Machine gray or dark blue mica?

laf

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Cx-5 GS Awd
Just gave the ok on a new 2025 CX-5 turbo. I am hesitating between the dark blue mica or the machine gray. I like both colors but I cant decide which one to choose. The dark blue looks really good in the sun and the color changes a lot depending on light. It will also requires more maintenance as the swirls are showing so much more on this color. The machine gray also looks good but under direct light it has a yellowish tint. I would also like to do a chrome delete and it will look a lot better on the machine gray.

Any opinions on it ?

Thank you.
 
When we bought our 23 cx5 turbo my wife commented that the mica blue reminded her of a grandma car...we are in our 60's.....we narrowed ours down to a white or red and ultimately went with the white but everytime I see a clean red one I kind of wish we went with red..between blue and machine gray I would go gray but still would go red if I were buying...that red looks so good clean.
 
I wanted the gray, buy left wife decide. Went with the blue mica. Which is ok as I have a gray focus and silver frontier. do like how it looks black at night, despite owning several black trucks and never wanting another.
It was easier to wax than black, and I think it won’t show as much paint /wax error. Will show dirt.
Being cheap the $600 price difference helped as well.
 
Had a 1996 Miata M-Edition, and that year's special edition color was Starlight Mica Blue. Probably my favorite color that Mazda has ever placed on a car.

Yeah, it's fairly great in the sunlight and can take on various hues depending on the quality of light, whether it's overcast, from what angle one views it.

But, yes, it shows nearly any defect. And shows dirt, splashes and spots fairly easily. Can be highly polished and well-protected, then it'll stand up to most things. Takes a bit of work, though selecting long-lasting, hard-wearing coatings will help. If willing to keep up with it, it's a lovely color IMO.
 
I've owned a Mica Blue coming from a Audi Daytona Grey. Really soft paint on the Mazda's which I found the paint harder to maintain and really easy to get light scratches on, ecspecially when trying to wipe off bird poo!.
 
I think certain colors are classic and others are trendy. I see dark blue as being among the classic colors and machine gray a trendy color. To the extent that's true, you might be happier short-term with machine gray and long-term with dark blue, so your expectations for how long you'll keep the car might have some bearing on the color you choose.
 
Both of our Mazdas are in the Deep Crystal Blue Mica, so it’s obvious which color I'd vote for…
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You can't go wrong either way. Both look awesome with black wheels and trim. My wife owns a 24 CRV in dark blue and it's awesome. My CX-5 is Machine Grey and I wouldn't give it up. Gray is such a classic, sophisticated color!

Oh, and my body is in it's 60's but my mind is in it's teens.
 
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I live in the U.S. Deep South… I had a new black V6 Mazda MX-3 back in 1992. Between the summer heat and the yellow tree pollen, I swore I'd never own another black car. Fast forward 30 years. The Blue Mica is basically as dark as black, but the color just looks so good I couldn’t help myself. I don’t have any regrets getting the dark blue.
 
If the blue works for you it is a newer offering and more rare than the MGM so you will not see many others similar to yours. The main downside to that dark color is the maintenance issue which you already seem to be aware of, so assuming availability, it’s either unique and more work vs. easier care but more common.
 
The machine grey is a "safe" colour, looks good from most angles, has more depth than the modern polymetal variations, hides dirt, dust and spots fairly well. That said, it's a pretty common colour for those reasons, and it doesn't really stand out as much.

I went from a 2018 machine grey CX-9 to a 2022 black CX-9. I really do miss the machine grey and it was definitely my preferred colour over black or blue mica. This is one of my favourite pics of my previous MGM - it shows how the paint can change depending on the light.

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I always told myself I wouldn't buy a black car, but I do enjoy maintaining a clean car, so I was up for the challenge. I just need to manage my expectations.

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As a Machine Gray Metallic afficionado, I have to say, it looks superb with a ceramic coating. Like the car is covered in a thin layer of glass.

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The brightening effect the paint gets is due to the direction the metallic bits are laid down, so we are told. It then takes on a brightening/darkening effect depending on lighting.
 
I dont know.. i wish i could tell you because i love my black CX5 however every time i see a different color i fall in love with that one. Mazda does an amazing job on their paint so i dont think you can go wrong. Its actually the only gray car i like.. then again im brand loyal here.. BUT.. if i HAD to pick between the two, i think i would go with the dark blue..
 
Thanks for your replies. Its a tough choice. I might lean towards the MGM for safety but the car is slightly pricier. Still, every car on the road is gray black or white.
 
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