New here and looking at the CX-5

[Mach1tosh]

We have a '22 without a turbo or cylinder deactivation. Seems like the prudent choice.
It is the GS (Canadian) which is one trim level above the base. I'm 65 and find it quite comfortable and nimble in city traffic and smooth for highway cruising.
Fuel economy is decent for an all wheel drive, and consumes less than half than the 1/2 ton P/U I got rid of.
You're right to feel leary of the CVT, they seem to have a much higher failure rate than the "normal" 6 speed trans in the CX5. Good luck with your search.

 

[SimpleCanuck]

We have a '22 without a turbo or cylinder deactivation. Seems like the prudent choice.
It is the GS (Canadian) which is one trim level above the base.

Are you sure yours does not have cylinder deactivation? My '22 GS definitely has it. Up through '23, only the base GX did not have CD among the non-turbo Canadian trims.

 

[Mach1tosh]

Are you sure yours does not have cylinder deactivation? My '22 GS definitely has it. Up through '23, only the base GX did not have CD among the non-turbo Canadian trims.

I stand corrected. The 8th digit in the serial # in an M, so that means I have CD.
I'll be keeping an eye on that.

 

[N7turbo]

It most likely does. Go to your fuel economy monitor screen and proceed to the next screen which shows your 4 pistons.

 

[ceric]

To OP,
If you want a reliable vehicle, chances are a Toyota would be more reliable than a Mazda. I am not biased. I own 4 Mazdas now. Reliability of Mazda is not bad. For all my four, I got, on average, 1 problem per 7 yrs per vehicle.
Small issue (several hundreds of dollars to fix, not thousands).

Only experience I got with Toyota was a '05 Prius.
That car was bullet proof after 8 yrs. Worse handling.

 

[sm1ke]

There are potential problems with every vehicle, and knowing about these problems is half the battle. You consider these known problems with how often they may occur, basing your conclusion on the fact that even heavily reported issues on online forums may only account for a very small percentage of the total number of units sold. You then consider the potential out of pocket expenses and downtime that may be associated with repairs. Using all this info, you can create your own risk assessment and determine if it's a good fit for you. You can do this with every vehicle.

All that said - to answer your initial question, the most reliable CX-5 is likely to be a non-turbo, non-CD model. It's a simpler design, with fewer components, resulting in fewer potential failure points. It would be worth noting that the Rogue you're driving likely has a very comfortable, "soft" ride quality. If you want a similar ride quality with the improved handling of the CX-5, I would recommend the S, S Select, or S Preferred trims, as they come with 225/65 tires on 17" wheels. Coincidentally, 2025 CX-5s in the US in the aforementioned trims (2.5 S, S Select, and S Preferred) do not come with Cylinder Deactivation, according to Mazda USA's website. The Carbon Edition does have CD (and 19" wheels and tires). This is subject to change - who knows when/if they'll reintroduce CD to those trims.

 

[Chocolate]

I'm very happy with the CX-5. The ride, handling, and quiet interior are great and a step above the CR-V and RAV4 - I drove both. I have a 2019 CX-5 2.5 NA AWD and I haven't had to use the factory warranty once over 5 years, only routine maintenance. I also take care of my vehicle. The only thing that happened was a tire got damaged.

 

[Chocolate]

Thread 'Consumer Reports New Car Issue 2024'

Jan 28, 2024

Mazda CX-5 and top competitors.

I'm in year 5 of ownership and I am still very happy with the vehicle for the price paid. The Subaru Outback was the only other choice I was looking at because of the value and expected quality (did not drive the Subaru, but did drive a Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and the Lexus NX version of the RAV4), but watching POV videos of the current model:

2023 Subaru Outback 0-60!

Hey guys! Here’s a 2023 Subaru Outback premium doing a 0-60 at about 2,000’ of density altitude meaning it’s down on power about 6-7%!If you enjoyed the vide...

youtu.be

I know Subaru...

• Chocolate
• Replies: 39
• Forum: CX-5 General

• 

 

[wlong01]

To OP,
If you want a reliable vehicle, chances are a Toyota would be more reliable than a Mazda. I am not biased. I own 4 Mazdas now. Reliability of Mazda is not bad. For all my four, I got, on average, 1 problem per 7 yrs per vehicle.
Small issue (several hundreds of dollars to fix, not thousands).

Only experience I got with Toyota was a '05 Prius.
That car was bullet proof after 8 yrs. Worse handling.

Not in my book. Wife had a Corolla, nothing but trouble and dealer was awful. Could not diagnose or fix the problem. Ended up getting rid of it and getting a Mazda 6.
Soured me on Toyota like my two Ford Mustangs soured me on Ford.

 

[ceric]

Not in my book. Wife had a Corolla, nothing but trouble and dealer was awful. Could not diagnose or fix the problem. Ended up getting rid of it and getting a Mazda 6.
Soured me on Toyota like my two Ford Mustangs soured me on Ford.

I am not surprised, wlong01. Statistics at work.
One of my co-workers had transmission failure w/ his Camry.

 

[N7turbo]

At least Mazdas don't seem to be targets of wheel theft yet, knock on wood...

 

[ceric]

Make them ugly so that no one will steal them.

 

[paris1]

Make them ugly so that no one will steal them.

My thought exactly. I've always wondered why Mazda has such a hard time finding really nice looking wheels. Some manufacturers (like Honda) seem to have that really dialed in.

 

[ruthrj]

As an owner of both a ‘21 RAV4 Hybrid and a ‘23 CX-5 Turbo, you can’t go wrong with either model. It all boils down to what you want most. Practicality/reliability (Toyota) or sportiness mid-level luxury/reliability (Mazda)? I didn’t plan it this way but we have the best of both worlds with each vehicle.

The RAV4 has very numb steering, and has a loud interior due to the lack of sound deadening materials in the design. Headroom is somewhat lacking to be honest. I’m 5’ 11” and I think it’s a low ceiling, lol. The XSE trim handles well with its tighter suspension, but again the steering feels numb. Trims like the LE, XLE will have very soft suspension and more body roll in long turns. Perks tho: great gas mileage, comfortable seating, plenty of cargo room, and being able to idle the car and run the AC without the engine running is awesome in southern summers!

I added sound deadening butyl mats to the cargo area and that made a huge improvement in cabin noise. Many complain the interior is “cheap looking/feeling” plastic, I find it durable though combined with the Softex interior. It’s been an incredible vehicle for our family and is the go-to choice for hikes and road trips. Miles per gallon drops in cold weather, so expect worse gas mileage in cold seasons vs best mileage in summer (for Northern Alabama we get about 35 mpg November thru March, 38-40 in warm months but further north folks get much lower winter mileage like 30-32 mpg). Another huge con for northerners with salted roads: I’m not sure if new model years changed the design of the hybrid battery connector at the rear axle. ‘19 model year through at least ‘23 could have the cable rust where it connects to the traction battery, and outside of warranty it’s THOUSANDS to replace the cable. Needs a whole new harness! Toyota extended the warranty for that part accordingly but something to be mindful of.

The CX-5 is the “fun” car, but I believe the turbo trim will likely be just as reliable as our Toyota. Great headroom! The glass is acoustic glass and the interior is nice and quiet. Steering is responsive and the car handles like it’s on rails. The non-turbo isn’t a slouch either but again I really wanted the turbo trim for myself. I average 26 mpg in highway driving. No city driving for me at all. Popping the mi-Drive selector in sport and punching it occasionally is incredibly satisfying. The infotainment screen is gorgeous and the leather interior is really nice. I like the RAV4 seat comfort more, but the interior quality is great on the CX-5.

Resale value: Toyota all day long, not sure if that’s a concern for you. Both my ‘21 RAV4 at 60k miles and my ‘23 CX-5 Turbo with 11k miles have the same trade in value, kid you not. Good thing I don’t plan on selling them, planning for 10+ years of ownership!

Driving tech: Toyota safety sense will trace the lane on highways and steer for you. Great for long drives and reduces fatigue! CX-5 will only give you a one time nudge and warn you, it won’t do lane tracing.

Best of luck, feel free to PM me if you’d like any more info. I had a gas ‘19 RAV4 that I traded for the ‘21 RAV4 hybrid so I can compare to the gas only trim if needed too (Covid resale values were weird, I was able to trade in my ‘19 with 30k miles for what I originally bought it for towards a brand new ‘21 hybrid at MSRP, so we went for it!).

 

[N7turbo]

Driving tech: Toyota safety sense will trace the lane on highways and steer for you. Great for long drives and reduces fatigue! CX-5 will only give you a one time nudge and warn you, it won’t do lane tracing.

Just a note, it will if you meet the conditions for "Traffic Jam Assist", which is < 40 mph.

 

[24CX-5GS-RW]

There are potential problems with every vehicle, and knowing about these problems is half the battle. You consider these known problems with how often they may occur, basing your conclusion on the fact that even heavily reported issues on online forums may only account for a very small percentage of the total number of units sold. You then consider the potential out of pocket expenses and downtime that may be associated with repairs. Using all this info, you can create your own risk assessment and determine if it's a good fit for you. You can do this with every vehicle.

All that said - to answer your initial question, the most reliable CX-5 is likely to be a non-turbo, non-CD model. It's a simpler design, with fewer components, resulting in fewer potential failure points. It would be worth noting that the Rogue you're driving likely has a very comfortable, "soft" ride quality. If you want a similar ride quality with the improved handling of the CX-5, I would recommend the S, S Select, or S Preferred trims, as they come with 225/65 tires on 17" wheels. Coincidentally, 2025 CX-5s in the US in the aforementioned trims (2.5 S, S Select, and S Preferred) do not come with Cylinder Deactivation, according to Mazda USA's website. The Carbon Edition does have CD (and 19" wheels and tires). This is subject to change - who knows when/if they'll reintroduce CD to those trims.

How's CX-5 GS (225 65 17) on Geolandar G91 ride vs a new Nissan Rogue? I never test drove that, or the CRV and 25 Forester.
Probably CX-5 is quietest and fairly comfy ride.

I like the CX-5 but wish ride could be softer but handles nicely with great steering feel and road feel.

 

[ruthrj]

Just a note, it will if you meet the conditions for "Traffic Jam Assist", which is < 40 mph.

That’s really good to know, I had no idea my car even did that. I only ever try for it 55+

 

[Freedom55]

Yes, I did take notice, and that kind of info was exactly what I was looking for. Do I stay away? Not sure, only reason l was considering getting rid of my 2015 Rogue was because I was concerned the CVT w/fail sooner rather than later- now at 84K. Im open, so looking at rav 4 and venza too....anyother ideas???? George in NC

I'm about your age and my previous ride was a 2017.5 Nissan Murano SV. If you're looking for a soft riding SUV the Outback should be on your list but it's not sporty by any means! You have to try it for yourself and see. I find my CX-5 ride a bit hard on small dips and bumps but it can handle large potholes without drama. Good luck with your shopping.

 

[meow_man]

I'm about your age and my previous ride was a 2017.5 Nissan Murano SV. If you're looking for a soft riding SUV the Outback should be on your list but it's not sporty by any means! You have to try it for yourself and see. I find my CX-5 ride a bit hard on small dips and bumps but it can handle large potholes without drama. Good luck with your shopping.

I agree about the CX-5 vs the Outback. I have a 2019 GTR & my wife has a 2018 Outback. There is a slight tradeoff in ride vs handling in the GTR which I like. The Outback has a softer ride at the expense of handling. My wife prefers her Outback. I prefer my GTR.
Age bracket: both retired, late 60's.

 

[docKiwi75]

69 yr old retired/married guy looking at the CX5. Currently own a 2015 Rogue w/84K that has done OK, but worry about the CVT trans as it nears 100K miles. I like the CX5 and the Rav4- and both have been mentioned to have some transmission issues. The transmission failures dont appear to be as wide spread as the Nissan CVT. Would consider 2022 to 2024 models and think maybe the latest version came out in 23. Is there much difference between these versions? Im most interested in something that is reliable. The handling and interior of these seems to be highly rated, so thats a plus. The Rav4 is very similar, what comments could you offer me? Thanks, George in NC/Alabama.

I like your avatar. Looks like a 67 Chevy 10, hard to see the back window to confirm. If not, it must be a 68. My fav vehicle of all time is the 68 Chevy I bought in 1973 when I was 16. Same color too.

On topic, I've had 2 CX5s, a NA 2016 GT and now a 21 Signature. I test drove a Rogue, Rav4, and CRV before pulling the trigger. None came close to the 2016's sportiness and driving characteristics. I bought my 21 Sig because I wanted the upgrades and turbo. Best car that I have ever owned. Owned many Outbacks and Highlander Limiteds before I made the switch to Mazda. I like the 6 speed transmission a lot. The turbo is downright fun paired with the engine, PT, and handling.

Between the two vehicles I have had headlights replaced under warranty (2016) and just had the Forward Sensing Camera replaced on my 2021 (off warranty). I was experiencing oil consumption (.5-.75 qts/5000 miles) and had the valve stem seals changed under warranty 3 months ago (this is fixed for subsequent years). Just went in for first oil change and the dipstick level had not moved from full. The Mazda fix also adds 2 years to the powertrain warranty. All vehicles have their issues and dealers/service centers are always a gamble, but my experience has been stellar.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Multiple test drives have been recommended and I strongly concur. Test drives of any vehicle on your short list (all on the same day, if possible) is a winning strategy after on line homework. The Rogue didn't appeal at all and the CRV, and RAV4 were fine but not nearly as much fun to drive. Space in the CX5 is about the only downside but for me it's a lower priority.

BTW, when I had my seals replaced they gave me a CX50 that I drove for 3 days. It's fine and the styling is appealing, but the CX5 is still the hands down winner IMO.

Mazda seems to be driven by persistent, iterative improvements in existing tech rather than jumping on the bandwagon (eg., CVTs). Good luck.