper rpm and this makes increase consumption a lot.

 

[Kayger12]

^Yes. That issue seems to be more of a 2.0 engine thing.

I would definitely opt for the 2.5 if it's available there.

 

[MikeM.]

^Yes. That issue seems to be more of a 2.0 engine thing.

I would definitely opt for the 2.5 if it's available there.

If the "issue" you speak of is having to push the accelerator to go up hills which increases consumption a lot then that issue will be worse with the 2.5L engine because it consumes even more fuel for a given amount of work performed.

 

[Cejay]

Keep the comments coming. It is helpful, I was wondering if there was an Australian cx5 Forum too?

 

[Lt Johnny]

Hi all

I'm in Australia and my wife and I have taken the cx5 for a test drive, we are interested in the maxx or maxx sport fwd, but we're mainly after owners opinions, prefer the petrol model after reading about all the issues with the diesel.

Are most petrol owners happy with the overtaking ability of the car?
How does the fwd model handle in the wet?
How do people find the six speed auto to live with day to day? Does it hunt etc?
Are people getting issues with dash rattles etc?
Is the fuel economy consistently good?
Any issues with paint? As I have heard Mazda paint can be quiet thin?

We have taken one for a drive but not on the freeway or a steep hill.

Thanks for the replies in advance.

G'Day Mate

I just bought a 2014 w/ 6spd Auto FWD a few weeks ago. I'll try to give you some feedback and hope it helps with making your decision.

The highways here in FL have a 70 mph speed limit and mine has no problems passing. On the Autobahn in Europe, that might be a bit of a problem
I have had the opportunity to drive mine on both slick roads from light rain as well as during a downpour and it handled well but at the same time, it's new and I'm not driving it like I stole it either.
No rattles with any of the components in the vehicle.
My fuel economy has been around 26.5mpg in town and 29.5mpg highway doing 70-80mph
All I can say about the paint is it sure looks good freshly waxed

 

[lfkmazda]

Hi all

I'm in Australia and my wife and I have taken the cx5 for a test drive, we are interested in the maxx or maxx sport fwd, but we're mainly after owners opinions, prefer the petrol model after reading about all the issues with the diesel.

Are most petrol owners happy with the overtaking ability of the car?
How does the fwd model handle in the wet?
How do people find the six speed auto to live with day to day? Does it hunt etc?
Are people getting issues with dash rattles etc?
Is the fuel economy consistently good?
Any issues with paint? As I have heard Mazda paint can be quiet thin?

We have taken one for a drive but not on the freeway or a steep hill.

Thanks for the replies in advance.

1. Overtaking is good. The auto has a sport mode where you can choose which gear it goes. Not as good as a true manual, but you can't get the 2.5 L with a stick. And very few people choose to get stick anyways. 185 hp is more than most on the road.

2. FWD handles well in the wet. AWD does not help you turn faster or brake any better in adverse conditions at this price level. The AWD system in the CX-5 is not super sophisticated. For the AWD to help you "handle better" (accelerate in the high speed corners), you need to purchase a car much more expensive. The AWD will help you get more traction from a stand-still. But I would get better tires, before I would get AWD. Since AWD actually makes handling worse in most cases because of the added weight.

3. The 6-speed auto doesn't hunt. It goes straight to six and stays there as long as possible. How else you get 32 mpg?

4. No rattles yet.

5. Fuel economy is consistent and good. Mazda cars achieve advertised mileage more often than other brands.

6. Mazda paint is good.

 

[gova]

Hi all

I'm in Australia and my wife and I have taken the cx5 for a test drive, we are interested in the maxx or maxx sport fwd, but we're mainly after owners opinions, prefer the petrol model after reading about all the issues with the diesel.

Are most petrol owners happy with the overtaking ability of the car?
-Yes
How does the fwd model handle in the wet?
-Perfectly fine
How do people find the six speed auto to live with day to day? Does it hunt etc?
-One of the best manuals I've driven - and I've had many...
Are people getting issues with dash rattles etc?
-Unfortunately Yes. 1 dealer cured, 2nd one fixed myself
Is the fuel economy consistently good?
-Yes, it is. It is very good.
Any issues with paint? As I have heard Mazda paint can be quiet thin?
-Nothing yet, hopefully it will last
We have taken one for a drive but not on the freeway or a steep hill.


Thanks for the replies in advance.

 

[rcs914]

If the "issue" you speak of is having to push the accelerator to go up hills which increases consumption a lot then that issue will be worse with the 2.5L engine because it consumes even more fuel for a given amount of work performed.

I would tend to disagree with this, as there is more power in a given gear with the 2.5 than the 2.0, and thus the need to downshift to move the car is reduced. I have no real numbers to back this up with though. Of course the 2.5 is going to use more fuel than the 2.0 in daily driving - but some of that is going to have to do with your driving style. You obviously drive quite judiciously to get 31.4 MPG average in an AWD. I've been pretty happy so far with my 28MPG in combined driving, but I would be happier with 31 ;-) Overall though, for me, the 2.5 has been worth it.

 

[ALafya]

Keep the comments coming. It is helpful, I was wondering if there was an Australian cx5 Forum too?

Whirlpool has active CX-5 discussion:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2040594

 

[MikeM.]

I would tend to disagree with this, as there is more power in a given gear with the 2.5 than the 2.0, and thus the need to downshift to move the car is reduced. I have no real numbers to back this up with though.

Of course you don't have any real numbers to back it up. That's because the numbers show the 2.0L uses less fuel under the same driving conditions. And, yes, the 2.5L does have more power in a given gear, that's because it's burning more fuel. And I believe the "issue" being discussed was the increase in consumption when the engine needed to downshift to climb a hill. But the downshifts of a six-speed close ratio transmission are small and do not take the rpm's out of the range of good efficiency. So, the smaller engine still burns less fuel - even while climbing hills.

 

[CXVille]

I own my CX-5 for a week.
All I can tell you is that maybe if I could go back probably I would choose manual transmission.
The automatic goes up with gears too fast and if you live in a city with many up and downhills this is a problem: you have constantly to push the accellerator in order to have a proper rpm and this makes increase consumption a lot.

I'm really confused by this statement. Your issue is that the auto upshifts too quickly, and then must downshift when you want more acceleration, or are going up a hill, and therefore your fuel mileage suffers? So if the transmission didn't upshift that would have been better? How? Then your mileage before you needed the downshift would have been worse.

It is possible that under similar circumstances the 2.5l engine is more efficient than the 2.0l. However, you would have to drive the 2.0l hard, pushing it so it needed to run outside of it's area of best efficiency, and not quite so hard as to do the same for the 2.5l. Possible,yes, likely, no. It most cases the 2.0 would get better gas mileage than the 2.5.

If you don't like the programming in the auto, then shift it manually. It is (at least in the US, I assume the Italien version is the same) easier to drive it that way than a manual.

 

[Cejay]

Thanks for all the feedback, we are currently going through a car broker to see what kind of deal we can get, on a maxx or maxx sport. I take it since they would all be in warranty, it would be a bit hard to tell how expensive parts are out of warranty? I used to own an mazda mx6, and 1200$ AUD for a distributor was crazy money (went a reconditioned one), i hope mazda isn't charging like a wounded bull for spare parts again.

 

[Cejay]

Placed a deposit down on a 2013 fwd Maxx sport, which the closest equivalant is your touring model.

 

[loximoto]

I'm really confused by this statement. Your issue is that the auto upshifts too quickly, and then must downshift when you want more acceleration, or are going up a hill, and therefore your fuel mileage suffers? So if the transmission didn't upshift that would have been better? How? Then your mileage before you needed the downshift would have been worse.
...
If you don't like the programming in the auto, then shift it manually. It is (at least in the US, I assume the Italien version is the same) easier to drive it that way than a manual.

You're probably right: going manually is, in fact, what I'm doing now when uphills come. Maybe it won't improve my MPG but it's certainly less annoying if not even funny.

 

[STE92VE]

Are most petrol owners happy with the overtaking ability of the car?
How does the fwd model handle in the wet?
How do people find the six speed auto to live with day to day? Does it hunt etc?
Are people getting issues with dash rattles etc?
Is the fuel economy consistently good?
Any issues with paint? As I have heard Mazda paint can be quiet thin?

1- Yes, no issues with 2.5L
2- N/A
3- Very smooth. Coming from 6MT and for 6 mile commute from red light to red light, don't miss rowing the gears.
4- None
5- Only 1 fill up so far
6- Not yet, but if a stone hits you at highway speed, any paint will chip.