Used 2016 Mazda CX-5 SUV Consumer Reviews
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Love my RED Santa Baby
This is the best car I have ever had. I did a lot of research because this is the first car that I had to or could pick out by myself after 50 years of driving. I did love my Lexus though too. But with my Ford Fusion it was very difficult to see the front end to park properly and there was not enough front end clearance to go over my driveway curb. Not with my CX5. I got the parchment and black interior which reminds me of a saddle shoe but it is a knockout. gorgeous. Love the turning radius . It is a smooth quiet ride. Love the back pull down shade for the back to hide packages. I have driven for 6 months and I love it every time. The Soul red metallic color is wonderful and I am so glad I got the Grand Touring for the beautiful wheels. Had lots of compliments on it too. I like sitting up higher . I will never drive another car without the backup parking aid and the great side mirror guides for changing lanes and lane drift. So much easier especially when entering or exiting freeway at night. Plenty of space in back storage and love the way one or all 3 sections of the back can go down. Hard to say anything negative but I finally thought of some things. Phone charger plug is difficult to use when the console is loaded with personal items and it would be nice to have hands free for the back big door but the handle provides an easy closing if you remember to use it. I love this car and will stick with Mazda for a long time. Never regretted my decision for one moment. I used Costco to find the best price too. I also drove the Buick Encore and Toyota Rav4. Very very happy!
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MPG not near the advertised
I have always owned either Toyota and Hondas sedans. I needed more room and decided on a compact SUV for my next car. After much research and test driving, I went with the cx5 FW ( NOT a AW) with 5 miles on it. 1800 miles later and I am only getting 22.8 mpg and 24 mpg mix with highway. I drive flat land in Florida and have not been sitting in heavy traffic. Something is wrong with these numbers. Also the car has an idle vibration and the dealer tells me this is is normal for sky active technology. I find this unacceptable for a $30k car made in 2016. The reason I did not go with the Honda CR-V due to all reports off a vibration. I now regret my purchase.
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- Grand Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $8,49417 mi away
- Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $12,35218 mi away
- Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,9984 mi away
Perfect CUV for the enthusiast with a family
I purchased the 2016 CX5 GT with tech package one week ago. I had a '14 mazda3 sport Gt loaded and loved it but it was just to small for a family. Wasn't really interested in the cx until the '16 came out. It has everything I loved about the 3 with more space and AWD. It's sporty with a beautiful interior and excellent on gas without sacrificing pep. It's by far the best looking inside and out beating everything else in the class. Couldn't be happier with it.
My first car I've ever loved!
I've had lots of cards and only one lemon ---- i liked all my cars except this one; buick somerset (remember them), toyota camry, several ford sables (family & friends), Ford Escape & Toyota RAV4. They were all "fine." I got them with bells and whistles; leather, sunroof, upgraded sound systems, etc. This is the first car I just enjoy driving, love the look, love the feel, love the two-tone leather, love the zoom zoom factor. I am unsure of reliability or resale value so gave that 4 stars - too soon to tell. I hate the navigation - use my Garmin. But I still love, love this car.
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Way to go Mazda!
This is my wife's vehicle - she has enjoyed it so far, more than her previous beloved 2011 RAV4. The interior is more upscale than you might expect and seems well constructed and durable. The opportunities that I have had to drive the vehicle have been positive. My only minor complaint is that the navigation system is a little more frustrating to use than I am used to in other vehicles.
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Best SUV for the money
Terrific SUV. My husband bought one last year and our other car, a VW Tiguan, quickly became the less desired car to drive. When we turned in the leased Tiguan and were looking for a new compact SUV, I looked at everything in the class from a new Tiguan to the Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, Hyundai SantaFe, etc all the way up to a Mercedes GRA and a BMW X3 and the combination of features, handling, design and price made a second CX5 the clear choice for our family once again. Easy to get our toddler in and out of, comfortable front and back, excellent cargo capacity, and a great drive somewhere between the heavy stiffness of a German car and the zippy maneuvering of a Japanese one. Styling beats anything within $15k of the price. Nav system is excellent and stereo system is good. Really happy with my choice.
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Great car; glad I chose the CX-5
The handling and performance is very good. The seats are comfortable (for a larger guy). Believe me, I had my choice of any small SUV, checked out several, and this, hands-down, was the best. Take one for a test drive to check it out if you don't believe me. This vehicle just "feels right".
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Very happy with a difficult decision
It took lots of looking, test driving, reviews, looking more and more at all the competition to settle on our first Mazda. We drove it in the day twice and at night once. Hubby wanted fuel efficiency. I wanted safety. Both wanted reliability. Along with that I wanted as much cargo space as possible, comfortable seats and a quiet, smooth ride. We are getting older and I am tired of saying ‘what’ all the time. :} Our other cars have wind/road noise. A big issue for me was the design changes over the years to smaller windows and less visibility. It really bothers me, especially with LA fast paced packed freeways. Every vehicle I got in had the same blind spots which I didn’t have in the previous cars. One of the selling points for me was the mirror blind spot warning for lanes next to me. I love them. I appreciate them more and more. The back camera is new to me and I am learning to appreciate it as well, although I still turn around. The other thing I LOVE LOVE LOVE are the headlights. I can finally see. I have night blindness and have rarely driven at night. I feel like I have new eyes. You would never know about this unless you test drive at night. The stereo is nice and I love listening to classical on it. At first it sounded AM ish, but maybe that was the station hubby had. We are still trying to figure out the navigation, control, etc. system. I have lots of trouble with it and unfortunately it can’t be fiddled with while driving. Kind of hard to do while parked in the driveway…. In past cars hubby drove on road trips and I ran thru the book and settings. We can’t in this car. The learning is taking much longer AND I must add that this owners manual is the absolutely worst one I have ever had. I actually do read them. I love the auto headlights, and have learned the auto wipers aren’t the same. I waited for them to come on when it rains. It turns out you have to turn them on first. I liked the back seat fold down options which are different from the other vehicles. What don’t I like? The climate controls. The Hot/Cold dial and fan speed are it in this model. Unfortunately there is no middle of the road. If I have it on the first warm notch it is too hot. If I put it on the first cool notch it is too cold. I live in southern CA. and it isn’t necessary to have it turned much more than that. I so find myself moving it back and forth. Actually, I often open my new and coveted moonroof and am just fine, even in the winter. As I said, the Nav. system is taking me a long time to learn. You can’t use it while driving (or as a passenger). I don’t like all the integrated bluetooth, voice stuff…maybe because we can’t get it to work? Neither could dealership. I have never used the phone while driving anyway and trying to figure it out while driving is dangerous. We had CarPlay installed and that solved our navigation issues. I wish the passenger seat was like the driver seat. On long trips I am the passenger and notice the difference. Why don’t they have controls as well? I would pay for that. We would have gotten the Grand Touring because of the extra safety features. I didn’t want heated leather seats (again, CA) but the reason I didn't was the ride. The larger wheels made for a more ‘trucklike’ ride, and was very noticeable, especially after our accident. I gave up the extras just because of the wheels. Seems silly…I would have paid for a more expensive car if the wheels were an option and not standard. Milage is as expected. I have found that when the light says empty and the ‘message’ says 2 miles left to go (testing it), I put in 2 less gallons of gas on fill up than I should have. Something is off. I also found I have to fill up more often- smaller tank. I have brought these items to the attention of the service people but they just shrug their shoulders. No help with my concerns. All talk about service and “just let them know”, but no followup or follow thru. I have taken the car in without anything being done. All in all, I love driving this car. It is my first SUV, and it is fun. High like the van, fits in the garage. Have been very happy for many years repair free.
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Good overall
I traded in my 2015 Mazda Touring with Technology package for this GT AWD and couldn't be happier. I am a college student in Illinois and AWD gives me better confidence in snow, but I really wish there could be a way I can manually turn on the AWD. This car is also good for student, I can turn the car into a bed if I fold down the rear seats. The biggest improvement is the infotainment system and it does make a big difference. The new wheels look great. In general, I found the look very attractive and the gas milage to be great. The 2016 model seems to be more solidly built, as the interior plastic is better assembled, whereas the plastic in my 2015 fall off within weeks.
Nice Ride
Transmission failed just under 5,000. Mazda replaced, no hassle. New tranny feels better than the original ever did.
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Hands down the best choice in its class
I'd been looking at replacing my 2002 PT Cruiser for quite some time, and have been researching compact SUVs for about a year. After reading reviews, comparing a wide range of vehicles, and test driving several top choices, there simply was no comparison. The CX-5 was hands down the winner on so many levels. I splurged on the Grand Touring trim with the technology and i-Activsense package. The adaptive cruise control and radar assisted emergency braking is a great safety feature. I only have a little over 500 miles on the car thus far, but I'm getting great gas mileage. I love the outstanding styling, inside and out and great use of space. The perforated leather seats are comfy and cool. My critiques thus far are few: The ignition switch is hidden behind the bulky windshield wiper control stalk. A minor annoyance. The navigation system does not have real-time traffic monitoring and rerouting. That's about it. Everything else is just about perfect. 1 year update: A little more than a year later, I still think this is a absolutely fantastic choice. The car drives confidently and securely. If rumors are to believed, the lack of real time traffic monitoring will be irrelevant if Mazda follows through on its promise to install Apple Car Play.
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Great mid price mini SUV
Test drove Honda CRV, Sante Fe and Mazda CX5. Mazda has a great "driving factor", which means it is fun to drive. Not so much in the others. Plenty of the same features that all of the competitors have.
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So far, So Good (Zoom, Zoom!)
Solid, quiet, spacious beautiful vehicle. Great Bose sound system and, if you like all the "techy" stuff, you'll love the Mazda CX-5. I can't rate the repair frequency because I've only had it for a month. But my wife owned a Mazda some years back and it was very reliable. My wife and I both own sedans but wanted an suv/awd in case of bad weather. We are really pleased with this purchase.
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Outstanding! Just two small gotchas
This 2016 CX-5 GT with full tech packageis my replacement for my 2012 BMW X-3. Mazda has better Interior and technology. Road handling is only slightly less acute and acceleration above 60 mph is the only range where BMW is better. Is the BMW worth and extra $22k. Not a chance! Besides, I was quite tired of the BMW dealership trying every trick in the book to cheat me on deals or returns. We are very happy with the CX-5. The GPS is far, far superior than that in out 2014 Prius. However the Mazda Traffic display has to be the lamest traffic warning system I have ever seen. It is a very low resolution display with no ability to scroll east-west or to change zoom scale. In a word, entirely useless. The manual hints that better data is available for display, however, we can not find it. The adaptive hi beam system when in "Auto" mode for the headlights only pops up hi beams when traveling more than 30 mph and only when there is no traffic coming or going from the front sensor. Very inconvenient.
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all I wanted is a power seat...
All I wanted was a power drivers seat. Narrowed it down to CX-5, CRV, RAV-4 and Encore and drove them all. Encore cargo way too small - out. RAV-4 ride too rough, noisy, and for what you pay you don't get much. to get a power seat had to go up two trim levels from what I wanted to spend - out. CRV - they sure are proud of their vehicles! Felt like I was driving a toaster. yeah, it would get me from point a to point b, but very ho hum and loud ride noise. Again, had to go up trim levels and price to get power seat - absolutely no negotiation. Then I drove the CX-5! Roomy! (my 6ft tall son can sit in the back seat comfortably) Fun! Responsive! nice handling! quiet ride! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Could have gotten the power seat at the touring level - but wound up getting the grand touring (those wheels! sunroof, nav, leather, bose sound, totally loaded!!!)) for LESS than I would have had to spend for a lesser model elsewhere. Best value, best vehicle! UPDATE - have had my CX-5 for a year now, and still love it! the only minor issue I have is that it is difficult to see the screen for the back up camera, navigation, entertainment, etc with the glare from the sun making the back up camera unusable. I understand that all vehicles with dash inset screens have same issue. doesn't effect the entertainment, the console contrition are so intuitive don't even have to think to use them! Still wish I had a Mazda dealer closer the nearest is 30+ miles away and I bought mine 60 miles away! I would buy again in a heartbeat! Love my CX-5!!!!!
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Mostly makes me smile
I traded in a new competitor C-SUV recently for the Mazda GT and overall I am happy with the purchase. It makes me eager to drive it! The exterior styling and color (sould red) are very sexy looking (comapred to my previous crossover SUV), the interior is clean, and elegant feeling. The driving experience is so much more engaging and fun - great handling, great braking, decent acceleration. The tech gadgets all work well, including the infotainment system.
3 years in with my CX-5
My original review based on 6 months of ownership is still accurate. I really like this car. Wanted something like the Toyota RAV4 I had 2 cars before. Love the safety tech, great engine, driving experience is everything Mazda says it is. 2 complaints. First, When accelerating from a full stop, engines seems to hesitate before going full out. Second, navy system very difficult to use. It’s just a pain in the a**. And the recent update still misses raids in my neighborhood that have been around for 2+ years. Otherwise a great highway ride and commuter. Great acceleration getting onto highway and passing slow pokes. Gives me a lot of confidence going around curves and going exactly where I want it to go. Seats comfy, interior looks great (parchment, not all black). Enough storage room for 2 empty nesters. Top of line stereo system is excellent. Love most of the safety features, especially back-up camera and rear collision warning (don't know how I survived as a driver for 40+ years without it!). Not fond of the lane departure warning; very intrusive and unnecessary when driving around down. I've turned it off, but would turn it back on if I'm doing long interstate driving.
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I love my new CX-5!
I traded in my year old 2014 CX-5 because of the updates to the 2016 model. I am so happy I did! I never thought I would own a white car but the Crystal White Pearl color is beautiful and looks great on this car. Everything I would have had on my wish list for the 2014 was updated on the 2016. The improvements are excellent and as happy as I was with my 2014, I am ecstatic with the new one!
Zoom Zoom is Right!
Update: I still feel this way. Might get the 2017 though, has some features that I would like, even though I usually drive cars into the ground (20 years) And if I do, will be red! I didn't want a 4 cylinder, because I live near Boston and getting out of the way of crazy drivers is important (LOL)! I tried some high end used cars with 6 cylinder, but all had some aspects I didn't like. I did a lot of research. Found the RAV4 and CRV boring. An auto expert thought and so did various reviewers that the 2.5 liter 4 cylinder and other characteristics made this car fun to drive. I tried it and it is! I bought new, I tend to keep cars a long time, and for the same money as used higher end cars, I got this one loaded. It has great handling in snow and rain, and on curvy roads, is almost sports car like. Love it. Just wish I had spent the money to get a jazzier color than the metallic blue I did get, shows the dirt more. Car feels like it should be red!
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Excellent car for the price
Test drove pretty much every CUV out there and ending up liking the CX-5 by a wide margin. Great combination of a fun to drive car with pretty much everything comfort wise my wife and I wanted. Only thing lacking really was memory automatic seats but pretty much everything else was there. Not to mention I consider it to be the best looking CUV on the market right now.
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had one for two months now
I traded a 2007 Mazda3 for the CX5 2.0 6speed manual transmission. Even though it has the same size engine and mileage rating as the Mazda3 i had, i noticed right away I was getting less miles per gallon. Probably due to the extra weight, larger tires, etc. The Mazda3 was a 5 speed, so having the 6th gear in the CX5 helps with gas mileage on highway driving. I would say I average with the CX5 around 25 to 28 mpg and i do mostly highway driving. I wanted a car that would do better in the snow, so there is the trade off. The anti-rollback in the manual transmission is kind of weird to me. Since I have always drove a manual, i'm used to the roll back and can deal with it. It almost seams like the breaks are on and it creates a little resistance when taking off. The electronic parking break is the one thing that drives me crazy. A manual parking break, you can decide how much of the break you want to apply. With this it's all or nothing. It also makes this weird noise when applying or releasing the parking break. I think in the manual it says this noise is just let you know what is happening and serves no mechanical purpose. I would rather not have the noise. I already had my battery go dead. I must have left something on, no big deal, jump started the car. Then I found out I could not drive because my parking break had been on the night before and it would not release. The light just kept flashing. I get out the manual and it says if it won't release...make sure your doors are closed, seat belt is on and if you put in gear and let out the clutch half way, it will release. It didn't. I ended up letting the battery charge up for a few minutes, then turned off the car, turned it back on and the parking break was steady lit now and I was able to release normally by pressing in the break and hitting the parking break switch. Luckily I made it to work on time. So no, I'm not a fan of electronic parking breaks. I doubt I ever use it again for fear of being stuck somewhere. They should have put in some sort of manual override or release. Other than those things, I still think its a great car. The interior, the lights and the outside design makes other cars in this class look dull. I'll get the most out of it in the winter time or having the extra storage area to haul things. If the new Mazda3 didn't sit so low to the ground, I might have bought another one instead of the CX5.
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Great car for the price
I bought this car after owning a 2005 Mazda Tribute for past 11 years and so far I love my CX-5 Touring SUV. I paid $24,500 with the moon roof and bose option which is a decent price for this car and better than what I would have paid for comparable cars such as the Ford Escape and Honda CRV. This car comes equipped with some great standard features such as the info system, back up camera, and heated seats. The drive and comfort of the car is fantastic and I don't have one complaint. Most important, for people like myself who want a car with great power for a 4 cylinder car, this car feels like a V6, which was my number one priority. You can't go wrong with this car.
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Good value but could use some updates/improvements
Had car ~1.5 yrs now - nit sure I would buy again. Bought my Mazda CX-5 chiefly based on its handling performance (and positive reviews thereof). In that regard, the car is a good value (paid *roughly* $28K for my specific model/trim after all the taxes, fees, etc.), and overall I am OK with my purchase. I have only about a 12-mile (1-way) commute to work, but the many main and side roads I take (no highways) are in really bad shape and are very hilly and curvy, and often takes 35-50 mins, depending on traffic, etc. My Mazda CX-5 did handle these roads better than my previous vehicle (another slightly larger - and >$5K more expensive - crossover/small SUV), but there have been some wheel-balance issues after the first few months that the dealer can't seem to fix. It also decent but not great power and pickup, esp. going up hills. Also, I miss terribly my Sirius-XM radio that I had for 3 years (on my Mazda model/trim, Sirius wasn't even an option, though it was for the 2015 trim level I got; really Mazda? WTH???). I also have a few other minor issues - such as the seats are a bit uncomfortable and don't have as many features/options for adjustments as my last car (nor are the seats heated, or the mirrors). You cannot open the hatch/trunk lid from inside the vehicle. The side mirrors have no defrost function (my last car did). The "infotainment" system isn't terribly intuitive and takes some getting used to. Because I'm so short (5'1"), my seat has to be adjusted in such a way (so close to the steering wheel) that when I turn my body left to exit the vehicle, my right foot frequently catches on the bottom of the plastic piece located on the left side of the "hump" in the middle of the car (to the imm'y right of the gas pedal), and it gets pulled up and snaps back. Am afraid it will break soon. Am still making adjustments to the seat and steering wheel to achieve maximum comfort - haven't quite gotten there yet and 'm not entirely sure why it's taking so long to do in this vehicle - I've never had that problem before. I plan to purchase a seat "wedge" (and actually place it with the thicker side toward the front of the seat, because you can't raise only the front of the seat without raising the back also, like I could in previous cars) and hope that helps a bit. I'm also experiencing a "vibration" felt predominantly on the left side of the car in my feet and my left hand on the steering wheel - almost like a rubbing or grinding sensation. It may just be a normal function of the Mazda's engine (which I know is great, but this is my first Mazda and I'm unfamiliar with what is normal and what isn't), esp. as I'm often driving at 35-40 mph or less given my no-highway, main street/side road, hilly/curvy commute (maybe the engine is constantly "slowing itself down"). In any case, I have an appt. at the dealer to have this checked out and ensure nothing is wrong with the brakes, engine, etc. I do wish some of these lesser problems didn't exist, as I wanted to love this car. And while I do like the somewhat better handling and overall am OK with my purchase -- and in some ways happier with this vehicle than my last one -- given the many things that could be better, I can only say that I like the car, but I don't love it. (PS: I could've gotten Sirius and a few other features by going up one more trim model [Grand Touring], but beyond the more expensive list price, you can get that model/trim only w/19" wheels, and I wanted nothing bigger than the 17" ones I have now.) Hope that by the time I'm ready for my next Mazda in a few years, some of these issues will be non-issues.
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Downsize from a Sienna
Thought I would be giving up alot of room and comfort. I DO miss my bucket seat arms! But at 6'3, I was really worried about knocking my head getting in and out or not having a good view out the windshield. Voila! I clear the doors just fine, leg room is great and I have as much visibility out of my Mazda as my Sienna gave me out of the front (back window is really small! ) Here's what you need to know if you want a CUV : the CX-5 is far and away the best value for your money! The interior is MUCH nicer than the competition and the driving experience is "soccer mom Sportscar " worthy! Mazda throws in alot of safety extras on the base touring model the others only throw in on their most expensive models, too. Didn't think I would be so pleased with less!
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Less than a year old need transmission
This car handles well and has great power. After owning for just less than a year we have found the controls for radio etc. is to cramped and the arm rest too far back. With 18000 miles the transmission had to be replaced which was not always shifting and sometimes would just stop all together. Getting Mazda to warranty the transmission was not easy either. The current issue is the tires that come on the cx-5 wear out at 18-20 thousand miles, they grip the road well but it is costly to replace that soon.
Beautiful Sonic Silver, Handles-well, 24.8-MPG
I sold the car to my son and he still has it. Highlights of CX-5 GT (2.5 4-cyl) after driving it 38 months: PROS: Quiet interior below 50 mph, futuristic body and wheels, handles like a sports-car, wonderful Bose sound system, added Apple CarPlay on March 2019 and the Bose speakers came alive, WAZE through CarPlay became primary Nav program (Center-point2 on, settings, +3, +2, -1, 0), IPhone music is powerful, HD radio audio output exceptional (better than XM), XM, NAV-system not-so wonderful w/touch & voice commands (2 successful updates of SD-card db using Mazda toolbox on IMac) 7-inch color display, backup camera w/warning bells, whistles and yellow red visuals, blind-spot warning visual and audio (w/turn-signal engaged), great duo-A/C, Assisted-braking to avoid accidents (it saved a careless bicycle rider), cruise control safe distance assist. Made in Hiroshima, Japan CONS: Waiting for everything to synch-in after 1st startup of the day thereafter (time varies from 15 - 60 seconds), however you can go and let everything synch-in but pushing various buttons as I drive is not recommended. Mazda NAV system never goes my way. WAZE solves this problem. Console controls are burdensome sometimes, no 12V slot in car (This model-only) connected to ignition because of 2 USBs co-located. Apple CarPlay add-on USB ports are powerful enough to charge any USB device. RECOM: Larger mph numbers. I recommend this CX-5 Grand Touring especially for women. Previous vehicle CX-7 Turbo Grand Touring (244 HP) and have no power or acceleration issues with the 2.5L 4cyl 6A engine on the CX-5 (184 HP). Using Premium 93 gas really improves performance. My next vehicle will have to be very impressive for me to trade in this Mazda. Now that it's available, I sold this car to my son. He loves this car. I shall upgrade to a new Grand Touring Mazda CX-5 Reserve which Apple CarPlay and Turbo as a standard!! Upgraded 02-24-2020 at Ed Howard Mazda. Looking at a Mazda CX-90 03-01-2023 now with increased horses.
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In love!
My lease was coming up on my 2013 Scion XB and I started to realize that A: I need a more fuel efficient car, B: I need a semi-adult car (functional and fun), C: I need to keep the space/size of my XB. I have test driven more cars, SUV's, and tucks in the past month than I care to admit. Trucks were too much, I am only 5'2", and cars were just too small, too mommy, or too teenager. Then come the SUV's.....It is truly too bad the Nissan Rogue is now CVT otherwise it would have been my top contender. Hyundai, I do not love their styling, and the Ford Edge was out of my budget. My husband is in the auto industry and just laughed about how picky I really am. I NEVER in a million years considered the Mazda until seeing one on the road. I started doing my research, better gas mileage than my current car, I could accessorize how I wanted, and it gets excellent ratings from others. I test drove a touring and fell completely in love. The next night I had the exact one I wanted and got it for a hell of a price. Mazda has great incentives and will work with you to get the best monthly payment or overall price you are looking for. When I left Mazda I was so happy. This car is fun, functional, techy but not too techy, and a great price for all of the extra's. Although mine is a touring I have the BOSE entertainment package and the Moonroof, which is apparently hard to come by. If I could tell everyone to buy this car I would. I have no doubt it will last me longer than expected and will provide plenty of entertainment along the way.
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Highly recommendable!
Update 5/2021:my CX-5 has over 100k on it. I’ve had no issues with it and I still love it. I don’t have any plans to get rid of it for awhile yet. Great car! Update 5/7/18: my CX-5 is just about to hit 65,000 miles and my husband and I still love and recommend it! We love our CX-5 so much we’re thinking of getting a new 2018 version and selling our 2016 to our daughter. Great car! Update 11/7/17: my CX-5 is now over two years old and just hit 50,000 miles. Still love the car and recommend it to others. Haven't had any problems with the car and is still getting better than expected gas mileage. Update 11/5/16: After owning my CX-5 for over a year now, I am still happy with my purchase. Currently I have 26,000+ miles on my CX-5 and I am averaging around 26ish mpg in mix driving. On the highway I get around 27 to 30 mpg. I am disappointed with the fuel tank capacity. Around town, I get around 350 miles out of a tank, which I wish was more. As far as reliability goes, I have had two minor issues. The first was a tire pressure sensor stopped working and needed a trip to the dealer to be reset. The second was the latch holding the center arm rest broke. Overall I still really like my CX-5. It is comfortable, gets good gas mileage, really fun to drive, and not a CR-V or RAV4 like everyone else drives. If you are in the market for a compact CUV, put the CX-5 on your list! After almost three months of owning my CX-5, I could not be happier. My husband and I have been Ford owners for the past 15+ years, but after hearing not-so-great things about real-world fuel economy of the Eco-Boost engines and reliability issues with the newer models, we decided to look elsewhere. We were attracted to Mazdas because Mazda is able to achieve the same performance and fuel efficiency standards as its competitors without the added complexity of turbo charged engines and nontraditional transmissions (CVTs). What I like most about my Mazda is that it is different from every other CR-V/RAV4/Equinox/Escape that everyone and their neighbor drives. Overall, I am very impressed with the car! The interior has very nice fit and finish, good ergonomics, and is comfortable for my husband, and our teenage daughter. Coming from Ford's I do miss the puddle lights and keyless entry keypad. I came to appreciate those features over the years and would not have thought I would have missed those, but I do. I also wish Mazda would illuminate the window switches. It is 2015, why is this not a standard feature on all cars? My 1997 Ford Contour had illuminated switches. I also wish the backseat reclined. All of its competitors have reclining back seats. Finally, I wish Mazda would add a "winter" package that included heated seats and automatic headlights. I did not want leather seats, and because so, we bought a Touring model that does not have these features. Most of the competitors offer these features on the mid trim, so why cannot Mazda? While this may seem like a long list, these are little things are not make-or-break it features. The car has great steering feel, road comfort, and the drive train is top notch. The transmission shifts incredibly smoothly and paired with the 2.5l engine, I am never wanting more power. As far as fuel economy goes, I am really appreciating the efficiency that the CX-5 gets. In mixed driving, my AWD Touring model is getting about 27 mpg, and on the one highway trip we took it on, we got 31 mpg. Very impressive! Overall, I would highly recommend anyone to look at CX-5 if they are shopping for a compact CUV!
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I love this car!
I've owned this car for seven years. It has been completely trouble free. It is very responsive to the steering, throttle and braking. Very fun to drive and economical. Great MPG (average 29MPG) considering I drive mostly city miles. Very happy so far.
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Sporty SUV
I purchased the 2016.5 Mazda Grand Touring AWD with everything. This was the right purchase for me. I think it looks sharp outside and inside. I find it spacious and comfortable enough. It has very good handling and acceptable braking, acceleration, and gas mileage. I really like its safety features. The control center (stereo, settings, backup camera, gps, etc) works well, although I am never satisfied with the sound of stock stereos (even when it is the premium version). I like the reliability and economical maintenance costs too. In sum, I think this is a sporty SUV for those that can’t afford the BMW. For my much more thorough review, please look here: http://www.mazdaforum.com/forum/mazda-cx-5-54/review-2016-5-cx-5-grand-touring-37509/
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test drove Suburu, Rav4, Murano, and Chose CX5
Test driving the above cars, two things stood out on CX5, Acceleration and control in turnings. Its been a year I bought this car, 3 services I spent $80 each. Only downside is if you roll down windows you can hear engine's noise
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Very Happy
One thing I hadn't heard before purchasing my CX-5 is that Mazda is considered the poor man's BMW. That's actually a huge compliment in my opinion. What that means is it drives very like a BMW (though not as fast), feels very solid, good ergonomics, BUT doesn't cost $2000+ every time you take it to the dealer for a repair. And yes, I owned a 325i for 6 years, so I can say there are some very BMWish qualities. I like a slightly firm ride and that it handles corners better than it should. Who wouldn't. Overall it is quiet, comfortable, good sound system (with Bose), and enough power for regular driving. One of the main reasons to consider this over its top competitors is its transition. Simply put you don't notice it, which is a good thing. The CX-5's competitors all have CVTs or now DSTs. Both have issues that don't warrant the extra 1-2 mpg in my opinion. Definitely worth a test drive!
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I cannot believe how great this car truly is
The Mazda CX 5 is by far the best car I have owned in over 30 years of driving. The legroom is incredible for a 6 foot 3 inch guy like me. I never thought a CUV would be like a sports car, it really hugs the turns but very smoothly. The blind spot detection is excellent AND the automatic AWD when conditions allow is a huge plus, no need to switch on different modes. I love the moonroof and the leather seats are comfortable. My ONLY complaint is the subpar BOSE radio, but everything else just couldn't be better.
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Great Vehicle for Skiers!!! Love it
After driving 2 Subaru Outbacks for 300,000 miles combined we went over to the CX-5. Nothing against the Outback but we always weigh our options. Love the roomy inside, handles fabulous in the snow, little noise in the cabin, fun to drive. We added a tow hitch for our mountain bikes, cross bars and rails for the ski rack, Mazda re-mote car starter, mud flaps and door sill plates. We ski an average of 30 days a year. This car rocks if your active and outdoorsy!
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Love my new CX5 Touring
Traded in my 2014 Sonata Limited for a 2016 CX5 Touring AWD Crystal White Pearl with black interior, no packages, production end 1/16. I wanted to go back to an SUV after poor performance in the snow in the Sonata this winter. I test drove the Hyundai Sante Fe Sport and the new Tucson Limited which is a turbo. Something didn't feel right with these SUVs after being a loyal Hyundai owner for past four vehicles. The Sante Fe was too big and the Tucson just didn't move when you put your foot down, too much lag and really indifferent handling. I wanted to drive the CX5 based on its rankings. Found a great deal at my local dealer, no pressure at all. Hopped in and drove away and absolutely love the handling of this SUV. Feels great on the road. Much better pillar visibility than the Sonata. Seating position is high and you get a great view of the front of the SUV and the mirrors are great for vision all around. There are only two things that are disappointing to me. The dashboard dials are very boring. During the day they have no lighting and are very dull. This is a big change from my Sonata which was lit up like a christmas tree. Also, the fact that they don't have auto on/off headlights in the Touring. I knew this going in, but still it is a pain. I didn't want to upgrade to a package because I don't want a moonroof. So if I could change anything that would be it. I just got this SUV but I just want to drive it all the time. I love the way it handles on the road. It really moves. So far so good!
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Two Common And Major Issues, Otherwise 5 Stars
Update 01/01/2023: Still love this car at 59K miles! Dealer worked with Mazda to cover most of the cost of replacing the Infotainment Computer and DRL. Since then, Mazda issued a recall for the DRL and replaced the left one, which also died. No other issues with the car. I purchased a used 2016 CX-5 with 37K miles from a dealer. I love the car except for two well-documented issues that Mazda will not do anything about. 1. The Infotainment Computer (CMU) crashes and goes into an endless rebooting process. No Nav, no radio (other than the station it was last tuned to), no Bluetooth. It is worthless. Estimates to replace the CMU are $1200. 2. The Daytime Running Lights fail early. These are LED and are approximately $1200 (each side) to replace. I would not buy this car again without a comprehensive extended warranty. Do your homework before purchasing.
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Great car with excellent technology
I found the best price by using edmunds website. I obtained written prices by email for the exact model and options I wanted, and I got a real good deal. The Mazda CX-5 is the best overall deal in the small SUV segment: best acceleration in the 4 cylinder engine group, excellent storage, good comfort, ride and noise and good feeling of the road and a lot of technology. The interior gives a feeling of quality, at least in the grand touring trim. The only minor complaint is that the brakes are a little weak as compared to the excellent acceleration. Updated review at 14 months of ownership. I stand by my initial review, except one item: the road noise is a little high. I enjoy the electronic safety features like adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, rear cross travel warning and back up camera. Nice touches are headlights turning with the car is turning, automatic high beam and brake assist while starting on a hill. Updated review after 20 months of ownership. I reiterated my initial review, except one point. The brakes are very good. It took them several months to get them to work at their full capacity. Maintenance is minimal and I ask for synthetic oil.
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Very good value
Love the exterior appearance. Roomy inside for compact SUV. Instrumentation is well laid out. Seats are comfortable. Road handling is very good. Braking is excellent. Engine is peppy. Rides heavy for a small SUV giving a firm yet comfortable ride. Very good value for the money. It’s four years since my last review. Still enjoying my CX-5. I average 26 miles per gallon. No mechanical problems to date.
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love it
all the reviews and car magazines were spot on. drives like a dream, not just for an SUV, but for any car. the size is just right for us, and the seats feel great. of course some pieces could be metal instead of plastic, or just a higher quality material, but this is not a luxury car and nothing feels inadequate. for the price, we think this is an amazing deal. and with mazda being such a reliable brand, we are driving it happily and worry-free. top-of-the-line safety ratings gives us peace of mind too. two thumbs up.
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love my ride
I did research on all the crossovers but kept coming back to the CX5 and I did just buy a 2016.5 sport AWD this SUV is just fun to drive plain and simple the MPG is the best in it`s class I get 25 in the city alone with AWD I have the 2.5 and it delivers, ok it may not be a hot rod but it will go ! when you punch the power and I live in Colorado I have the 6 speed auto witch shifts smooth and quick and when in sport mode it is even more fun steering is quick and responds well seats in the sport are firm they could be a bit better but even the upper trim levels are firm the ride is good and quiet extra noise padding on the 2016 make it pretty quiet some road noise at higher speeds but not enough to give it a second thought I have the navigation and it is quick and easy to use the info system is also quick and boots up fast and is either a touch screen or hand control knob next to the shifter witch works very well and easy to reach and control Bluetooth was quick to pickup my android and works well however text messages read thru the system are only compatible with Samsung or I phone there is ample cargo space for my needs with the rear seats up but both fold down for extra room the sound system is ok for my needs but maybe the upgraded system may be better for some I bought the sport because I didn`t need all the extra bells and such and this sport comes well appointed I am 62 and just wanted a fun car to drive with good MPG and safety this CX5 delivers on all points.....Love my new CX5
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Great driver's car but NO LIVE TRAFFIC AVAILABLE
The car is a driver's dream. Bought the Grand touring model SPECIFICALLY for live traffic updates - this is the DC metropolitan area. The brochure for the vehicle SPECIFICALLY states that live traffic is present. But to my surprise I found that Mazda terminated its live traffic coverage earlier this year but NEVER BOTHERED TO TELL IT TO POTENTIAL BUYERS. The only reason I know this is because I called MazdaUSA customer line to ask. This is a classic bait and switch. I could have bought the less expensive model, gotten the same mechanicals and bluetooth-linked my iPhone for live traffic routing. Don't be fooled by the colorful brochure, until further notice there are no traffic updates. The Nissan Rogue has live traffic (for a fee), so does the RAV-4, so does the CR-V and CR-H. I'm willing to pay but it isn't even an option with the $31,000 car I just bought. (Trust me, if you can avoid even a small portion of the DC rush-hour snarls - its worth any monthly or annual fee). Its been 1 year since I bought the CX-5. My above review is unchanged. It is a great car to drive but the lack of live traffic - WHICH WAS ADVERTISED AS A SELLING POINT - remains a sore topic. I have called Mazda headquarters in CA and written to them as well. I have received absolutely no response. It seems Mazda is all about Zoom Zoom and nothing about customer relations. Over a year later and still no progress with live traffic updates. Letters (snail mail) and emails and phone calls all unanswered. The CX-5 still is a great drive but the Mazda customer relations is miserable. Now two years later. A very reliable and solid preforming car. Still no response from Mazda about the lack of advertised live traffic updates. Fortunately Waze and unlimited data plans have filled the void. Now THREE years of ownership. The car continues to preform well. I have given up on onboard navigation. Its still a great driving car with below average onboard electronics. Five year update. I was able to buy an Apple CarPlay upgrade from Mazda for the builtin stereo system. It was a little pricey but it functions well and I can now run Waze and Google maps from my iPhone through the stereo system without any problems; ie it pauses music when voice navigation is talking. This setup probably works better than any manufacturer Nav system. (I don't use Android but there was also an Android upgrade available for the car.) The Mazda is still going strong at 8 years of use. It has been one of the most reliable cars I have ever owned. The electronic shortcomings have been taken care of with the Applecarplay install.
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Over all a great SUV on this segment
Just bought a new 2016 GT 2WD trading in my 2010 civic. I think I made a best choice. Best alternative when compared to Honda CR V, ford focus... very good milage. very good reward programs from mazda with various companies & its dealers. So far I eagerly wait for the moment to get inside the car every day . . . I luv the tech package . . . radar adaptive cruise control .... infotainment system is fast no lag . . nice cool AC system . . . High performance 19 inch alloy wheels . . Adaptive lights not available in CR V . .. Steering feel & touch are nice . . . Thinks I don't like when it too sunny its hard to see the odometer because of sun light reflection . . . The back portion of the steering column reflects lights directly on odometer panel . . sunglass box near rear view mirror gets too hot when parked outside so not recommended to leave sun glass inside...
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From BMW lover to Mazda Believer!
Since 2004 I have owned a lot of different vehicles BMW 328i sedan, 328i coupe and a 528i, Infiniti G37 coupe, Cadillac Escalade, Acura TSX and a Chevrolet Tahoe. I have enjoyed driving all of these different vehicles but the one thing they all had in common was their high maintenance costs and high gas prices because of the need for premium gasoline. The hard part for me in finding a new vehicle that met my needs, especially after driving different luxury brands, was finding something that was going to get great gas mileage, looked great and wasn't going to cost me a fortune to maintain over the long haul. I started my search looking at the BMW X1 and the X3 and both left me rather unimpressed and considering the price of these vehicles that was definitely not the feeling I wanted to have leaving the show room. I also test drove the Volkswagen Tiguan and I really enjoyed the interior styling but again wasn't impressed with the exterior look and the expected gas mileage for the vehicle. The other car that was in the mix was the Acura RDX and while it looks great on the inside and out there were some features that was missing from the car that you would expect on a luxury brand that made it difficult to justify the additional $$$ just for the Acura brand. Once I was finally able to get past my need for a "luxury" brand I decided to check out the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring based on the positive reviews from Edmunds as well as other consumer reviews. I have to say that I test drove the vehicle 3 different times because after the first time I felt that the acceleration was a little weak but when you come from driving a sporty coupe with a V6 engine with more horsepower it's easy to understand why. However, once I got past that and realized that I wasn't driving a sports coupe but a crossover that is meant more for function and really drove the vehicle I realized that its performance was more than adequate. The car has more than enough power and actually accelerates very nicely on the highway, it looks great both on the inside and out, it gets great gas mileage and has a good mix of standard features from a technology and safety standpoint. The best part for me is that we were able to get the car at the dealer cost and a .9% interest rate for 60 months, which was supposedly only being offered for a 36 month term. All in all I feel like we got a great car for a great price and we didn't have to pay the premium for a luxury brand. Looking forward to driving this CX-5 for years to come!
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It's early, but great so far!
I was looking for something to replace my 2006 RAV4 Limited (w/6 cyl) and came down to a RAV4 XLE and a CX-5 Touring, both were 2016 models with @35000 miles. The CX-5 won out, the rides were close, but the 5 handled better and had more zip to it. I was concerned about performance because it was a drop in horse power compared to my 06 RAV (184 for the 5, 270 for the RAV) but this buggy really cooks, especially in Sport mode. I have read where people bagged on the stereo sound quality, but I have to say on the way home from work the other day Rush's Tom Sawyer came on and I had the volume up to 30 and it was awesome! I live in Western New York and this vehicle handled the last three lake effect squalls with perfection, no complaints here. My old RAV had 174000 miles on it when I traded it in and I thought the Mazda would have some big wheels to fill, but now after driving it for a while, I know it will do the job nicely. UPDATE! it's now been just over two years and it now has 65000 miles on it and it's still great, however although I think my Touring is awesome, I am trading it in for a Fully loaded 2017 Grand Touring with 21000 miles on it. Mazda has really made a believer out of me, Getting the new car Friday (2/26/21) Can't Wait!!
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BEST SMALL SUV FOR THE FAM BAM
I always wanted sports car kind of feel but I also have a family. The CX-5 is provides all of that in one car. I love the way the drives, comfort and it feels. I am glad I made my purchase on this car over the crv and the rav4. It is the best bang for your buck.
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Porsche replacement
Experienced a sudden loss of our Cayenne due to a very serious accident which totaled the Porsche. Had to shop quickly for a replacement. Reviewed ratings and specs for all applicable SUV's and hybrids on line. Results pointed to the Mazda CX-5 as the ideal choice. Shopped on line and found a 2016 Mazda with the accessories we wanted that was affordable. While there are a few features that the Porsche has, the overall experience is a notch above the Porsche. I hate to admit it, but I actually like the Mazda better than the Cayenne. Have discovered the hard way that the A pillar is way to big. Visibility in turning left is poor and view to the right has horrible bling spot. Collided with a car that I never say.
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I'm hooked
I've read the reviews for a long time and heard great things, so the CX-5 was at the top of my test list. Now that I own one and get to drive it daily, I love the CX-5. It's fun to drive, looks sharp, and has plenty of features. I'd like to see them improve the Nav, but it's nice to have. Mazda could make the controls more intuitive. Otherwise, the fuel economy has been great, acceleration is plenty for our needs, and the handling is wonderful.
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Everything I wanted and the best price
The Grand Touring AWD had everything I wanted. 19" wheels, SIRIUS/XM radio and navigation included. Drives great and quiet. I am leasing and may purchase at the end if it continues to please me as it has so far.
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My Little Red Rice Rocket !!
I have had this car for 6 mo.and have put over 3950 miles on it . I ave. 27.6mpg so far. I LOVE IT !!!!!!! I had a 1999 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4 for 14 years and loved it but, I got about 15 mpg w/ 4.0 SOCH V6. I needed something both my wife and I (we are both retired and disabled) could handle, well we got the Best little Red CX-5 GT AWD you can get. It driver great, is fun to drive and once you figure out how to use all the tech you can put it through it's paces with ease. It looks Very Sexy going down the freeway or just parked on the driveway. We got a deal all over the phone, inc. the trade in's on a boat, truck and my Explorer. The Dealer did a good job putting it all together for us. If you want a fun CUV with all the power you need then BUY A 2016 CX-5! You wont regret it.
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It's True!!
It is sporty with great handling, just like I read! It was a tough choice at first, with so many CUVs out there. But the CX-5 emerged on top for me, edging out others because of its handling, reliability, safety and styling. It became an easy choice after driving all the possibilities twice. No regrets and I love how it looks!
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