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Thanks for the review. I'm looking to buy a new CUV. I recently test drove the CX-5, CR-V, RAV4, Escape, Rogue, Tucson, Sportage, and Forester. The Mazda CX-5 was clearly the best overall. I will be buying a CX-5 Touring now.
Just got a 2016 awd touring.Hands down the best vehicle I have owned so far.My father in law drove it and did not believe me that it was only a four cylinder!
My father just got one of these in the Touring AWD trim and he loves it! The engine is sufficient for most drivers and the inside is gorgeous for the price level. I also just got a 2015 Mazda3 Touring and its great! The interior and ride qualities on both vehicles are great! Love the design of the exterior as well.
If you want more HP go with the brand new Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T it has a turbocharged under the hood and it is VERY sexy, more space than the CX5 and more features including a panaromic sunroof ;)
Stacy Amy Ouellette The Santa Fe Sport 2.0T is beautiful if I had another $8,000 to plunk down on a car. My local Hyundai dealer was charging 38,000 for a loaded 2.0T. I decided to wait for the 2016 CX-5 infotainment fix & refresh.
I bought a 2016 touring, just to fix at least one of the errors in this video, while there's no push to open trunk feature, you don't need to hit the unlock button. it works similar to the lock/unlock mechanism on the front driver and passenger doors. it just requires that you're in close proximity to the door, then the auto unlock will work if the key is close
Can you comment on how quiet the new model is? i have a 14 grand touring AWD and I heard that they made an effort in adding more sound deadening material. thanks!
Hey Dave can you please include stereo/head unit sound quality in you're reviews, that is the one thing I always look into when purchasing/leasing a vehicle, that would be awesome if you could, thank you!
I know they are great I have a 2013 mazdaspeed3 with bose sound system myself, what I'm saying is if he could include it in every vehicle he test or review.
tungol00 I have a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The Bose System is great, however, I felt it lacked a bit of bass. I had my subwoofer from my last car installed in it. Definitely worth it.
+Jonathan Warner Hi Jonathan, I love my 2016 cx5, but the sound of the stereo is totally rotten. It feels like ALL the sound is up by the windshield. The door speakers, which I think are bass speakers are worthless. I'm clueless when it comes to fixing this, just know that it sounds horrible. How do I get a subwoofer installed to improve this? Is it expensive? Where do I go? Does it make the sound sound more full bodied? Thanks so much for any tips to fix the rotten sound...
+Heidi Killeen I'm not sure how the 2016 stereo works, but in the 2015 there is an option called "centerpoint" in the audio settings. It forces a lot of the sound through the speakers in the middle of the dashboard. You can turn this function off. If this does not fix it, I suggest fading the sound to the rear just a few notches, decreasing the trebble a notch or two, and increasing the bass a few notches. Play with it a bit, and see if you're satisfied with the results. I had a spare subwoofer and amp from my previous car, so the install only cost me around $280 which included labor and parts (and I did some of the install myself). To install a decent subwoofer and amp, you're probably looking about $500 to $600. If you can afford it, I recommend this route. I actually ended up installing a Pioneer 4100NEX double din stereo myself, and that was expensive even without the labor costs. It sounds even better with the new head unit and is way easier to hook up the subwoofer, but I don't recommend this route. It would have cost me $400 to have it installed, on top of the $600 for the stereo.
@EverymanDriver Great review Dave. As I live in Sweden we have the diesel as an option so tomorrow I'm taking delivery of a 2016 "Optimum" (Grand Touring) with a 175hp and 420 nm. One odd thing is that Mazda doesn’t offer a sunroof in Europe even as an option. Your reviews and your excellent off road films, (I didn't even knew this car could do some of the things you did with it), was instrumental for me in my search for a midsize SUV. So thank you so much for your hard work!
By now every car enthusiast and his dog knows that the CX5 is the handling champ in its class. What most reviewers fail to divulge is more info on ride quality and nvh.
Nice review, Dave. I agree with you that the 2016 model is still lacking a lot and is basically a 2015 model. Still, no V6 or turbo engine option, no rear a/c vents or ports and no power trunk open/close. One frustrating thing I noticed is that the folding rear seats don't fold down flat beacause of the headrest and that will drive you crazy in the long run. Wish the rear headrests would also fold down automatically when you pull the lever.
Er Na These vehicles are not intended for the driving style you are looking for, they are designed to be light, responsive, nimble, safe, adequately powered, fuel-saving, urban pavement dwellers....
not really. When they were first showcased they had all of those features even the rear A/C vents. At least here in Asia premiere we were promised multiple engine options. What has driving style got to do with seating ergonomics, power trunk? Those are features of a vehicle not road capability.
I own this car with manual transmission base model 2.0 liter engine. While talking about the engine at 0:46, I do not think you can get the 2.5 liter engine with the manual transmission. If you can, I want one. When noticing something is missing, I would ask myself if it would add weight and cost, and compare that vs how important it is to a driver. The new mazdas are designed in a very focused and holistic way to be lightweight which makes them handle great and also gives them that great gas mileage. The poor rear visibility is a side effect of the sporty body shape, the way the windows taper towards the back, like on many modern cars and CUVs. Even with the compromised rear visibility, while the car is moving forward, the combination of the windows and large side mirrors provides better rear visibility than some sedans I've driven in. Some people are not comfortable using mirrors. I've driven trucks and vans where using mirrors is an absolute requirement so I'm very used to using mirrors. Going in reverse however is another story entirely. Without a back-up cam I literally have to get out and look behind the CX-5 sometimes. There is a very large blind spot for reversing. All told however the CX-5 has the size and comfort of an SUV while handling like a sporty compact car (in fact it's based on the mazda3 platform) and has the most ergonomic and stylish control layout I have found in it's class and just about the best manual transmission you can find. Combine that with gas mileage that is so good, for example better than my old 2004 mazda3, and Mazda's bulletproof engines, and this car is truly a no-brainer for almost anyone. Basically the only person who wouldn't want one would be someone who wants a softer ride and doesn't mind sacrificing handling prowess. Or maybe someone who needs a trunk button on their key fob.
buildmorefarms100 Yes actually it's surprisingly fast, for a CUV, if you know what you're doing. Quick enough for daily driving, easy to pull out onto a busy street and get up to speed if you rev it, mid range power is excellent for rolling acceleration for say, accelerating from an on ramp onto a highway, and I happen to think the engine has a great sporty sound. Even though it's a 2.0 liter engine, it weighs very little for a CUV. The smaller engine and manual transmission contribute to reduced weight, and the car accelerates easily and is extremely nimble and joyful to drive. It feels like driving a hatchback, not quite as quick, but with more room inside to spread out and get comfortable. But if you're looking for that turbo or high horsepower thrill, you might want to look elsewhere. This is predominantly an economy engine built for high MPGs.
buildmorefarms100 I drive a mixture of suburban and highway driving, but mostly suburban, and I have been averaging 31 MPG from the start of owning the vehicle. I tend to drive it kind of sportingly. I could probably nudge the MPGs up a bit if I drove conservatively for a while, but 31 MPG for a CUV is fantastic, considering it's probably 5 or 6 MPG more than I got out of my old 2004 Mazda3 2.3 liter. So to reiterate, it gets better gas mileage than a 2004 compact hatchback. The car is actually great in the snow even in FWD because it's light and responsive, so again it's a driver's car, so if you know what you're doing, and have good tread on your tires, it is more than competent in the snow. I'm sure the AWD is a bit better, but I have just owned the FWD CX-5 through two historically snowy winters in my region and I had zero problems getting around with the CX-5. I drove it around in vermont and the roads were a solid sheet of ice and didn't lose control once. It is not really an offroad vehicle though. It's essentially a tall chunky car (albeit with better ground clearance and bigger tires). So my advice would be generally don't try and do anything with it that you wouldn't do with a car. In other words you're gonna want to wait for the roads to be plowed before you head out.
Hi Dave! Have been following you for quite some time now & this one is a nice review too... Have you reviewed the 2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport (with the SI Drive & Sport Mode options)?? Which one in your opinion is the best SUV/Crossover (Among the Mazda CX 5, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Spotage, Honda CRV, Nissan X-trail/Rogue, comparing these with non-turbo engines) in 2016 & WHY???
I caught one error which is that the manual transmission is only available with the 2.0L base model engine. Manual transmission is not available for the 2.5L
I drove one of this 2014 model, and the engine it's a little noisy and makes a lot of vibration since you start the vehicle. But the MPGs are very good.
you dont have to use the fob to unlock the rear door as long as you have the fob in your pocket when you walk up hit the hatch button and it will open. Also the feature on the GT is, you should never have to touch the fob other than to put it in your pocket, because as long as the fob is in your pocket or purse, you can unlock or lock the car from the handles.
No auto rear lift gate.... No problem.. As I'm not lazy, plus I can open and close mine five time by the time my brothers Honda auto lift gate does it once... However what get me confused is why no gas struts on the hood? Why still using a kickstand bar to keep the hood up and in my way..
7:29 on some videos i saw there was an extra button on the upper right corner does anybody know what is it for and why it's not on this grand touring ??
Hey Dave, would you recommend the 2016 CX-5 GT over the Ford escape 2015 titanium?. I have these 2 cars in mind but I am having a really hard time trying to decide which way to go.
I would like to know more about how this dial system works. The dial system seems tedious, but it would be nice not to have to reach everytime I change something.
Think of it like a mini joystick! :) it's very easy to use and has a click function so you don't have to look at it to use it. I really like it better than touch or voice.
Johnson L I personally chose this over the CRV and Rav4. The handling was much better when I test drove all three, the stereo system is so much better too in the GT model as it comes with a 9 speaker Bose system. The CRV I test drove vibrated a lot whenever I was idling so my initial impression wasn't good at all.
KREAMdawg glad to hear that you like the CX-5. I like it too, but I'll hold on for another year before buying a CUV. The refreshed 2016 RAV4 and Forester are coming soon. I want to do a comparison. The refreshed 2015 CR-V is a really nice car, but it has a crappy transmission that I don't like it at all. I just wonder why Honda wouldn't give it a 6 speed AT instead of CVT. The CVT mpg is overrated. Real world fuel economy is not that great at all when driving in city. If I buy the CX-5, i'll go with the Touring trim with the Bose/moonroof package that includes the Bose 9 speaker sound system.
Johnson L Good idea, I needed a new CUV so for the price range I went with the CX-5. But you're right in holding off until the new Rav4 and Forester come out. I'm a very tall dude so when I did sit in the current Forester I felt that the steering wheel was touching my knee/leg so I couldn't really go with it. Best of luck on finding a great car for yourself :)
Johnson L I test drove both and the CX-5 was the clear winner. The CR-V has a nasty CVT transmission. I also think the Mazda looks a lot better inside and out.
Hello Dave, my name is Michael and we've been watching a lot of your videos. We just want to ask you for an opinion between the 2 vehicles of the Honda CRV and the Mazda CX-5, if you're in the market of getting the SUV which one would you chose between the 2.
+J Gravitas There are no overly "masculine" compact CUVs. This is by design, since the majority of CUV buyers are female. IMO, the only compact CUV that most females don't like the styling of would be the Subaru Forester XT.
I just purchased this vehicle 3 days ago. Sometimes I wait in the car for my kids to finish music lessons. I put the car in "accessories" mode (engine off) to listen to the radio. It shuts completely off in 25-minute intervals. How can I disable that feature so the car can stay in accessories mode for at least an hour? Anyone's response is welcomed!
Yeah, I'm a Mazda fan but sadly they are often late to the party with stuff like this. Most of the CX-5 competitors have this feature in the top trim levels, CR-V, RAV4, Forester, etc.
Did you buy the Technology Pkg? That's what you need for the LED lights. Also, you bought an early 2016. They later came out with midyear upgrades and called it a 2016.5 model. That may explain some differences.
I really like this CX5. But the deal breaker for me is the HP figures. I wish it had AT LEAST 200 HP. But the styling and driving experience is spot on. (For a CUV)
***** the 184HP doesn't disappoint because the skyactive body is so light. Drive it and you will see. Stay away from the smaller engine in the Sport manual though.
***** I've had a 2014 2.5L for two years. The power is decent because the transmission is very smart at dealing with it. If you load it up (wife, kids, bags) it slows down and even struggled on country roads going uphill, often needing a manual downshift. But it's rare I wish for more power. My main complaints, which still haven't been addressed with the 2016, are poor all-around visibility, class-trailing noise/vibration/harshness, and the worst infotainment system available. Even if they fixed the bugs with the 2016 7" "Commander" infotainment system that plagued 2013-2015's 5.8" model, I don't see how removing ALL the buttons around the screen to add 1" is a fix. Since the only way to control the whole thing while in motion is with a joystick it's actually more distracting than simply pushing a destination, radio preset or quick dial entry with your finger, as people have done for decades with radios. In a vehicle this small (it's basically a Mazda 6) I have no trouble resting my hand on the leading edge of the touch screen while driving to touch 'things' like speed dial or GPS information. I wouldn't buy the 2014 again, and I wouldn't buy the 2016. I'm at least glad it comes in Titanium Mica. That's a good color and I almost bought a 3 Hatchback because of it. Considering how much I dislike driving the CX-5, I wish I did. I also think my Sisters' Subaru Forester is a better car to drive. It's easy to see out of, is incredibly quiet, comes with a lot more kit and actually costs LESS than the CX-5. The only downside of the Subaru: it's a wagon. It doesn't have the ground clearance to be considered a crossover (even though they classify it a crossover) so it doesn't give you the high driving position a lot of people in this class are looking for.
Tim W Visibility really isn't that bad plus you get Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert standard on Touring and GT. The 2016 infotainment system is totally new and works great. Its just a shame you got the 2014.
It's a shame Mazda sold me and thousands of others a flawed infotainment system with a 6 month backlog to replace Bluetooth modules...which don't even fix half of the problems. I'd never buy a 2016 knowing how poorly they are supporting the 2014. Last $32,000 Mazda will ever get from me, and it isn't like this was my first Mazda either. People are just crazy for considering a CX-5 over a Subaru Forester which has superior everything for less money.
Tim W Subaru doesn't handle well, isn't sporty and it looks like a Mommy mobile...Mazda for the win. If Bluetooth is all you can complain about all I can say is: 1st world problems.
+Constantine Joseph I think the Type R looks a bit over the top. I absolutely would never buy a Volkswagon but they at least got the looks of the Golf R right. A person would be a moron to deny that Volkswagons take some extra TLC and extra cost to maintain.
Its funny how Americans love Gas engines and Horsepower figures but want cars to accelerate effortlessly without stomping on the pedal. They dont know that its torque that want and that modern turbo diesels have all of those plus being quiet and more efficient 🙄
Ivan Vojt The Touring is actually priced really good and loaded with the necessary features. They can be had for around $25K in the USA. In my opinion the GT has a ton of bells and whistles that I really don't need or want to pay for.
***** Based on the resale value this isn't worth almost 34K. Better off with a loaded CR-V Touring. Hell you can even press a button to open & close the hatch.
Ivan Vojt The CRV has a nasty CVT transmission and it shakes. As for the power liftgate, they are for lazy asses. Its so easy to just lift any hatch. The power hatch was just a gimmick that the Escape started. You'll probably only use it once to show off to you friends.
***** Honda released a TH-cam video about the CVT vibration issue. No answer but they are on the hook publicly now. I used the powered lift gate all of the time when I was leasing a Pilot. Not something I have to have. If I went for a CR-V i'd go with a 2WD EX-L or a 2WD EX.
the safety is almost identical to my current 2015 Mazda 3, so I have to use that. I purchased a Mazda 3i Touring Hatch to replace my aging '08 Nissan Altima. Altima without comprehensive: $114 per month. Mazda 3 with comprehensive: $110 per month.
+Mad Pistol I dunno about the US, but in Canada that package for the safety tech is almost an extra $2000. Not worth it to save $4/month on car insurance.
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Thanks for the straight talk, no annoying background music, no jokes. Very informative.
+Ms Kelz Thank you - Dave, Everyman Driver
Thanks for the review. I'm looking to buy a new CUV. I recently test drove the CX-5, CR-V, RAV4, Escape, Rogue, Tucson, Sportage, and Forester. The Mazda CX-5 was clearly the best overall. I will be buying a CX-5 Touring now.
also rear back up camera. led swivel headlights , quiet cabin, automatic wipers, automatic headlights, navigation, satellite radio, manual transmission(switch to), aux port, automatic dual climate controls, front windshield defroster, etc
Just got a 2016 awd touring.Hands down the best vehicle I have owned so far.My father in law drove it and did not believe me that it was only a four cylinder!
Lee Peters just got a '16 awd touring myself...and I too feel like it's the best car I've ever owned. Absolutely love this vehicle.
+Lee Peters how do you like the cloth seats?
5 years later do you still feel it was a good purchase?
Would like to know if you still love it as well
Still love it?
My father just got one of these in the Touring AWD trim and he loves it! The engine is sufficient for most drivers and the inside is gorgeous for the price level. I also just got a 2015 Mazda3 Touring and its great! The interior and ride qualities on both vehicles are great! Love the design of the exterior as well.
If you want more HP go with the brand new Hyundai Santa Fe Sport 2.0T it has a turbocharged under the hood and it is VERY sexy, more space than the CX5 and more features including a panaromic sunroof ;)
Stacy Amy Ouellette The Santa Fe Sport 2.0T is beautiful if I had another $8,000 to plunk down on a car. My local Hyundai dealer was charging 38,000 for a loaded 2.0T. I decided to wait for the 2016 CX-5 infotainment fix & refresh.
Stacy Amy Ouellette Its too big...
I bought a 2016 touring, just to fix at least one of the errors in this video, while there's no push to open trunk feature, you don't need to hit the unlock button. it works similar to the lock/unlock mechanism on the front driver and passenger doors. it just requires that you're in close proximity to the door, then the auto unlock will work if the key is close
Can you comment on how quiet the new model is? i have a 14 grand touring AWD and I heard that they made an effort in adding more sound deadening material.
thanks!
Best 2016 Mazda CX-5 review vid on TH-cam. Unbiased & highlighting the important things everyone else missed!
Hey Dave can you please include stereo/head unit sound quality in you're reviews, that is the one thing I always look into when purchasing/leasing a vehicle, that would be awesome if you could, thank you!
tungol00 The GT model comes with a 9 speaker Bose system. Just bought one myself and the sound quality is great. But that's just my opinion :P
I know they are great I have a 2013 mazdaspeed3 with bose sound system myself, what I'm saying is if he could include it in every vehicle he test or review.
tungol00 I have a 2015 Mazda CX-5. The Bose System is great, however, I felt it lacked a bit of bass. I had my subwoofer from my last car installed in it. Definitely worth it.
+Jonathan Warner Hi Jonathan, I love my 2016 cx5, but the sound of the stereo is totally rotten. It feels like ALL the sound is up by the windshield. The door speakers, which I think are bass speakers are worthless. I'm clueless when it comes to fixing this, just know that it sounds horrible. How do I get a subwoofer installed to improve this? Is it expensive? Where do I go? Does it make the sound sound more full bodied? Thanks so much for any tips to fix the rotten sound...
+Heidi Killeen I'm not sure how the 2016 stereo works, but in the 2015 there is an option called "centerpoint" in the audio settings. It forces a lot of the sound through the speakers in the middle of the dashboard. You can turn this function off. If this does not fix it, I suggest fading the sound to the rear just a few notches, decreasing the trebble a notch or two, and increasing the bass a few notches. Play with it a bit, and see if you're satisfied with the results.
I had a spare subwoofer and amp from my previous car, so the install only cost me around $280 which included labor and parts (and I did some of the install myself). To install a decent subwoofer and amp, you're probably looking about $500 to $600. If you can afford it, I recommend this route.
I actually ended up installing a Pioneer 4100NEX double din stereo myself, and that was expensive even without the labor costs. It sounds even better with the new head unit and is way easier to hook up the subwoofer, but I don't recommend this route. It would have cost me $400 to have it installed, on top of the $600 for the stereo.
@EverymanDriver
Great review Dave. As I live in Sweden we have the diesel as an option so tomorrow I'm taking delivery of a 2016 "Optimum" (Grand Touring) with a 175hp and 420 nm. One odd thing is that Mazda doesn’t offer a sunroof in Europe even as an option. Your reviews and your excellent off road films, (I didn't even knew this car could do some of the things you did with it), was instrumental for me in my search for a midsize SUV. So thank you so much for your hard work!
By now every car enthusiast and his dog knows that the CX5 is the handling champ in its class. What most reviewers fail to divulge is more info on ride quality and nvh.
Jaffar Abdul Baqi I agree. I want to know if the 2016 CX5 refresh is a smoother ride than the 2015 GT I test drove.
Millie Simon-Dufault . We got the '16 Touring. The ride is NOT smooth I beg for red lights to have a moment of not being constantly jolted..
Many thanks for the info.
Aaron Moore Thank you for your feedback. I'm now waiting to test drive the 2016 Hyundai tucson awd limited. Maybe it will be the sweet spot.
when i test drove, i had the same issues regarding reare and blind spot visibility, drove me to take a harder look as subaru with its bigger windows
porsche187 Yeah Subaru has massive windows. Not really a a bad thing for Mazda just a feature of Subarus.
Thanks for the review. Would have like to see at least a short off-road/snow condition test.
That was an excellent review. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot guys.
Nice review, Dave. I agree with you that the 2016 model is still lacking a lot and is basically a 2015 model. Still, no V6 or turbo engine option, no rear a/c vents or ports and no power trunk open/close. One frustrating thing I noticed is that the folding rear seats don't fold down flat beacause of the headrest and that will drive you crazy in the long run. Wish the rear headrests would also fold down automatically when you pull the lever.
Er Na These vehicles are not intended for the driving style you are looking for, they are designed to be light, responsive, nimble, safe, adequately powered, fuel-saving, urban pavement dwellers....
not really. When they were first showcased they had all of those features even the rear A/C vents. At least here in Asia premiere we were promised multiple engine options. What has driving style got to do with seating ergonomics, power trunk? Those are features of a vehicle not road capability.
ummm... the 'no v6 or turbo' comment you made...and ergonomics of a vehicle go hand in hand with your specific driving style ;)
I own this car with manual transmission base model 2.0 liter engine.
While talking about the engine at 0:46, I do not think you can get the 2.5 liter engine with the manual transmission. If you can, I want one.
When noticing something is missing, I would ask myself if it would add weight and cost, and compare that vs how important it is to a driver. The new mazdas are designed in a very focused and holistic way to be lightweight which makes them handle great and also gives them that great gas mileage.
The poor rear visibility is a side effect of the sporty body shape, the way the windows taper towards the back, like on many modern cars and CUVs. Even with the compromised rear visibility, while the car is moving forward, the combination of the windows and large side mirrors provides better rear visibility than some sedans I've driven in. Some people are not comfortable using mirrors. I've driven trucks and vans where using mirrors is an absolute requirement so I'm very used to using mirrors. Going in reverse however is another story entirely. Without a back-up cam I literally have to get out and look behind the CX-5 sometimes. There is a very large blind spot for reversing.
All told however the CX-5 has the size and comfort of an SUV while handling like a sporty compact car (in fact it's based on the mazda3 platform) and has the most ergonomic and stylish control layout I have found in it's class and just about the best manual transmission you can find. Combine that with gas mileage that is so good, for example better than my old 2004 mazda3, and Mazda's bulletproof engines, and this car is truly a no-brainer for almost anyone. Basically the only person who wouldn't want one would be someone who wants a softer ride and doesn't mind sacrificing handling prowess. Or maybe someone who needs a trunk button on their key fob.
thebunnis Does the 2.0 seem like enough power with the manual trans?
buildmorefarms100 Yes actually it's surprisingly fast, for a CUV, if you know what you're doing. Quick enough for daily driving, easy to pull out onto a busy street and get up to speed if you rev it, mid range power is excellent for rolling acceleration for say, accelerating from an on ramp onto a highway, and I happen to think the engine has a great sporty sound. Even though it's a 2.0 liter engine, it weighs very little for a CUV. The smaller engine and manual transmission contribute to reduced weight, and the car accelerates easily and is extremely nimble and joyful to drive. It feels like driving a hatchback, not quite as quick, but with more room inside to spread out and get comfortable. But if you're looking for that turbo or high horsepower thrill, you might want to look elsewhere. This is predominantly an economy engine built for high MPGs.
thebunnis Awesome, whats your mpg average been? Also is the FWD good in snow?
buildmorefarms100 I drive a mixture of suburban and highway driving, but mostly suburban, and I have been averaging 31 MPG from the start of owning the vehicle. I tend to drive it kind of sportingly. I could probably nudge the MPGs up a bit if I drove conservatively for a while, but 31 MPG for a CUV is fantastic, considering it's probably 5 or 6 MPG more than I got out of my old 2004 Mazda3 2.3 liter. So to reiterate, it gets better gas mileage than a 2004 compact hatchback.
The car is actually great in the snow even in FWD because it's light and responsive, so again it's a driver's car, so if you know what you're doing, and have good tread on your tires, it is more than competent in the snow. I'm sure the AWD is a bit better, but I have just owned the FWD CX-5 through two historically snowy winters in my region and I had zero problems getting around with the CX-5. I drove it around in vermont and the roads were a solid sheet of ice and didn't lose control once. It is not really an offroad vehicle though. It's essentially a tall chunky car (albeit with better ground clearance and bigger tires). So my advice would be generally don't try and do anything with it that you wouldn't do with a car. In other words you're gonna want to wait for the roads to be plowed before you head out.
does cx5 have diesel engine ???
Another great review, Dave, and I like the car a lot.
Hi Dave! Have been following you for quite some time now & this one is a nice review too...
Have you reviewed the 2016 Subaru Forester 2.5i Sport (with the SI Drive & Sport Mode options)?? Which one in your opinion is the best SUV/Crossover (Among the Mazda CX 5, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Spotage, Honda CRV, Nissan X-trail/Rogue, comparing these with non-turbo engines) in 2016 & WHY???
I caught one error which is that the manual transmission is only available with the 2.0L base model engine. Manual transmission is not available for the 2.5L
Hello, can you tell me how can lock the lift back luggege trunk? I have looked for this information, but I didn't mind it. Can you help? Thanks.
How comfy are the seats on long trips (over 3 hours)?
I drove one of this 2014 model, and the engine it's a little noisy and makes a lot of vibration since you start the vehicle. But the MPGs are very good.
Do you have to turn the safety crap off every time you start the vehicle?
Dave,
Great review, I plan on buying a closeout 2016. What city was this filmed in ?
This is very helpful. Thank you.
+Cynthia White You're welcome!
Hey Dave, what about road noise ? is the cabin quiet?
5 years late, but the cabin is quiet. Not as quiet as Tucson or Sportage. But still pretty good than the previous cx5 model.
Could you do a review on the Mini Cooper 2016? I would like to know more about the sport mode too if it could be possible. Thank You.
Alejandra v. valdez I love my 2014 Mini Cooper! It has 3 modes: eco, normal and sport....it is very fun!! And gets 35+mpg average!
you dont have to use the fob to unlock the rear door as long as you have the fob in your pocket when you walk up hit the hatch button and it will open. Also the feature on the GT is, you should never have to touch the fob other than to put it in your pocket, because as long as the fob is in your pocket or purse, you can unlock or lock the car from the handles.
Was wondering what was different with the 2016. I have a 2014 CX-5 Touring. Love it.
No auto rear lift gate.... No problem.. As I'm not lazy, plus I can open and close mine five time by the time my brothers Honda auto lift gate does it once... However what get me confused is why no gas struts on the hood? Why still using a kickstand bar to keep the hood up and in my way..
Thank you for your video. I'm considering to get this car and needed extra opinion and review about it. After this I'm 110% sure I want it. :)
How do you dim or brighten the instrument panel lights when headlights are on?
What size tires do you have on your mountain bike? Will a 29er fit with both tires on?
7:29 on some videos i saw there was an extra button on the upper right corner
does anybody know what is it for and why it's not on this grand touring ??
as far as the daily car review goes - this and 2theredline are my go to places
Cool!! Secret storage compartments to hide your weed at, man!!
What does the Sport button do ? Holds the shifts longer ?
Hey Dave, would you recommend the 2016 CX-5 GT over the Ford escape 2015 titanium?. I have these 2 cars in mind but I am having a really hard time trying to decide which way to go.
I would like to know more about how this dial system works. The dial system seems tedious, but it would be nice not to have to reach everytime I change something.
Think of it like a mini joystick! :) it's very easy to use and has a click function so you don't have to look at it to use it. I really like it better than touch or voice.
Dave
Would you pick this CX-5 over the CR-V? Your real world mpg of this car is much better than the CR-V
Johnson L I personally chose this over the CRV and Rav4. The handling was much better when I test drove all three, the stereo system is so much better too in the GT model as it comes with a 9 speaker Bose system. The CRV I test drove vibrated a lot whenever I was idling so my initial impression wasn't good at all.
KREAMdawg glad to hear that you like the CX-5. I like it too, but I'll hold on for another year before buying a CUV. The refreshed 2016 RAV4 and Forester are coming soon. I want to do a comparison. The refreshed 2015 CR-V is a really nice car, but it has a crappy transmission that I don't like it at all. I just wonder why Honda wouldn't give it a 6 speed AT instead of CVT. The CVT mpg is overrated. Real world fuel economy is not that great at all when driving in city. If I buy the CX-5, i'll go with the Touring trim with the Bose/moonroof package that includes the Bose 9 speaker sound system.
Johnson L Good idea, I needed a new CUV so for the price range I went with the CX-5. But you're right in holding off until the new Rav4 and Forester come out. I'm a very tall dude so when I did sit in the current Forester I felt that the steering wheel was touching my knee/leg so I couldn't really go with it. Best of luck on finding a great car for yourself :)
Johnson L I test drove both and the CX-5 was the clear winner. The CR-V has a nasty CVT transmission. I also think the Mazda looks a lot better inside and out.
Hello Dave, my name is Michael and we've been watching a lot of your videos. We just want to ask you for an opinion between the 2 vehicles of the Honda CRV and the Mazda CX-5, if you're in the market of getting the SUV which one would you chose between the 2.
This is the one compact CUV I would get. Fairly reliable, handles well and doesn't look too much like a "chick mobile"
What's the meaning of "chick mobile"?
+Muhammad Rifky Alfandi
"Chickmobile" means a woman's car.
+Muhammad Rifky Alfandi
Most CUV's tend to look like cars that women like to drive.
+J Gravitas okay thx for the information. Well i agree with you, in my country most of compact CUV is too "girly"
+J Gravitas
There are no overly "masculine" compact CUVs. This is by design, since the majority of CUV buyers are female.
IMO, the only compact CUV that most females don't like the styling of would be the Subaru Forester XT.
What are your set up on your mountain bike?
Hi Dave, if you're in the market for a compact SUV
Why haven't you done a review for the Honda Accord??
The engine makes better power with premium gas FYI. It's variable compression.
picking up a loaded GT on Sat. can't wait!
Just as a FYI, you are incorrect. only the base 155 HP engine has a optional 6 speed manual.
I just purchased this vehicle 3 days ago. Sometimes I wait in the car for my kids to finish music lessons. I put the car in "accessories" mode (engine off) to listen to the radio. It shuts completely off in 25-minute intervals. How can I disable that feature so the car can stay in accessories mode for at least an hour? Anyone's response is welcomed!
mskita007 Dude you can't do that in any car. Mazda shuts it off for you to keep the alternator/capacitor safe and charged.
Chris Sorreda Thank you! That makes sense.
is this car easy to get stolen?
Great review. Thank you!
Mazda's choice to omit the power rear lift-gate, even for the Grand Touring trim, was idiotic.
Yeah, I'm a Mazda fan but sadly they are often late to the party with stuff like this. Most of the CX-5 competitors have this feature in the top trim levels, CR-V, RAV4, Forester, etc.
My 2016 CX5 grand touring has a different instrument cluster, and headlights without LED. Did I just buy a lemon?
Sylvia Lopez Sounds like you bought a 2015
liamace09 It has the new infotainment center and knob control on center console.
Did you buy the Technology Pkg? That's what you need for the LED lights. Also, you bought an early 2016. They later came out with midyear upgrades and called it a 2016.5 model. That may explain some differences.
I am going to look at one today, 2016 D sport awd auto, I need the auto, I live in the middle of a 10M city, London UK.
zou dont need to unlock car for open trunk :) you just need to have key in pocket
he says he is 6feet tall in the 2014 cx5 review video....on here he says he is 5'11" and "has been for 20 or 30 years"
Scandal of the decade!
I really like this CX5. But the deal breaker for me is the HP figures. I wish it had AT LEAST 200 HP. But the styling and driving experience is spot on. (For a CUV)
***** the 184HP doesn't disappoint because the skyactive body is so light. Drive it and you will see. Stay away from the smaller engine in the Sport manual though.
***** I've had a 2014 2.5L for two years. The power is decent because the transmission is very smart at dealing with it. If you load it up (wife, kids, bags) it slows down and even struggled on country roads going uphill, often needing a manual downshift. But it's rare I wish for more power.
My main complaints, which still haven't been addressed with the 2016, are poor all-around visibility, class-trailing noise/vibration/harshness, and the worst infotainment system available. Even if they fixed the bugs with the 2016 7" "Commander" infotainment system that plagued 2013-2015's 5.8" model, I don't see how removing ALL the buttons around the screen to add 1" is a fix. Since the only way to control the whole thing while in motion is with a joystick it's actually more distracting than simply pushing a destination, radio preset or quick dial entry with your finger, as people have done for decades with radios. In a vehicle this small (it's basically a Mazda 6) I have no trouble resting my hand on the leading edge of the touch screen while driving to touch 'things' like speed dial or GPS information.
I wouldn't buy the 2014 again, and I wouldn't buy the 2016. I'm at least glad it comes in Titanium Mica. That's a good color and I almost bought a 3 Hatchback because of it. Considering how much I dislike driving the CX-5, I wish I did. I also think my Sisters' Subaru Forester is a better car to drive. It's easy to see out of, is incredibly quiet, comes with a lot more kit and actually costs LESS than the CX-5. The only downside of the Subaru: it's a wagon. It doesn't have the ground clearance to be considered a crossover (even though they classify it a crossover) so it doesn't give you the high driving position a lot of people in this class are looking for.
Tim W Visibility really isn't that bad plus you get Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert standard on Touring and GT. The 2016 infotainment system is totally new and works great. Its just a shame you got the 2014.
It's a shame Mazda sold me and thousands of others a flawed infotainment system with a 6 month backlog to replace Bluetooth modules...which don't even fix half of the problems. I'd never buy a 2016 knowing how poorly they are supporting the 2014. Last $32,000 Mazda will ever get from me, and it isn't like this was my first Mazda either. People are just crazy for considering a CX-5 over a Subaru Forester which has superior everything for less money.
Tim W Subaru doesn't handle well, isn't sporty and it looks like a Mommy mobile...Mazda for the win. If Bluetooth is all you can complain about all I can say is: 1st world problems.
How can I even tell if the engine was indeed 184lbs HP?
I have this car, GT AWD 2016, I do feel the car needs more power, perhapse 240hp with 240 torque, it feels under powered for sure.
Agreed . Just bought it 1 week ago and I hate it. It’s soooo slow !!! Beautiful but painfully slow
Nice colour
I don't really like the exterior update, looked better before
Where are the infamous brown calves in this video?
Dave, time to get back into shorts to show off those legs. They make your reviews even better :)
tominmilton They're coming :-)
四喔恩喔喔次
This car would be even better if it had lane watch!
+Kylo Ren it does
This car has blind spot monitoring, not lane watch. Honda has lane watch.
+Jae Montage lane watch is a camera on the right mirror and only Honda and Acura have that!
+Ben Stern yes you are right!
I can't wait for Honda Civic Type R.
Constantine Joseph It looks hideous.
Not really, it's quite alright, sportier than a golf R
+Constantine Joseph I think the Type R looks a bit over the top. I absolutely would never buy a Volkswagon but they at least got the looks of the Golf R right. A person would be a moron to deny that Volkswagons take some extra TLC and extra cost to maintain.
TOP NOTCK. HM, LITERATE MEASLY WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ABOUT NT 11
hopefully someday cx 5 would 7 seats passenger
Huh? Buy a CX-9 if you want that. This unit is too small for 3rd row seats.
no rear air vents and no power liftgate on the top of the line model = lame
Its funny how Americans love Gas engines and Horsepower figures but want cars to accelerate effortlessly without stomping on the pedal. They dont know that its torque that want and that modern turbo diesels have all of those plus being quiet and more efficient 🙄
Nice but overpriced.
Ivan Vojt The Touring is actually priced really good and loaded with the necessary features. They can be had for around $25K in the USA. In my opinion the GT has a ton of bells and whistles that I really don't need or want to pay for.
***** Based on the resale value this isn't worth almost 34K. Better off with a loaded CR-V Touring. Hell you can even press a button to open & close the hatch.
Ivan Vojt The CRV has a nasty CVT transmission and it shakes. As for the power liftgate, they are for lazy asses. Its so easy to just lift any hatch. The power hatch was just a gimmick that the Escape started. You'll probably only use it once to show off to you friends.
***** Honda released a TH-cam video about the CVT vibration issue. No answer but they are on the hook publicly now. I used the powered lift gate all of the time when I was leasing a Pilot. Not something I have to have. If I went for a CR-V i'd go with a 2WD EX-L or a 2WD EX.
Ivan Vojt I hate CVT transmissions though. So glad the CX-5 is not CVT. The CX-5 is just so fun to drive,
Hey. Good Try. activity wide !!!
sniper bird
I love how you're all yip pity yip about it, like it's a new R8 (nay, Veyron).
Relaxation tip. Don't.
awd
These safety features are starting to become annoying...
+Mike M When you see your insurance bill drop because of those features (like I did), you probably won't find them so annoying anymore.
+Mad Pistol what was your difference?
the safety is almost identical to my current 2015 Mazda 3, so I have to use that. I purchased a Mazda 3i Touring Hatch to replace my aging '08 Nissan Altima.
Altima without comprehensive: $114 per month.
Mazda 3 with comprehensive: $110 per month.
+Mad Pistol I dunno about the US, but in Canada that package for the safety tech is almost an extra $2000. Not worth it to save $4/month on car insurance.
Mike M $4 a month and full coverage. My altima was not 100% insured. My Mazda 3 is.
WTF is splattered all over the engine bay?
under powered... ... needs a 3,ooocc engine and 7speed auto.trans.
Hyundai Santa fa 2015 is better !!!!
Hyundai better than Mazda? lol. OK.