This HAS to be an MPG record!

[Bon Scott]

From what I gather, there are some CX-5's (GT AWD) that get fantastic mileage...and some that don't. While I understand that mileage depends on the the driver....like you, I drive sensibly, coast when possible, use my cruise often, and don't drive with a lead foot....and my mileage still isn't up to snuff. Admittedly, I expected better. Still though, I love the vehicle.

Bon

 

[jpaulatkinson]

From what I gather, there are some CX-5's (GT AWD) that get fantastic mileage...and some that don't. While I understand that mileage depends on the the driver....like you, I drive sensibly, coast when possible, use my cruise often, and don't drive with a lead foot....and my mileage still isn't up to snuff. Admittedly, I expected better. Still though, I love the vehicle.

I have switched from my initial "favorite car ever!" impression of the CX-5 (class leader in most comparison tests, exterior design, driving dynamics, price) to a cautious "like." Primitive head unit/navigation system, horrible MPG, and now an apparently loose wire in the passenger front door have me edging in the direction of buyer's remorse, unfortunately. Admittedly, this purchase was impulsive.

Specifically to this low MPG experience: I'm not new either to driving nor to owning a car, and I'm not driving this car like an idiot -- it simply shouldn't get such crappy MPG out of the gate; no car I have ever owned has done this (here in SF, that includes a GTI, a Subaru Outback XT, and a BMW X3). There is no reason whatsoever this car should get WORSE MPG than any of these other vehicles (23, 18, 16 MPG respectively by EPA estimates and essentially the same with my driving in SF). I plan to stretch it's proverbial legs this weekend with highway miles to see if my MPG in that context more closely matches the estimate of 30 MPG before I throw up my hands and take it in for an investigation.

 

[CC58]

I have switched from my initial "favorite car ever!" impression of the CX-5 (class leader in most comparison tests, exterior design, driving dynamics, price) to a cautious "like." Primitive head unit/navigation system, horrible MPG, and now an apparently loose wire in the passenger front door have me edging in the direction of buyer's remorse, unfortunately. Admittedly, this purchase was impulsive.

Specifically to this low MPG experience: I'm not new either to driving nor to owning a car, and I'm not driving this car like an idiot -- it simply shouldn't get such crappy MPG out of the gate; no car I have ever owned has done this (here in SF, that includes a GTI, a Subaru Outback XT, and a BMW X3). There is no reason whatsoever this car should get WORSE MPG than any of these other vehicles (23, 18, 16 MPG respectively by EPA estimates and essentially the same with my driving in SF). I plan to stretch it's proverbial legs this weekend with highway miles to see if my MPG in that context more closely matches the estimate of 30 MPG before I throw up my hands and take it in for an investigation.

Set the cruise to 65mph and you should get 27mpg minimum. Notice if there are high winds. I was really surprised at how much high winds kill MPG in the CX-5 (or help if you have a tail wind). 20mph wind can add or subtract 5mpg! Helpful Hint: Clear the MPG AVG after you set the cruise on the highway, otherwise it will take 50 miles to get a true reading. The ultimate reading is using a calculator and gas pump numbers, of course.

 

[CX-SV]

Do you notice a bit more than usual sensitivity to crosswinds?

 

[jpaulatkinson]

Set the cruise to 65mph and you should get 27mpg minimum. Notice if there are high winds. I was really surprised at how much high winds kill MPG in the CX-5 (or help if you have a tail wind). 20mph wind can add or subtract 5mpg! Helpful Hint: Clear the MPG AVG after you set the cruise on the highway, otherwise it will take 50 miles to get a true reading. The ultimate reading is using a calculator and gas pump numbers, of course.

Will do.

 

[CC58]

Do you notice a bit more than usual sensitivity to crosswinds?

I have yet to drive very far with a crosswind.

 

[CX-SV]

I have yet to drive very far with a crosswind.

Got it, thanks.

I assume you are operating at high altitude in CO (regarding the 65mph/27mpg minimum)?

 

[CC58]

Got it, thanks.

I assume you are operating at high altitude in CO (regarding the 65mph/27mpg minimum)?

I've averaged better than that on the plains, but from what I've read of others with AWD, he should get at least that.
The CX-5 is the most efficient vehicle I've ever driven, but flip side is that bad conditions can impact mpg severely.
I bet he will be very surprised.

 

[CX-SV]

I've averaged better than that on the plains, but from what I've read of others with AWD, he should get at least that.
The CX-5 is the most efficient vehicle I've ever driven, but flip side is that bad conditions can impact mpg severely.
I bet he will be very surprised.

Yes, mine is a 2.0L AWD and at low altitude at freeway speeds of 70-80 mph get about 30 mpg.

 

[Beefy]

No record at all, my worst tank was 11.5 MPG...... is was during a period where we had lower than -25C daytime temperatures, excessive use of the remote starter, and I got stuck in traffic during multiple snow storms.

 

[MikeM.]

The more terrible the traffic, the better the 2.0L engine will perform relative to the 2.5L engine.

My wife was thinking of getting a CX-5 also but she wants the 2.0L for the range and overall economy so I suggested she look for a good, clean, low mileage 2013 but there are none to be found in our area. So we broadened the search. There are a bunch in the MN area but here's the surprising thing - Dealerships are asking the same or sometimes more for 2013's with 2.0L compared to 2014's with 2.5L similarly equipped. Even more surprising is this often holds true even when the 2013 has almost twice the mileage! As much as we want the 2.0L engine, I don't think we would pay $25,000 for a car with 35,000 miles on it (especially if I have to go to MN to find one we like)! I guess people (at least in MN figured out that you don't get to your destination any faster with a bigger engine! Here are a bunch of listings for comparison purposes:

http://www.carsoup.com/for-sale/used/Mazda/CX-5/Minneapolis-MN/

Granted, it's tough to tell exact condition from a listing but, in this case, it's the older, higher mileage cars with the 2.0L and AT's that appear to holding more of their original retail.

 

[Pipemajor]

I have switched from my initial "favorite car ever!" impression of the CX-5 (class leader in most comparison tests, exterior design, driving dynamics, price) to a cautious "like." Primitive head unit/navigation system, horrible MPG, and now an apparently loose wire in the passenger front door have me edging in the direction of buyer's remorse, unfortunately. Admittedly, this purchase was impulsive.

Specifically to this low MPG experience: I'm not new either to driving nor to owning a car, and I'm not driving this car like an idiot -- it simply shouldn't get such crappy MPG out of the gate; no car I have ever owned has done this (here in SF, that includes a GTI, a Subaru Outback XT, and a BMW X3). There is no reason whatsoever this car should get WORSE MPG than any of these other vehicles (23, 18, 16 MPG respectively by EPA estimates and essentially the same with my driving in SF). I plan to stretch it's proverbial legs this weekend with highway miles to see if my MPG in that context more closely matches the estimate of 30 MPG before I throw up my hands and take it in for an investigation.

I'm getting TWICE that mileage in a 2.5L AWD CX-5 with under 1,800 miles under it's belt. 90% of which is city driving.

 

[jpaulatkinson]

Okay -- slowly improving. Fewer hills this tank. Clearly, going down the other side doesn't make up for climbing hills!

 

[jpaulatkinson]

There has to be something wrong with your CX-5. Are the brakes dragging?

My old 5.0L AWD Explorer gets better mileage than that.

I can't imagine a service department would take my inquiry about MPG seriously, but I will give them a call tomorrow. This really does seem absurd.

 

[cybercruiser]

I try to drive very conservative to squeeze the best mileage I can out of it. Over 5 or 6 tank fulls, I'm averaging approx 31.5mpg, which is awesome. I traded in a Honda Civic for the CX-5, my Civic only got maybe 2 more mpg.

 

[jpaulatkinson]

I try to drive very conservative to squeeze the best mileage I can out of it. Over 5 or 6 tank fulls, I'm averaging approx 31.5mpg, which is awesome. I traded in a Honda Civic for the CX-5, my Civic only got maybe 2 more mpg.

I drive conservatively, too. Very. Where do you live? Lot's of stop and go? Or, lots of long, flat stretches of road? I wonder if the CX-5 is just the WRONG vehicle for urban driving.

 

[runtohell121]

I can't imagine a service department would take my inquiry about MPG seriously, but I will give them a call tomorrow. This really does seem absurd.

If you're only driving in the city in SF most of the time.. then I do expect poor mpg on any car. Living near the bay for me, every time I go to SF, my mpg drops by a lot with the traffic and stop and go in the city and highway.

 

[jpaulatkinson]

If you're only driving in the city in SF most of the time.. then I do expect poor mpg on any car. Living near the bay for me, every time I go to SF, my mpg drops by a lot with the traffic and stop and go in the city and highway.

The ONLY part for me that I can't reconcile is that 90% of the 28,000 miles I put on my BMW X3 were in SF traffic, and that beast returned a steady 15 MPG (one less than the EPA city rating). My GTI was right on the EPA rating for the city cycle. My driving style hasn't changed.

If ALL my cars delivered 50-60% of the EPA predicted city MPG driving around SF, I wouldn't mind. This, however, makes NO sense.

 

[cybercruiser]

I drive conservatively, too. Very. Where do you live? Lot's of stop and go? Or, lots of long, flat stretches of road? I wonder if the CX-5 is just the WRONG vehicle for urban driving.

I live in NE Ohio, and live 9 miles from work, almost entirely freeway. So, yeah, a majority is highway miles, but, I do a fair amount of in town driving too, so, I'd call my mileage "mixed", but, slightly more highway.

 

[CX-SV]

I can't imagine a service department would take my inquiry about MPG seriously, but I will give them a call tomorrow. This really does seem absurd.

What did the service department say?