Have to agree Mazda's Zoom Zoom has been watered down with the skyactive's attempt to get more MPG. Styling is nail with Kodo, but the Escape will probably sell 5 for everyone of these. I can just imagine how a small turbo skyactive 4 pot would be.
So far 29.6 MPG for mixed driving.One of the reasons I bought the Touring instead of the Grand touring (Besides the 2K difference) is the tires.Those 19 in tires are going to cost between 260-300 each to replace and transmit more road irregularities into the cabin than the 17 in. 65 series tires on the Touring model and from what I've read handle just as well. So far,so good
You can use manual shifting but... It's just that the CX-5 is so unresponsive that even the slightest grade requires an extra push of the gas pedal. Agree on your other points.
It's a 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T. It's one of those vehicles from right at the end of the great period of malaise, so it's only 250hp, but the torque is quite nice at 345lb-ft. Not bad for $4000 though. In terms of the drivetrain, imagine a 1974 Challenger 360 automatic, with overdrive and fuel injection. Still has the same block (for the most part) that they came up with in '64, and the transmission is mostly from '62. Last of the dinosaurs, in a way, and the gas mileage reflects that!
i agree with steve. i test drove this last week and loved everything about it except the powertrain. I found myself mashing the gas pedal to pass on the highway. 155 hp for a ~3300 lbs car is WAY to low. yes its a city car but a car should be able to pull off 70mph without that much of an effort imo. i just wish it had 15 more horsepower. i'd wait for the diesel.
Looks better than the CRV, but not better than the new escape. So are you saying the manual is the way to go? I would take this, but only after testing the escape. Great video
BTW, You are a great reviewer, you're knowledgeable and entertaining, even when you review cars I don't even like, I wind up liking certain qualities about them. If you have done a review of the Jeep Wrangler, let me know I haven't found it in your extensive archive of videos but will double check!
My wife's new mazda3 out performs her old CRV she replaced. No comparison. Not to mention, the mazda3 feels tighter. No more Honda's in our house. Zoom Zoom
I am glad they finally designated the number of seats with the appropriate number. But they should have renamed the CX9 with a , (yeah right!!) I agree this to be the best looking of the small five seaters, but I wonder what it would have looked like based on the new escape if they had not divorced.
Steve, do you think they will ever put a turbo in the CX-5? If they did I'd go down to my local Mazda dealership and buy one as soon as it is available.
People can't have their cake and eat it to. Either you want great MPG or performance. I think Mazda does a good job at blending those two. But critics have always dinged Mazda for not being leaders in MPG. However, I do think Mazda should offer a second non skyactiv engine for those of us want more performance.
In principal I agree with you. However the individual vehicle must be taken into consideration. And the wheel wells in this case, lend to a larger wheel. More importanty It's not so much the wheel size but the tires. 225/65 is a poor choice for zoom zoom tag line. That's one chunky side wall. A 235/55 would be better.
Soccer moms. The majority of drivers really don't care about how fast a car is, because most people never floor the throttle. Remember, the Prius is a very popular vehicle, and it's not exactly a dragster.
good review as always Steve, not really a fan of the mazda styling, we`ll agree t disagree on that one :) , i don`t know if it`s just me , but a lot of SUV`s seem be changing in style from the traditional big SUV look to high roof station wagons ......but more car like, is that a fair comment?
yes some but Mazda getting alot more buyer b/c majority of people only care about mpg instead of the important stuff like reliability and the feeling of driving a car that puts a smile on your face when you accelerate. It will take Mazda some time but eventually they will get higher numbers after all they have come a long way .With farari like compression, unique shaped piston head, headers and a beautiful car with 40 mpg and it'still fun to drive it not the most fun to drive but it offers alot.
You can but who wants to do that all the time? Most people who buy an automatic want to use it as such. Perhaps the manual is best, but then again you can't get AWD.
Well it looks great & thats what a large percentange of people look at when buying a vehicle. However I think Mazda will come back to its "Zoom Zoom" appeal in 2014. Great review Steve.
Mazda really shot itself in the foot here. You can't get the lower profile 19" tires on anything but the top trim level. And for that price you can get 240HP in a new Escape. I cringe at the thought of driving this thing in the mountains at 4000-6000 feet. A hill would just kill it. In short you get less power for the same price. 2.2L diesel will help but it's later in coming. It sure looks great though.
Only buyers of the Juke are average 59 years old or older. All I see are people more like 60 and 70. The design has a lot I wouldn't care for. I would prefer a Kia Sportage, Ford Escape 2013, Subaru Tribeca the 5 passenger version, which apparently Subaru is no longer going to make or this CX-5
It drives okay interiors okay exterior is okay. There's no Sporty handling. It does look a bit girly in real life. Minivan ish. When you look at it in real life it's a chicks car. Looks good overpriced but glad I waited. The new Subaru Xv cross tech is probably a better choice.
i just got mine, 2l sky-g 160 hp ( europe version) automatic is great... its a very good car i recomend testing 1 if u are in the marker to buy a car. gl btw review is a lil unfair...
Have to agree Mazda's Zoom Zoom has been watered down with the skyactive's attempt to get more MPG. Styling is nail with Kodo, but the Escape will probably sell 5 for everyone of these. I can just imagine how a small turbo skyactive 4 pot would be.
love it when msrp and some car stat are listed in the description. i know it can be easily googled but it's still appreciated
So far 29.6 MPG for mixed driving.One of the reasons I bought the Touring instead of the Grand touring (Besides the 2K difference) is the tires.Those 19 in tires are going to cost between 260-300 each to replace and transmit more road irregularities into the cabin than the 17 in. 65 series tires on the Touring model and from what I've read handle just as well.
So far,so good
For sure. Aerodynamics for the sake of fuel efficiency has mandated this to some degree, as well.
You can use manual shifting but... It's just that the CX-5 is so unresponsive that even the slightest grade requires an extra push of the gas pedal. Agree on your other points.
One of the best reviews of the CX-5 I've seen so far.
It's a 1999 Dodge Dakota R/T. It's one of those vehicles from right at the end of the great period of malaise, so it's only 250hp, but the torque is quite nice at 345lb-ft. Not bad for $4000 though. In terms of the drivetrain, imagine a 1974 Challenger 360 automatic, with overdrive and fuel injection. Still has the same block (for the most part) that they came up with in '64, and the transmission is mostly from '62. Last of the dinosaurs, in a way, and the gas mileage reflects that!
Well, it does sound like a dinosaur, but an iconic one--I'm sure it is powerful enough...
i agree with steve. i test drove this last week and loved everything about it except the powertrain. I found myself mashing the gas pedal to pass on the highway. 155 hp for a ~3300 lbs car is WAY to low. yes its a city car but a car should be able to pull off 70mph without that much of an effort imo.
i just wish it had 15 more horsepower. i'd wait for the diesel.
I love this car. I want it!! :)
It's just a fact, you can't expect a car to be very economical on fuel and be a drag monster at the same time.
Looks better than the CRV, but not better than the new escape. So are you saying the manual is the way to go? I would take this, but only after testing the escape. Great video
BTW, You are a great reviewer, you're knowledgeable and entertaining, even when you review cars I don't even like, I wind up liking certain qualities about them. If you have done a review of the Jeep Wrangler, let me know I haven't found it in your extensive archive of videos but will double check!
The issue with it being down on power should be fixed when they bring skyactiv diesel to the US. It's a 2.2L with 170 HP, 310 LB/FT of torque.
Steve I agree...excellent design..great value..Where is ZOOm-Zoom?
My wife's new mazda3 out performs her old CRV she replaced. No comparison. Not to mention, the mazda3 feels tighter. No more Honda's in our house.
Zoom Zoom
A shame the US doesnt get the diesel version, a truly wonderful car that is!
I am glad they finally designated the number of seats with the appropriate number. But they should have renamed the CX9 with a , (yeah right!!) I agree this to be the best looking of the small five seaters, but I wonder what it would have looked like based on the new escape if they had not divorced.
As much as I loved the Mazda Tribute, this is a worthy substitute. If I had to choose a brand new car, this would be it!
I'll agree with you on the looks. I would trade some MPG for some power though--it's a poor consolation prize that would cost Mazda some buyers.
Steve, do you think they will ever put a turbo in the CX-5? If they did I'd go down to my local Mazda dealership and buy one as soon as it is available.
Please mention ride quality, & interior sound levels in your reviews .. thanks
People can't have their cake and eat it to. Either you want great MPG or performance. I think Mazda does a good job at blending those two. But critics have always dinged Mazda for not being leaders in MPG. However, I do think Mazda should offer a second non skyactiv engine for those of us want more performance.
that MPG is what I get in my Fit according to my calculations.
In principal I agree with you. However the individual vehicle must be taken into consideration. And the wheel wells in this case, lend to a larger wheel. More importanty It's not so much the wheel size but the tires. 225/65 is a poor choice for zoom zoom tag line. That's one chunky side wall. A 235/55 would be better.
This review shows why this vehicle needs that new Mazda diesel engine.
Soccer moms. The majority of drivers really don't care about how fast a car is, because most people never floor the throttle. Remember, the Prius is a very popular vehicle, and it's not exactly a dragster.
you see the + and - on the left? use it.
you dont have to floor the car to have torque, do it yourself.
good points in the video. why isn't 6speed manual offered with 4 wheel drive?
I feel you were a bit too harsh on skyactiv. I think its just that mazda needs to add a bigger engine (which it has done for the 2014 model)
i just flat out like the way this vehicle looks.
same experience with my wife, just got z new 2.5L cx5 GT and got rid of the crv,way better!
Congrats! It's the BEST crossover out there..
why crossover's ride height keep getting low these days? Isn't it one of reason why you will crossovers over sedans?
Love your reviews
Mazda CX-5 or Ford Escape 2013? which one is better, considering MPG is almost equal in both models?
it can go zoom zoom if u use manual shifting on the auto.
Any chance you will review the 2014 Grand Touring with 2.5L engine?
Thanks Steve, it was this or the Juke for me. I can finally make the right decision for me :) and that's the Nissan Juke.
your the first review that said the 2013 Mazda cx5 doesn't have Mazda zoom zoom
What about the ride quality Steve?
good review as always Steve, not really a fan of the mazda styling, we`ll agree t disagree on that one :) ,
i don`t know if it`s just me , but a lot of SUV`s seem be changing in style from the traditional big SUV look to high roof station wagons ......but more car like, is that a fair comment?
yes some but Mazda getting alot more buyer b/c majority of people only care about mpg instead of the important stuff like reliability and the feeling of driving a car that puts a smile on your face when you accelerate. It will take Mazda some time but eventually they will get higher numbers after all they have come a long way .With farari like compression, unique shaped piston head, headers and a beautiful car with 40 mpg and it'still fun to drive it not the most fun to drive but it offers alot.
You can but who wants to do that all the time? Most people who buy an automatic want to use it as such. Perhaps the manual is best, but then again you can't get AWD.
Seems like a REAL review
Well it looks great & thats what a large percentange of people look at when buying a vehicle. However I think Mazda will come back to its "Zoom Zoom" appeal in 2014. Great review Steve.
how about turn off awd and use manual mode to shift yourself (CR-V offers no such thing)
Pretty much.
wow nice--what car???
Later this summer.
Mazda really shot itself in the foot here. You can't get the lower profile 19" tires on anything but the top trim level. And for that price you can get 240HP in a new Escape. I cringe at the thought of driving this thing in the mountains at 4000-6000 feet. A hill would just kill it.
In short you get less power for the same price. 2.2L diesel will help but it's later in coming. It sure looks great though.
Does this car have a temp gauge?
Check out motor week. They tested a manual.
Yea but with the Mazda you get better mpg including hybrids, it looks better and has Japanese reliability.
The CR-V didn't feel this way and there's no manual there.
i think your crazy...my cx5 gets 0-60 in 9.11 secs..that is really good for a 155 hp.
Only buyers of the Juke are average 59 years old or older. All I see are people more like
60 and 70. The design has a lot I wouldn't care for. I would prefer a Kia Sportage, Ford Escape 2013, Subaru Tribeca the 5 passenger version, which apparently Subaru is no longer going to make or this CX-5
are u related to stevehammes, leadhammer? just fooling around bud, peace!
Neither do I. I drive a 5.9L V8.
So you are trying to say that this car is all show and no go?
That want that 35mpg to advertise and they can't get it with AWD.
cx 5 comes with manual all wheel drive
Better than the 170hp I get from my Chevy K1500 Cheyenne with a 305. :/
best all new SUV in class
Honda CRV is riddled with cheap plastic and the new Escape is hideous which is too close to its EU cousin, the Kuga
That may be the cure. Let's hope so.
No one that buys this cares much about speed obviously... It'll do well regardless of these "shortcomings"
It drives okay interiors okay exterior is okay. There's no Sporty handling. It does look a bit girly in real life. Minivan ish. When you look at it in real life it's a chicks car. Looks good overpriced but glad I waited. The new Subaru Xv cross tech is probably a better choice.
Great points -- I do not fall into this group fortunately :)
i just got mine, 2l sky-g 160 hp ( europe version) automatic is great... its a very good car i recomend testing 1 if u are in the marker to buy a car. gl btw review is a lil unfair...
Who wants to pay $30k for any non-turbo sluggish 4-cylinder?
Just wait for the Diesel.
Average here...no better or worse than its rivals.
so sad.
First!!