Rear visibility

[afaceforradio]

I've been car shopping for the last couple of weeks and really like the CX-5. I've test driven it a couple of times and it's made it to what I hope is the final round. The process has been fun, but exhausting for sure. I like pretty much everything about the car, but one thing that gives me pause is the rear visibility. It's a bit hard to see out the back and couldn't get a really good feel if that would bother me down the line at all. I am just curious how other people feel about this. Does this become a bigger problem down the line or has it not had much of an effect one way or another?

 

[MarineMike]

I've had mine for a few weeks now... Honestly, I never really notice that there is a slight limitation on your rear visibility. Anything you absolutely need to see out the rear can either be seen with the back-up camera or should be able to be seen out the back window. I've never come accross something that I couldn't see by the two options listed before... so far.

 

[NinjaNoises]

I have a sport model which doesn't have the reverse camera. The rear visibility was a big issue for me, so I installed an audible back up sensor for $100. Wasn't really a big deal in the end.

 

[paris1]

"It's a bit hard to see out the back..." doesn't really tell us what the issue is. If the headrests are restricting rearward vision, do what many of us have done and remove them (either temporarily or permanently). This really opens up your rear view through the mirror. If it's a "line of sight" issue looking over your shoulder through the rear quarter windows, that's something you can't do much about and have to decide for yourself whether you can live with it or not. I've found it pretty easy to adapt to, but most crossovers (except the more boxy designs like the Forester) have this issue to one degree or another.

 

[afaceforradio]

"It's a bit hard to see out the back..." doesn't really tell us what the issue is.

It's mostly the pillars in the back. They're pretty thick and found it to more difficult to see what was behind me than in other crossovers I've tested.

 

[Latitude Adj.]

My CX-7 had a better view out the rear quarters because of the bigger rear windows. The view out the back of the CX-5 is about the same however about a month ago I had to take the drivers side rear seat headrest off to fold the seat down and the view is so much better it will stay off until someone needs to sit there.

Moving the rearview mirror up also improves the view out the back. Mine does have the camera but out of habit I still look at the mirrors.

 

[V8toilet]

I just use the side mirrors in conjunction with the rear view mirror and a good look over my shoulder and have had no issues.

 

[Macksma]

The first week or so that I drove my CX-5 I felt the same about the lack of rear visibility, but I got use to it quickly and don't notice anymore.

 

[RedBaron]

My wife is VERY sensitive about rear visibility (hates to drive my convertible for that reason). We got the CX5 for her and she has no complaints about it at all (and I asked her explicitly). I'd say it will be fine and you won't have an issue.

 

[GAXIBM]

I think the larger outside mirrors reduce the rear visibility issue...

 

[alex1706]

After years of driving vans with no rear windows or audible reversing sensors, I never look over my shoulder when reversing.

Quick check in the centre mirror to ensure nobody stood behind me, the rest is done with the door mirrors. I do not have the camera option.

I saw in an earlier post someone invested in some aftermarket sensors for $100, I thought these were standard?

Alex

 

[TreyP]

I've not had any issues at all. The blind spot monitoring helps quite a bit when on the highway as well, but I would have been fine in this car without it.

One odd related thing that I had to get used to is the shape and color of the inside "frame" to the back window. At first I kept thinking a white car was coming up on the passenger side when I quickly glanced over my shoulder before getting back into the right lane. I got used to it though.

 

[Bladecutter]

For those of you who have problems with the over the shoulder visibility, how tall are you?
I'm 6'1", and I don't have any issues with rear visibility.

I've also driven other vehicles, that have visibility issues (Porsche Boxster and Chrysler Crossfire, for example), and I'm just more comfortable with it.

BC.

 

[REDOTTERRICH]

I'm 6'2" and I have problems with the back right column. I ended up backing into a Honda who was also reversing.

Take extra caution with the back right. I used to rely solely on mirrors after a quick back head turn, but never more.

Luckily the CX-5 bumper was solid. Only minor crease damage in it and replacement of the tie down cover.

 

[ALafya]

With the backup camera, going in reverse is without any issue for me. I remember using a rental RAV-4 (pre 2013 MY, without a camera) and feeling more challenged to do the same. I did remove the left rear headrest and put it in the back.
Going forward and looking back, I have no problem at all with the visibility. Compared to the sedan the CX-5 replaces, I feel it is more maneuverable in tight spaces. I am guessing it has shorter minimum turning radius. To some extent, it was a tad more challenging driving it forward into our garage, because of the higher hood edge and passenger side window sill.

I also experimented with this alternate way of setting the side mirrors, the way it was set up in my previous ride. I feel it is probably better (renders the BSM almost unneeded), but my wife has trouble adjusting to this setup and it takes few minutes to set it up each time, so for now it is in the standard way.

 

[jcolmn]

I've been car shopping for the last couple of weeks and really like the CX-5. I've test driven it a couple of times and it's made it to what I hope is the final round. The process has been fun, but exhausting for sure. I like pretty much everything about the car, but one thing that gives me pause is the rear visibility. It's a bit hard to see out the back and couldn't get a really good feel if that would bother me down the line at all. I am just curious how other people feel about this. Does this become a bigger problem down the line or has it not had much of an effect one way or another?

All of the new style crossovers are very similar. They have the same body shape which restricts the visibility out of the rear cargo area windows. What I also noticed is similar to what someone else said. The headrests are huge and angled way forward in such a way that depending on how far forward the seat is, really block visibility out the side if you also take into account the roof support between the doors. Not terrible, but takes some getting used to.

 

[erhayes]

Same with my CX7. I always try to park where I can drive away forward.

 

[HandA]

If it bugs you then it may not get better with time.

I don't often notice it as a problem but it does make me hesitate a bit more with quick lane change maneuvers and things like that. Coming from a really old car with great visibility and a little pickup with equally great views for my regular drivers I do miss the easier visibility. It cuts into the confidence to act quickly. I miss the quick glance and go method rather than check one mirror, check another mirror, look over the shoulder and woops now that other car is close enough I don't want to cut him off.

I have the mirrors adjusted out like mentioned in the prior post and there is still a tiny area that small cars and motorcycles can disappear into on the passenger side.

I pulled the rear headrests and it does help some. Even if it doesn't free up a lot of area to see out of for me it makes it feel like I can see better and a little less cave like.

The back-up camera is nice for backing up but I'd still rather be able to see more out the back. When there is water on the camera lens or if it is really bright out but there are a lot of shadows from things like tree branches it can be hard to tell a curb from a shadow in a quick manner.

There just aren't many cars with decent visibility anymore, especially CUVs. The angle they give the beltline for sporty appearance cuts into the size of the windows as it goes back. Nobody wants to drive a big greenhouse on wheels anymore. I've test driven cars that were worse though.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Visibility isn't terrible. Plus, it is a small vehicle, so it isn't difficult to manage anyway. I agree that you become accustomed to it, and learn to work around the lack of full visibility.

By contrast, my mother's 2004 Toyota Highlander has suburb rearward visibility. It is amazing. So, I can see how CX-5 and other similar crossovers can cause apprehension, if you're coming from something like the Highlander, which features such great visibility.