Questions after test driving 2017 CX-5 and CRV

[mangoconchile]

Hi - new here & thinking of buying a CX5 (AWD Premium w/remote start)

You have to PAY a monthly fee in order to use the Remote-Start feature. Also I've read from some posters here it requires some kind of app to use it. The app itself hasn't been updated in 2 years. You may want to get some opinions from people here on how it works. Just an FYI.

 

[Kaps]

Hi - new here & thinking of buying a CX5 (AWD Premium w/remote start) but would like to know why you mention "short trips" as I would be taking long trips as well. What is your reasoning the CX5 is not for those? Lack of comfort? Fuel usage? Tks as going back today with hubby so he can see one. (he has Infinity G37X but I can't take long trips in it as my lower back goes out after 20 mins in the G...I'm praying the Mazda will fare better with my back!) Tks!

I am not saying CX5 is bad for long drives.

My point in summary is this:
Many people buy Rav4 / Rogue CRV etc. for big passenger space and storage. But end up being single occupant driving it for more than 90% of the time. Me and my wife both drive to work - we have 2 cars, not 3. So CX5 is a Daily driver. Office duty with vacation / Ikea trips etc on weekend.
That is a big reason for me to buy CX5. If I were to buy a CUV only for family trips - maybe a Rav4 makes sense, but most of the time if you are single occupant - the space in the back is of no use. But if you buy a great driving car - that benefit is on 100% of the time. Plus I travel for business - so have enough Avis points to rent a 3 row for the loooooong vacations which is enough space and comfort.

2017 CX5 has closed the gap between a family car and fun to drive. You should test drive it. As far as long distance comfort goes - if you get a high trim with controlled lumbar support - you should find a sweet spot. Mine has manual lumbar support with limited lumbar - but GT might have more range. I would urge you to "Take it home for a day" - if you are serious buyers the dealer will allow you. This is much better than hop in test drive and being pressured to buy in 10 minutes.
I have a 16 which is fantastic and on mpg - I get 34 during morning drive, during evening when traffic gets bad - I do 27. Not bad for the spirited driving I do.

 

[CX-5um]

This film is lacking in details & I'm a 65 yr old female about to buy a '17 CX-5 AWD! Did all cars have same tires (I think they did). Who produced the tests to prevent bias? Was the AWD switch "on" in the Subaru & Honda? I no nothing re AWD in Subaru/Hond but if they have an AWD switch, & if Mazda did the tests, then that switch could have been left off deliberately. It looked to me like the Subaru & Honda rear tires weren't even trying to rotate off that hill. Something seems fishy to this old granny..But I'm sold on the AWD on the CX5 now even more!

I agree it's a good thing to question things!!!

That said keep in mind loo at the first vid (the European vid titled Honda CR-V 2014 4WD failure ) I posted a couple of posts ago. The CRV's front tires spin and the rears did not translate power.

Also keep in mind that Mazda invited magazines and writers to their Ice Event. Pretty much good vibes coming from them with regards to Mazda's AWD capabilities. Yes Bias is involved but the media would also point things out as well.

 

[Lynn]

Thank you! That's why I'm here! Not doing anything on purchase until I do more research! I'm also not paying monthly fee so MMS is out. I'll carry 2 fobs & deal with that! Tks again!

 

[Lynn]

Thank you for clarifying! I am not even considering Honda. I'm ready to buy the CX5 once a few more questions are answered & I really like knowing that we might be able to "take it home for a day". That would help me find the sweet spot for my back, if there is one. We would be buying the AWD GT with Premium. I tested it (premium GT) for 10 mins (it got on the highway beautifully so plenty of HP on the AWD). My back wasn't happy though by the time we got back to dlrshp. I had lumbar fully out but pillow behind my back is never good so need time as you said! Tks again! This is SO helpful! Glad I found forum! ( we're older couple, car is for me (wife) & I have little grandsons often in my car so this will be perfect!)

 

[murky]

This film is lacking in details & I'm a 65 yr old female about to buy a '17 CX-5 AWD! Did all cars have same tires (I think they did). Who produced the tests to prevent bias? Was the AWD switch "on" in the Subaru & Honda? I no nothing re AWD in Subaru/Hond but if they have an AWD switch, & if Mazda did the tests, then that switch could have been left off deliberately. It looked to me like the Subaru & Honda rear tires weren't even trying to rotate off that hill. Something seems fishy to this old granny..But I'm sold on the AWD on the CX5 now even more!

I assume they all had Blizzaks.

The key here is that Mazda is highlighting a specific case in which their AWD technology has an advantage over others. The are going up-hill with the wheels turned hard. Other AWD systems don't use the rear wheel in this condition because if the ground weren't slippery, the front and rear would be fighting each other, causing a bind up.

Mazda recognizes that it is slippery because of temperature sensors and whatnot, and allow rear wheels to get power even though the wheels are cranked hard right.

For the Subaru and Honda or whatever others were failing, they probably could have negotiated that condition by pointing their front wheels straight ahead until they got moving with a little momentum, and then turned (or not stopped on an uphill when they needed to do a hard right). Or they could back down the hill and get a running start before the turn.

Mazda is pointing to a real advantage in their system, and set up conditions to really highlight the feature. That's why the make the drivers stop at the worst spot and tell them to crank their wheel for the turn.

 

[Kaps]

**smart talk**
I am not even considering Honda.
** even more smart talk**

Now thats what I call - Class before cubic feet. lelolel.

 

[Unobtanium]

I wonder how the CX-5's AWD system stacks up vs the CRV?

Shittier. CRV driveline owns CX5. If the new CX5 doesn't come out with HCCI, when I go back to the "CUV drawing board", it's between the Forester XT and CR-V, at this point. CX5 has done okay so far, but has not distinguished itself except by not being a POS that breaks all the time, basically. It's loud, it's only adequately powered, the highway mpg is far under sticker, and the build quality is very mid 2000's GM.

 

[CX-5um]

Shittier. CRV driveline owns CX5. If the new CX5 doesn't come out with HCCI, when I go back to the "CUV drawing board", it's between the Forester XT and CR-V, at this point. CX5 has done okay so far, but has not distinguished itself except by not being a POS that breaks all the time, basically. It's loud, it's only adequately powered, the highway mpg is far under sticker, and the build quality is very mid 2000's GM.

If you want something a bit more "bullet proof" I'd put a certified Lexus on your list as well.

 

[murky]

... and the build quality is very mid 2000's GM.

Ouch! Below the belt.

 

[dougal]

If you want something a bit more "bullet proof" I'd put a certified Lexus on your list as well.

And honestly, from those video's the CX-5 AWD system does not appear to be worse than the CR-V.

 

[mangoconchile]

And honestly, from those video's the CX-5 AWD system does not appear to be worse than the CR-V.

No kidding dude. They were both clearly struggling. If people are going to be driving up hills and at weird angles like this all the time, buy a Jeep.

 

[mangoconchile]

Shittier. CRV driveline owns CX5. If the new CX5 doesn't come out with HCCI, when I go back to the "CUV drawing board", it's between the Forester XT and CR-V, at this point. CX5 has done okay so far, but has not distinguished itself except by not being a POS that breaks all the time, basically. It's loud, it's only adequately powered, the highway mpg is far under sticker, and the build quality is very mid 2000's GM.

New Forester is in testing right now if you have the patience to wait for one.

http://www.motortrend.com/news/spied-2019-subaru-forester-caught-testing/

My favorite quote in the article was this one

Our spy photographer says this camouflaged model was being tested against both a Honda CR-V and a Volkswagen Tiguan. The new CR-V is such a fantastic, well-rounded crossover, it’s the obvious benchmark for this class.

 

[piotrek91]

And honestly, from those video's the CX-5 AWD system does not appear to be worse than the CR-V.

+1

 

[freys]

I've driven many many vehicles in the snow up to the mountain over the past 30 years. Not saying it is the best however, it does work amazing in the snow. I've never driven a vehicle that transfers the power where needed so smoothly. You can flat out mat this sucker in the snow and it will do its job almost to well at times.

 

[dougal]

I've driven many many vehicles in the snow up to the mountain over the past 30 years. Not saying it is the best however, it does work amazing in the snow. I've never driven a vehicle that transfers the power where needed so smoothly. You can flat out mat this sucker in the snow and it will do its job almost to well at times.

When I lived in the north-east, I thought the CX-5 AWD system worked well. Miles better than my CR-V, which was terrifying. Nothing beats the old manual Subaru's that ran a simple viscous coupling system that was always 50/50 until you lost traction.

 

[paging_drburgos]

No kidding dude. They were both clearly struggling. If people are going to be driving up hills and at weird angles like this all the time, buy a Jeep.

Lol totally agree with you. CRV's and CX-5's are not Jeeps or Land Rover's. AWD is not close to a 4x4 with a locking differential.

 

[ColoradoDriver]

Lol totally agree with you. CRV's and CX-5's are not Jeeps or Land Rover's. AWD is not close to a 4x4 with a locking differential.

Agreed.

That said, the AWD system on my CX-5 is phenomenal for winter driving.

 

[7eregrine]

The mobile start is an annual charge of 60. Not monthly. I posted somewhere that it basically breaks down to paying $5 a month. Nice to know Mango does not have me on ignore. LOL
Also, just to clarify, Niether brand, Subaru or Honda has a button for AWD.

 

[Unobtanium]

And honestly, from those video's the CX-5 AWD system does not appear to be worse than the CR-V.

CX5 had to roll backwards and abort. I never saw the CRV have to?

Agreed on the Jeep comment though, my QD2 had locking diffs front and rear, and yeah, even without it, 100% of torque could go to any singular tire at any time. Vastly superior for "crawling" like this.

Also agreed on the Lexus, it's just that I don't want to spend that much money on this kind of vehicle.$25K is the absolute MAX I could ever spend on a CUV and not feel sick to my stomach.