Hi Mazda drivers,
After starting a new job and saving some money I am looking to purchase my very first car. After doing some research on Mazda models I really like the CX5 size, medium SUV. Please, if you drive CX5 or have some sort of knowledge of the CX5 range can you let me know your experience etc?
I’ve heard different opinions on different CX5 models. And I don’t know which one to choose.
Below is what I know to be what I think I want:
- No Turbo engine- I read a review that the turbo engine can tire out the engine after a while.
- Want a sunroof.
- No wireless charging. I prefer cord charging.
- Map satellite navigation.
As you can tell I am not knowledgeable with this. I’m afraid a car salesman is going to swindle me due to my lack of knowledge. Please comment your opinions regardless if you know much of CX5 or not.
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Hi! I recently purchased a 2024 CX-5 Carbon Edition. New to this community, but I’ve been lurking for a little while.
First I would like to say I really recommend you do a test drive. I test drove a few other SUV’s from different brands and the test drive for the CX-5 was what really solidified my decision.
Secondly, I was in the same boat as you. This was my first new vehicle purchase. I had previously only owned used vehicles and was really wanting an upgrade due to wanting new tech/features.
I opted for the CE because I don’t do a lot of driving where I would need a turbo engine. The cost increase didn’t make it worth it to me for my lifestyle/driving. I mainly only drive local and some highways. Mostly stuck in traffic a lot too since I also live in a high congestion city. From my knowledge, the turbo would’ve had a higher gas consumption especially for that kind of driving.
The sunroof has been a nice plus, I enjoy having it and it is one of the things I was specifically looking for in my new vehicle. As others have said, you do have to keep in mind that it does require maintenance down the line, but overall, it’s been a nice feature to have and I believe almost all of the trims above the base model come with one.
For the CE I was a little bummed about not having wireless charging or wireless CarPlay as the other SUV’s I test drove from other brands had it, but I also realized it wasn’t worth the extra thousands to go up a trim just to have those two features. I think the wired connection is really reliable so I never have any connection issues, my phone charges quickly. So far after about almost 2 weeks of owning the car, it hasn’t bothered me at all.
For the map satellite connection, I’ve always been a google maps user. The car has its own GPS system, but I haven’t used it. This is something you can definitely check out if you do a test drive.
For the test drive, I would say do a bit more research before walking in. Go into a dealer and say you want to do a test drive. If you are not ready to buy, thank them for their time, take their card and leave. Do not feel pressured to buy that same day. Run some numbers at home and try to do negotiations over email or over the phone. Go in again once you are sure you are ready to purchase. I will say, Mazda dealers by me keep cars at MSRP and don’t tack on any unnecessary add-ons. If this is the case by your area, I would say negotiate if you think you are able to (the answer is always no if you don’t try) otherwise, buying at MSRP isn’t always a bad deal.
Good luck with everything and hope to welcome you to the CX-5 fam soon!
I was a little disappointed with the amount of space within the car. Specifically the room between the front and back seats. It’s more on par with a regular sedan than a SUV or crossover. It might not be obvious to most or even matter but as a new dad it’s very noticeable because I can’t recline as much as I want with a car seat in the back. Again, this is common for sedans but for a crossover/SUV it’s pretty disappointing. It makes me realize I could’ve either saved money and got a sedan or went with a bigger model
Also, the engine isn’t very strong. It’s only noticeable if you test drive other cars from different manufacturers.
I bought a CPO 2016.5 in 2019 with 26k miles on it. Just hit 66k and it’s been great. Mine is a Grand Touring with leather, moonroof, navigation and blind spot monitoring. I totally recommend all these features.
My 22 CE has all of those, and I bought a nav SD card on amazon for $30 and it works. But really I just use my phone. A low trim may check all those boxes too though.
Your first bullet point is misinformed.
Not true, non turbo engines will always be better, as a turbo is ANOTHER part that can fail, where as an engine without has fewer things to that could fail and has less heat generation
If OP is seeing this, look at it this way. It’s another part to service. It’s another part to be looked after. Turbos mainly need oil to function properly. Mazda also says before shutting off the vehicle after every drive, idle the car fora short time for the turbo to cool down. Turbos adds power, forces air into the engine more. It’s a method of forced induction. We know any type of power, any force creates pressure on things. However, these Mazda’s are family cars at the end of the day. So these Mazda’s are not pushing much boost overall than say the exotic cars you see on YouTube that does highway pulls or drag races. Mazda’s 2.5L turbo though is quite more strong than the competitors in its segment with their own turbocharged engine, except the Europeans and Americans to some degree. And it’s important to note it’s fuel economy ratings.
Engines though always have forces acting on and in it. This engine both Non-Turbo and Turbo, the 2.5L is made in mass production by Mazda. Its found throughout nearly all Mazda vehicles today with the slight exception of the CX-90 and Miata. The engines has reported issues. Oil issues, cracked cylinder head issues, cylinder deactivation issues, carbon build up, etc. We at Mazda here are lower in numbers. There’s less of us out there, we’re part of a smaller brand. Inturn, you might here more issues reported because those people with issues are more likely to speak out than one who just enjoys with no issues. We also don’t really know sometimes about one person care and use to the car, before they report the issue. Sometimes these issues arise, because of improper care. Sometimes, it’s genuine, and the issue is simply due to Mazda’s design.
I myself don’t have the turbo 2.5L. But, compared to the competitors offerings, I would take the 2.5L turbo, if I wanted something powerful, yet reliable. I think it’s a gamble, but the likely chance you’ll get a flawed Mazda Turbo model is small. I would rather prefer it over any Europeans, Americans. I would even prefer it over Honda’s 1.5T engines, and don’t get me started with Hyundai. But that’s my opinion. Remember, engines go through alot. They give out sooner or later.
Go for an older low milage 2018+ , save some money.
The Mazda 2.5L Turbo engine has been around for a while (on other Mazda models) and there is no research that I am aware of that points to it being less reliable than the naturally aspirated version of the same engine. It’s not like Mazda just strapped a turbo on and called it a day- the entire motor was reengineered to account for the effects of the turbocharger and has different compression ratios, tolerances, etc.
That said, they get worse fuel mileage so if you don’t want the turbo there is no reason to buy one, but if you are interested in the additional torque and accepting of the tradeoff of fuel economy don’t shy away because someone on the internet told you “the turbo engine can tire the engine out after a while.” That’s simply not true.
Just go on Mazda’s website and compare the features between the trims and go with the lowest trim that suits your needs. If you’re targeting a used CX-5 you won’t have as much choice in the matter anyway.
A word on the satellite navigation- not worth the premium the dealer charges for it. All of the CX-5 trims are capable of Car Play/Android Auto, which is far superior to the built-in navigation, especially if you’re already plugging your phone in.
If you are not a car person or find particular joy in driving, the turbocharged engine is completely optional.
The car has plenty of power without the turbocharger to get you from point A to point B. You can merge onto freeways and you can pass slower moving vehicles. Most people do not need or care for the extra horsepower. While still reliable, especially if you drive the turbo gently, it’s just one extra component that can fail as the car ages.
If you are a car person, you already know the benefits of the turbocharged 2.5 outweigh the potential risks and increased fuel consumption. The low-end torque makes the car much more enjoyable to drive, even (maybe especially) in the city.
Still, it’s best for anyone who can afford the higher price point to at least give both engines a try and see if you prefer the additional power.
I have a non turbo cx5 (2021) touring (fwd)and it’s plenty peppy on the road and even more so in sport mode.
I think if you want a sunroof/moonroof you have to go up to a higher trim than basic “sport” model and it is often paired with leather seats, 8 way power drivers seat adjustment, power passenger seat adjustment (just not as many options) dual zone adjustable air conditioning, and rear seat ac vents.
Keep in mind that you aren’t going to drive with a sunroof open every single day due to weather conditions and it does let a lot of dust into the cabin. Also that it does bring with it the possibility of leaks. I’ve never had a car with a sunroof develop a leak but I’ve sure read about many.
Map satellite nav- I use apple car play exclusively via (wired charging) and use the navigation on my phone for Google maps or wayz which is displayed on the big screen. I’ve never “needed” or wanted the Mazda navigation. I have no trouble running navigation and podcasts or whatever I’d like to listen to while I drive.
For me, all wheel drive isn’t something I need since I live in a climate where deep snow is a rarity, plus awd can be expensive tire-wise since all four have to match wear-wise.
Over all I think you’d be really happy with a Mazda cx5. It’s a pleasant driving experience, a very capable engine around town as well as on the highway, and the interior is considerably more luxurious that every other car in its class. Go test drive one!
When you get to the point of negotiations, don’t sign before asking for extras to be thrown in. Do not pay for them.
Look on this sub for suggestions, but some things to consider are the all weather mats including the cargo mat (they are nice), cargo cover, free oil change/tire rotations.
Ask for the moon and see what they say yes to. Everything is negotiable. And if you aren’t satisfied, just walk. It’s your money and you don’t have to buy unless you feel ready. My town only has one mazda dealership but I was prepared to travel to others for a better deal and I told them that. I was in no hurry.
How much headroom is lost with a sun/moon roof?
Oooh. Now that is a good question! But I can’t answer it. My sunroof is pretty much flush with the ceiling, but that’s probably how it’s designed.
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Not relevant. You’re not going to own the vehicle long enough for it to matter.
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I believe this requires Premium Plus or higher trim. The Mazda website will clarify.
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so what if it has wired charging? You’re not required to use it. Plug in a cable if that’s what you prefer.
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I believe that navigation is optional in all models. Purchase and install the SD card.
Preferred option has the sunroof
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Perspective of someone who has owned a Mazda for over 11yrs…Unless you live somewhere with a climate like Cali and plan on driving around with the sunroof open all the time, you might want to consider that they can leak (happened to me recently, and I’ve used the sunroof maybe twice the whole time I’ve owned the car). The turbo and non-turbo are probably equally reliable, but the non-turbo is cheaper and gets better gas mileage. And the satellite navigation is really convenient, until you need a map update several years down the road. With apple/android integration, you can use the nav from your phone and not have to pay more for higher trim levels that include the nav system.
In very hot climates the sunroof is very useful for venting the car
A strategy you can use once you decide what trim level you like is to search dealer inventory online and find a vehicle you’re interested in, then email the dealer and ask them to quote you their best OTD (out the door) price. You can go to truecar.com to see what people in your area are actually paying for similar vehicles. If they won’t give you a price and tell you to come in and discuss it, DON’T GO. Those are the sales people that will try to tack on extra fees and play numbers games. Make them give you a good enough reason (offer) to go see the vehicle.