Mazda USA photo mix-up?

[ColoradoDriver]

At the LA Auto show some of the people covering the unveiling of the 2017 mentioned that the new style was "Lower". Also the Mazda press release noted "A lower center of gravity"...Now, 2hether this means a loss in ground clearance, roof-line, or something else to achieve this is what I"m wondering. One of the main reasons I like the CX-5 is that it has very good ground clearance (nearly as high as a Forester). If they drop it down to RAV4 / CR-V territory...around 6" instead of 8" then I wouldn't want a 2017. If they keep it the same, then I might be more interested in the 2017 model.

Agreed. When I bought my 2014, ground clearance was a huge consideration vs. the competition since I lived in the mountains at the time and had a hell of a driveway to get out of in some snowstorms. I wouldn't buy a 2017 if it dropped that much.

 

[7eregrine]

Friend went to Cleveland Auto Show. He said there was no CX5? Wtf?

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[banjos-n-beer]

Agreed. When I bought my 2014, ground clearance was a huge consideration vs. the competition since I lived in the mountains at the time and had a hell of a driveway to get out of in some snowstorms. I wouldn't buy a 2017 if it dropped that much.

yeah, coming from a 4Runner the ground clearance was a big selling point for me, despite my lack of intentions to go off-roading. (I have a 500 ft driveway).

There have been times when our CRV has struggled backing up in 4-6 inches of fresh snow. The Mazda just laughs at it and rolls on through. Both cars have identical 17" Winter studded snow tires.

I doubt the ground clearance on the 2017 dropped much.... I'd guess a 1/2".... unlikely more than 1".

 

[banjos-n-beer]

Per MazdaUSA:

2016:

Wheelbase (in) 106.3
Track, front (in) 62.4
Track, rear (in) 62.5
Length (in), without front license plate holder 178.7
Width (in) 72.4
Height (in), up to roof, without roof rails / up to antenna 65.7 / 67.3
Minimum ground clearance, Unladen (in) 8.5

Per MazdaUSA Press Release:

2017:

Length: 179.1"
Width: 72.5"
Height: 66.2"

I'd guess 66.2" would include the antenna since they've stated they dropped the car a bit. That would equal ~1.1" drop.