Options from across the pond?

[Dr_Watson]

Frequent short trip should not be a big issue in the big land of US as people are driving more miles per trip than most other countries. Right now I'm in Taipei which is a very small city and people are making very short trip frequently. The CX-5's available here are SA-G 165ps 2.0L FWD, SA-D 175ps 2.2L FWD, and SA-D 175ps 2.2L AWD which is the top of the line! I stopped by at a Mazda dealer and the salesman told me they sell mainly SA-D diesel models as diesel fuel is cheaper than gasoline here with better MPG (33.4 / 41.87 / 35.75 MPG for SA-G FWD / SA-D FWD / SA-D AWD). According to him, there is no more issues on recent diesel's. I'm not sure how Mazda fixed the DPF system but premature failure on cam should be easy to fix. Like Dr_Watson said, SA-D 2.2L CX-5 with 175 ps / 173 hp and 42.8 kg-m / 310 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm simply makes SA-G 2.5L with 184 hp and 185 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm felt very sluggish!

Yeah, top of the line SA-D 2.2L AWD costs NT$1,300,000 which is equivalent to $42,000 USD, but that includes import duty plus other taxes based on engine displacement which is more than 50% of the FOB price!

What he's said!

It can't be because of short distance trips, they are very common here in CH, this country is probably half or even smaller than majority of states in the U.S. diesel is also cheaper than gas here, about 1.5 usd per litre (not gallon!). My trips are nearly all short trips, since the hardware and software changes I have no issues with the car, the forums (I visit this forum, the german and the Oz forum regularly) are all quiet now regarding dpf probs or oil rise. I really don't know what the reason why the D isn't available. I looked at the new Tuscon, it's just released here, the interior is awfull although the 1.6 gas engine with turbo sounds intereresting. the new HRV interior is nearly as bad and the petrol and diesel couldn't pull he skin of a cold bowl of custard. Just for a laugh, have a look at the brand new Honda Jazz interior, have they lost their mind!

 

[MikeM.]

While I appreciate Mazda makes rain sensing wipers, LED lightings with AFS available on CX-5 which are not available on competing Honda CR-V, Toyota RV4, and Nissan Rogue, but memory seat, rear AC vents do available on other CUV's. I was a little disappointed that CX-5 doesn't have these features that many competitors in the similar price range are having. I'm comparing apple to apple here.

While I can understand the tendency to get overly involved in comparing features while making armchair purchase decisions, I think it takes away from wise purchasing. At it's essence the purchase of a vehicle involves buying a machine comprised of a chassis, wheels, engine transmission, etc. Yes, features can be used to differentiate vehicles in the same class very easily from the Internet armchair. On the other hand, things like the engineering and build of the chassis, engine and brakes are much harder to differentiate from the armchair so people focus on features and specs to differentiate. I can appreciate that and these things do matter but, IMO, not nearly as much as they are emphasized. It's still primarily a utilitarian driving machine.


My point is, if you really want a meaningful comparison, get out there and drive these vehicles! Not just around the block or for a 3 minute trip on the freeway. Take nice long test drives, drive on curvy roads, rough pavement and do some simulated emergency avoidance maneuvers in a big parking lot. Put the car through it's paces because that's what it mostly is, a car, not a collection of driving aids, memory seats, etc. It's a car people and they are not all the same! Then, when you have found the one(s) you like the most, make sure it has the options available that you need. But don't start with comparing options vs. option, look first at the machine itself, that's what you're mostly paying for. And it's no surprise that manufacturers with less than stellar machines will try to lure you in by putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[gova]

I went to the garage to try a 2.5, he gave me the keys and off I went. Smooth twisty roads with some nice straights, typical Swiss style, well, I went about 500 yards and thought about just turning around and going back to the dealership. I don't want to sound like an A-hole, I know this model is well liked elsewhere, but when you drive at 30mph, the car is in a certain gear (also couldn't find an indicator showing which gear it was in, just a D), so at 30mph the road climbs ever so slightly, speed drops to maybe 28, press the gas slightly, nothing happens, press a little more, kicks down a gear to speed up 2mph! Same problem in corners, every single switch back you slow for, the car drops down to maybe 3rd or 4th, a little gas mid corner to hold the speed, as the corner open give some more gas and the box kicks down. I couldn't live with the continual hunting for some torque. Sport mode was nuts, revving so high, even when cruising?? ...

This is what I've been saying/feeling. The AT shift pattern is truly horrendeus. Absolutely awful.

I wish there was a way to reprogram this. It kills this fine car in so many ways. I feel this in flat IL roads, so your feelings in the mountains must have been even worse.