Used 2017 Mazda CX-5 Consumer Reviews
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More zoom-zoom than your typical compact SUV
If money was no object, I'd be driving a Porsche Cayenne S. But since my current car budget did not have room for a $90K SUV (and the associated high maint costs), I feel I did the next best thing and got a Mazda CX-5 GT with prem pkg. No, it's not nearly as fast as a Cayenne, but for about a third the the price, this little SUV acts a lot like that Swabian icon of the road. This is my second CX5. I had a 2013 as well. The 2017 is a HUGE upgrade from the 2013 model. I got my new one in Soul Red Crystal, and it literally glows! Love it. The 2017 is MUCH quieter inside than the earlier model, and compared to even a new Honda CRV, or a Ford Escape, the Mazda is quieter and more composed on the road, and handles much better than those rivals. Although the stability control is a little too aggressive for my taste, you can still toss this thing around like a sports sedan and not worry about the suspension getting flabby & floppy on you. It just tracks beautifully and handles mid corner bumps with aplomb (just like the Cayenne). If your main goal is having a lot of interior room & cargo space, go for the CRV (which is MUCH roomier) but in every other aspect I can think of, the Mazda scores higher. The Honda is more like a nice mini-van, disguised as an SUV. Sure it's roomy and peppy, but it in no way rewards the enthusiast driver like the Mazda. The parchment leather interior is just gorgeous, and looks much nicer than (for example) the interior in a BMW X3 or X5. Mazda obsessed over every little detail in this car. I was a bit concerned that I might not like all the "active safety" features, but they are so well done and so well integrated into the operation of the vehicle, that it was easy to get used to, and now I miss them in my other cars. With about 1100 miles on the clock I am averaging 26.9mpg. I do not do much urban driving, but still I am very happy with that result. I expect this result will improve as the engine breaks in. (Over 4 years I averaged 28.4mpg in my 2013 CX5). In short, if you want a "driver's car" but need the room and practicality of an SUV get the CX5 -- unless of course you can spring for the Cayenne :)
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Very impressed!
I was debating between the 2017 Honda CRV and 2017 Mazda CX-5. I test drove both and the CX-5 was the clear winner. The CRV was nice and had great features, but just felt a bit boring. Also, it was very apparent when driving the CRV that it is much larger than my current Mazda 3 hatch. Out of curiosity I tried driving the Honda HRV. The exterior if the HRV is super cute, but it was missing many of the tech features I wanted and had a super whimpy engine. I then drove the CX-5. Despite being about the same size as the CRV, the CX-5 was much more car-like in its handling. With the sport mode on, it is very peppy and responsive. On paper, the CRV and CX-5 look very similar in terms of features, quality, and price. But getting behind the wheel made all the difference. While I don't think you could go wrong with either the CRV or CX-5, I'd recommend the CX-5 for anyone who prefers a more sporty, car-like ride.
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- Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $14,48513 mi away
- Grand Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $16,80016 mi away
- Grand Touring 4dr SUVMSRP: $20,74224 mi away
Fun to drive Premium SUV
I test drove CRV-EXL(Turbo), Ford Titanium (2.0L Ecoboost) , Jeep Chrokee (V6) and Mazda GT(Skyactiv). I liked engine response of Ford escape and Fun and premium feel of Mazda. Finally chose CX-5 over Escape. CX-5 Performance is adequate,It matches 0-45 against my traded in V6 Altima. Out of these four cars CRV was the boring one. My only problem with Mazda is its driver memory positions does not set side mirrors. Navigation and blind spot alert is integrated with HUD and it is awesome. I love the turning headlights. Overall very satisfied. Update after 18 months ----------------------------------- In Long weekend heavy traffic , radar cruise control drove the car most of the part. My 7 hours drive became more fun Middle seat folding was helpful to haul my ski gears and accommodate 4 passengers
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Almost 8000 miles and counting
Like many reviews, I shopped the different brands. I had made up my mind after test driving, bells and whistles, etc etc that I was set on a Honda CRV Touring......but because I had a trade in and the Honda is the best selling small SUV..... there were no incentives. I also wanted a particular exterior and interior colors......which I couldn't have in the Honda, I decided on my second best choice, the Mazda CX 5. I am not disappointed. As with any new vehicle that has so much tech in it....it takes time to learn...... and I'm still learning.....End game (I had a 2015 Volvo XC 60) the Mazda rides better, handles better, gets better mpg, has better tech.......you get the idea. I am believing that I will have this SUV for many happy years to come. If you haven't considered a Mazda, you should. It's a beautiful vehicle that is fun to drive!
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What a Sweet Ride - Mazda has done a wonderful job
We traded in a Honda 2016 CRV EXL and also test drove the new 2017 CRV Touring - which can not compare to the CX5 as far as the technology and we hated the cheap looking interior of the CRV - who designed the tinny looking steering wheel controls? THe CX5 handled so much better on the road - steered better-quieter-and handled bumpy roads way better , the Bose Stereo is just awesome , the center knob for the entertainment screen is wonderful. Mazda's lane assist , headlights that move around the corners , the cruise control with assist, a interior that is pure luxury compared to the Honda. The Red Soul Color has no comparison. So if you haven't driven a new CX5 please do so before buying anything else in this class of vehicle. Also Mazda's dealership is awesome no pushing to purchase a vehicle which probably is due to the fact that nothing compares to their new CX5 Update one year later - Car is still awesome only 1 flaw - THE PAINT SUCKS! Think twice about the Crystal Red Soul Color - we have experienced way to many paint chips especially on the hood - Also BE extremely careful when removing pine sap , road tar , squashed bugs etc. - if you rub really hard you will remove the clear coat and be stuck with dull areas with fine line scratches - I am used to really being able to scrub on my car surfaces with out causing any damage - this pisses me off so much that I very well may trade this vehicle - When I ask Mazda dealership about all the road chips they act like it is the first time they have ever heard about the Red Soul Color Chipping - Mazda should of tested the paint process and durability before allowing their cars to be sold Update 2019- The CX5 is still a 5 Star Vehicle in everyway But - the Red Soul Paint - I used my special Harley polish to remove bugs on the hood and found about 6 or 7 swirl marks that will not remove, basically swirled thru the clearcoat and into the paint. Now I apply the same polish on my Harley with a electric polisher. The paint chips if you look at it so the paint gets a 1 star. Pretty sure all the Red Soul colors are this way not sure about other colors of this year.
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Huge upgrade from the 2016 model---LOVE MY 2017
This is the best car I ever bought. Period. I said similar things about the 2016 CX-5, but They have completely re-designed the 2017 model. The interior upgrades are SO luxurious, the drive is ultra quiet, and Mazda's can definitely HANDLE the road. You will read some complaints about lack of power, but I find my CX-5 to be pretty peppy. I have driven the CR-V and the Rav-4 and they don't hold a candle to the CX-5. You owe it to yourself to get into one of these machines and give it a go!
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Mazda CX-5 GT with premium package. Best in class!
2017 Mazda -5 GT, premium package. 5 STARS Searching for a mid size Crossover, I narrowed my choices down to the Mazda CX-5 and the Lexus NX 200t. I need a spare tire for long road trips. Surprisingly, many premium brands delete this. I am a long time Lexus owner, with my last 13 cars being Lexus. I currently have an ES and a GS. The NX was the easy choice, until I started researching the Mazda CX-5. Although these two vehicles are in a different price category, they are very similar in size and capabilities. What interesting is the Mazda for me was the better choice. The CX-5 is very smooth and quiet. The interior materials are actually superior to the Lexus, and the fit and finish of the Mazda is easily on par with any Lexus vehicle. Where the Mazda really shines is safety. The GT with premium package has all the latest technology with Blind Spot monitoring, Lane departure and assist, pre collision with auto braking, etc. What’s is really interesting is that this is all displayed on the HUD right in front of you. It warns you if you are too close to the car in front of you. It duplicates the blind spot monitors. It shows you your current speed and speed limit. It shows you navigation and turn directions. Its very advanced, and exceptional in this price range. The Lexus NX has none of this for $15k more. This may change for Lexus when the ‘18 model comes out. The Mazda uses regular fuel and gets better gas mileage. The Mazda rides smoother and quieter. My CX-5 has no rattles and feels very solid. The NX service loaners that I have driven, all had rattles from the rear hatch. I like the Mazda design better, but thats subjective. So what does the Lexus have for $15k more? A turbo for more power ( but uses premium fuel), parking sensors, ventilated seats, and telematics. So far I’m really happy with my CX-5. There have no problems or defects, and I actually enjoy driving it. I think this car is the best going in this category and price range. If Mazda put the turbo from the CX-9 in it, it would beat many premium crossovers costing $20k more. Maybe the diesel coming later this year will change that. A little more “zoom-zoom” would be good. Any complaints? I wish the driver’s seat would move a few more inches back ( I’m 6’2”), and it has older style tire pressure monitors that just tell you if a tire is low (as opposed to showing you the exact pressure in each tire). Thats about it. Check this car out and you will be surprised at the value here. Its an excellent vehicle that punches above its class.
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almost great
I am driving a 2017 CX5 and I like it very much,It does almost everything very well, the only real problem I have is the fact that in very cold temps the engine does not warm up to operating temp correctly. I just drove in 3 degree weather for 20 miles and the engine temp did not go above 135 degrees, the heater and defroster were not working well causing a safety issue, as well as not warming the cabin comfortably!! I have talked with the dealer and Mazda experience but they seem to think it is normal?? My other cars warmed up in 3-4 miles Having been a car and marine mechanic for 40 years I KNOW there is a problem!! I am not impressed with the service response.
Always bought used decided to buy this new
This car is a great value for the quality, technology and overall usability you get for the price. I have always purchased used vehicles in the as I am not one to take the significant depreciation hit of new cars lightly, but the combination of an excellent interior, all the tech features you can ask for combined with great gas mileage were enough to sway me to purchase new. One of my main concerns prior to purchasing the vehicle was that it would feel woefully under powered, fortunately this has not been the case. Coming from a driver who has only had 6 cylinder vehicles in the past and places a premium on good acceleration, I must admit the small displacement engine in the Mazda is more than adequate for everyday use. I have not been left wanting for more power at any point. That isn't to say more power wouldn't make this an even better car but nonetheless what Mazda gives you is plenty. I must admit the main selling point for me was the interior and technology. The fact that you get such good quality materials as well as safety features that are implemented in a way that I felt were superior to other brands I tested including luxury models is truly surprising. Do yourself a favor and try one out in the higher trim levels before going off and buying a significantly more expensive luxury sedan or SUV, you'll be pleasantly surprised at what Mazda has to offer.
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Love this car!
This car handles so smooth and hugs the road. I drove from Kentucky to Pennsylvania and never got tired driving it. The electronic system made it easy to switch from phone to GPS to music. The sound system is awesomely clear. Pick up when entering the interstate is fantastic and smooth. So many alerts on this car that it took me a while to feel comfortable learning how to use them. My family and friends love this car also. They have plenty of room and are impressed with its overall quietness. I did a lot of research for months before buying. I was tired of the same look and colors of SUVs. A mechanic told me to look at the Mazda brand. I have not had the SUV long enough to have mechanical problems. The color is beautiful and I receive a lot of compliments on its looks and functionality. I would definitely recommend it and buy it all over again.
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Great Car
This car has all the modern conveniences at an affordable price. It's also fun to drive. If I were to change anything, it would be the heated seats. Not very useful here in TX. I would opt for air conditioned seats if it were available.
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First 3,000 miles, all is good
I compared this SUV verses the Honda CRV top two rated vehicles. Both are great SUV's I choose the CX5 for its styling, particular the front nose, and the great handling (feel behind the wheel). The interior of the CX5 compares with that of far more expensive vehicles. I have the Gt model with heads-up display, all the adaptive safety features and forward display perform exceptionally well. Safety and ease of vehicle entry is the emphasis for us seniors. I have received many compliments on the CX5 candy apple red color.
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An SUV with the soul of a Miata
This is my second Mazda CX-5. I had a 2013 previously and loved it. But the new style, upscale features and comfort won me over, and I had to get the 2017. I am very glad I did. I was debating between this and a Honda CRV, which is also an excellent vehicle, but a very poor sales experience at my local Honda dealer in Princeton convinced me to go for the Mazda. If you need a ton of room and a large family vehicle, the Honda may be a better choice. But, the Mazda drives better, handles better, and (this surprises me) I think Mazda engineering & design has eclipsed the legendary Honda engineers. Every little detail on the Mazda has been so thoroughly engineered and designed that you just feel like the Mazda is punching above its weight class. The interior design & materials are MUCH nicer than any other small SUV, and compares more directly to the Audi Q3 or BMW X3 than to the CRV or Escape. The engine and transmission are so well integrated & responsive that the CX5 feels faster and more powerful than it is. The CX-5 is very quiet on the road, and I am getting about 27 to 28 mpg avg (I drive very little in the city). The Bose sound system is a HUGE upgrade from the system in the 2013, and the safety aids, incl the lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring, and heads up display are GREAT! They are so well integrated into the vehicle's operation, that you quickly just forget they are there and start to rely upon them and how well they work. I have the Soul Red Crystal paint, and all I can say it, the depth and luster of the red color is amazing. To get paint this good in another brand, you need to shop at Porsche. It even shines when dirty! Gripes? Well, the the traction control system is a bit too aggressive for my tastes and kicks in a little too early in fast turns (though the CX5 still out-handles everything in its class). That's about it. When you drive this car, you get the feeling that EVERYONE at Mazda put in lots of overtime to make this car feel like it's worth more than it cost. If your dream SUV is a Porsche Cayenne S, but your budget is less than half of that vehicle's sticker, this is your best choice.
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Upgraded from the old GT model
I upgraded from a 2015 CX5 Grand Touring to the 2017 model for the following features: auto rear cargo hatch, much lower noise in the cabin, and rear air conditioning vents (needed in Florida). The car still handles pretty much the same and is fun to drive, although I find the new model to be a bit more sluggish in shifting gears. They need a larger engine option. I still get the same mileage- about 24.5 city and 28.6 highway (75 mph). I don't like the new front grill, cup holder placement, higher front hood which means lower visibility for short people., lac k of arm rests and the navigation system is horrid. The city assist braking system only works in very specific situations, and is not that helpful. Also the side mirror alerts are overly sensitive, and go off even when a car is maybe 8 lengths away from you. That said, I still prefer the way this car handles and the upgraded interior when compared to similarly priced competition. The sound system is pretty good, and with lower cabin noise, is pleasant to use during long drive
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Best of class
We looked at all other major players in this class, including the 2017 Honda CRV. The CX-5 beat them all out and in particular beat the CRV with better controls (not as dependent on a touch screen), better acceleration and driving dynamics. However, the CRV beats the CX-5 in fuel economy. For my wife, who didn't want a "minivan" the CX-5 gave her a sporty vehicle that supports the family too. First update: After owning the car for almost 4 years, we've noticed some glitches. The most prominent are with technology. 1) The navigation doesn't have integrated traffic information, 2) You can't select a primary phone to pair with so my phone has been taking precedence over my wife's, even though it is her car, 3) The radio is falsely marketed at SiriusXM when in reality it is an antiquated XM-only system that gets fewer channels. Second update (January 2022): Other gremlins have shown up: First, there is an electrical glitch that had the infotainment system think we've made a selection when we haven't. I suspect it is a short in one of the input switches. Second, one of the trim pieces that runs along the roof of the car has come loose. At high speeds, it flaps against the vehicle. All of these issues plus a few others have me downgraded my rating from 5 stars to 3 stars overall. We'll probably look at a different brand when we go to replace this vehicle.
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Great blend of performance and value
This SUV has the great road performance for the price range it's in. The only SUVs that are better on the road are much more expensive. The comfort and technology are top of the line as well. Overall, a great car and a great value.
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Still love this car!
I traded in my 2014 cx-5 for this 2017 model. Also Extensively researched this model and it came out with highest marks compared to Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4. Looks sharp and little road noise. ... now it has 20k miles and I still love driving it. Update as of 9/19--have 35K miles and I still love it. Car looks sharp and is fun to drive. update as of 3/2020 -- still love it! Update as of 10/2021 … still love it. Am giving it to my daughter and just bought a new one yesterday. This is my 5th Mazda.
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Still getting to know mine but liking it so far
I was looking at BMWs and saw the CX5. I found it to be very stylish for a medium size SUV. Everything in the BMW appears to be in this car. Quality leather, electronics, entertainment, safety feature, smart cruise, sun roof, heated seats, custom attractive wheels, smart key, etc.... You get a lot of car for the money in the CX5. Its quiet, smooth riding, and comfortable. I have less than 1000 miles on mine so I can't speak on reliability. I am not giving it 5 stars because there are some minor things: 1) I wish it had more HP. A turbo engine would have been great. 2) The automatic shift lever was not designed very well and could use some improvement. I often get my fingers pinched in the spring loaded lever on the knob. 3) The break peddle is too close to the gas peddle. If you wear boots while driving, it is hard to put your foot on one peddle without it being on the other too. 4) I would like a little more support in the driver seat. 5) and like all Japanese cars, they just don't design around American long legs and come up short on driver side leg room. But it is a fine 4 star machine.
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Luxury on a budget!
Original review: My previous vehicle was slowly cleaning out my bank account (2005 Buick Terraza aka money pit). I started shopping around for something new as I had never owned a brand new car before. I knew I wanted something in the SUV cross-over class and I set my sights on the 2017 Honda CR-v initially. I felt I better compare and see what other brands had to offer, so I test drove the Rogue, Quashqai (rouge sport), HR-v, Tucson, and finally, CX-5. The CX-5 totally blindsided me. It was no contest really, once I took it for a spin I was totally in love with it. The quality feel was unmatched by all the others and while its not ultra powerful it's certainly zippy enough for my needs and handles like a dream. I bought it with confidence and haven't had a moment of doubt with it since. I hope it holds up over time, and being the second generation of already popular CX-5 designs I'm certain it will. I'm really not a fan of the new Soul Red colour, so I got mine in Deep Crystal Blue Mica and it shimmers in the sun, but looks sleek and almost black in the shade. The exterior has an aggressive looking grill with mean LED headlights and I love that they turn with the corners while driving. The leather interior and all the knobs, buttons, and displays are of a quality I would have expected to see in a lexus or audi and went unmatched by all the other cars I test drove. Rear heated seats were a nice touch too! I'm so proud of my new CX-5 as a first time new car purchase and I just felt really good about the entire experience overall. I would re-buy it again in a heartbeat! Update after driving for 1 year: I still love it and stand by all my above comments. The only complaint I can really make is about the thin paint. I’ve noticed a lot of chipping on the hood and front quarter panels, enough to make a formal complaint. I’m currently waiting to hear back on if they have any solutions to offer me. I’ve also found fuel economy for city driving to be a bit disappointing. Update after driving for 2 years: I still seriously love my CX-5. I’m over 2 years in owning it now and I drive a lot - so far I’m over 62,000km on it! The only thing I still complain about is the weak paint. It chips and scratches so easily, but I’ve heard this is common in all newer cars with stricter environmental restrictions on type of paint used these days (water based). Aside from that, it’s a pleasure to drive and I’m still happy with my purchase! Update after driving for 3 years: Everything is still awesome except for the crappy paint. Mazda refuses to acknowledge any issue under warranty, claiming that it all appears to be rock chips and therefore my fault. I’m now beginning to notice flakey patches in the clear coat of the hood, so I will likely make another attempt with mazda for a warranty re-paint. Aside from the good looking pretty rough, I do still love the rest of the car and have put over 100,000km on it already as I do a lot of driving.
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LOVED THE 2016 MAZDA CX5 GRAND TOURING
Love the car so much we bought a 2017 CX5 Grand Touring. In 2 Years we put on more than 60,000 highway miles on the 2016 Grand Touring with not one single problem. It is a very safe, smart car. 2017 has even more safety features. Highly recommend it.
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If you enjoy driving, you will love this Mazda .
Except for the GPS 's confaluted software , this car is just about perfect . After 30,000 miles of 30 % local ,60 % two lane highway, and 10 % limited access highway driving , the average is 29 mpg . That is far higher than the EPA estimates .The car is a joy to drive with great steering feel , a responsive chassis and good braking .The quality of materials is top notch and so far the reliability is flawless .The transmission is very responsive . I have had no issues with the performance of "city braking ", radar cruise control, and lane assist .The 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring is truly awesome .
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ove my third Mazda CX5
I love the 2017 CX5 - so many improvements from the 14 including. Much quieter - double pain windows, better handling - flatter cornering, all the latest driver assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure, BSM, great back up camera
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Beyond Awesome!
Took a long time and drove lots of vehicles before selecting this Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD and I LOVE IT!!! It's super fun to drive with tons of zoom zoom but has such a phenomenally quiet smooth ride even all my passengers comment on it. The technology I thought I'd find annoying is actually helpful and the audio system rocks! Everyone who has ridden in it regardless of age or size has been very impressed including tall back seat passangers. Already hauling stuff in it and it has more usuable cargo space than I expected. Haven't had a single problem but it's too soon (5 weeks) to really comment on reliability. Wish automakers could/would make AWD autos with better gas mileage - Tesla might have to be my next car - but this performs with the rest of its class and I couldn't dream up a better car. Great job Mazda engineers!!! Go get one for yourself.....
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Zoom Zoom in an SUV? Now I say very smooth.
We purchased our CX-5 Touring with preferred equipment package (moonroof, Bose, navigation, power lift gate, etc.) new in December 2017. The main competitors that we shopped were RAV4 and Ford Escape. We ruled out the Escape pretty quickly because my wife did not like exterior design. They can get pricey with the bigger engine and nicer interior features. The RAV4 seemed dated in the interior compared to Mazda CX-5. The Mazda also felt more energetic (better acceleration) and less noisy. The Toyota definitely had more back seat room, but we sacrificed the space for nicer interior materials with a more modern look. Also, I found the Toyota front seat lower cushions to be uncomfortable during our test drives. We now have just over 15,000 miles on our Mazda, and we continue to enjoy it. I like the manual shift option or the sport button for a little more oomph when accelerating. My wife enjoys the smooth ride, the exterior styling, and the AWD. The AWD was noticeably better than our previous FWD vehicle at managing one of our snowy, uphill turns this past winter. We have had no problems with the vehicle so far. We have been averaging 26.7 mpg in about 70/30 mix of highway/city driving, which has been better than I expected. The navigation can occasionally be finicky and a little slow with directions, but it generally works well. The Bose stereo seems very good to me, and I like the power lift gate better than I expected. The blind spot monitoring, with warning lights on the side mirrors is a useful safety feature. Mazda did a nice job integrating numerous features into this vehicle without sacrificing fun(?) driving dynamics in an SUV. After another 20,000 on the odometer, my appreciation for this vehicle has only grown. We have had no problems. Mileage has improved to 27.0 overall. The driving experience is very smooth. Acceleration is not life changing, but sufficient for our needs. The transmission seems nearly telepathic with the timing of shifts, and those gear changes are smooth. We still enjoy the sound system, moonroof, and comfy seats. Very nice ride, and I'm glad my wife talked me into the AWD, which has been useful in Michigan winters. We have no regrets with this vehicle, enjoying both local commutes and long road trips. For someone who enjoys driving (me), the Mazda still seems the best choice in a fairly mundane class of vehicles. For someone who wants practicality (my wife), the CX-5 offers good mileage, reliability, and room for our daughter and our stuff. We are still glad to have selected the CX-5. Update 2022. We now have over 65,000 miles on our CX-5 and continue to enjoy the experience. New tires around 50,000 miles. No mechanical problems, and the vehicle is still enjoyable to drive. My wife has been especially grateful for AWD in Michigan winters. Overall we remain very satisfied with our CX-5.
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Wow! Amazing upgrades in 2017
We traded our 2016 CX-5 for 2017 Grand Touring CX-5. Wow! The many upgrades are amazing. Safety features includes new and improved backup alerts, out of lane driving alerts, heads up display with speed, highways signs, brake now alert, 2 driver memory seats, 6 way passenger electric adjustment, and on and on. This car is so quiet compared to our 2016, with tinted windows and good gas mileage. The best car we have ever owned!
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Very Impressed
We leased this for our 17 year old son. He looked at the Ford Escape and Jeep Compass. It came down to the CX-5 and Jeep. He was leaning towards the Jeep until he drove the CX-5. We got it in the machine gray with the parchment interior and the premium package. We've had many high end European cars, the fit and finish of the CX-5 is very impressive. The handling and look of SUV is what sold it to him. It comes with a ton of safety features. Although the graphics on the navigation system are a bit dated, it works very well. Voice recognition is better then most of the cars we have and the sound system is very good as well. I liked the new design so we waited until its release to make a decision. Glad we waited.
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Best car I’ve ever owned
Best car I’ve ever owned. Car is fun to drive. We bought it in December off the showroom floor with 40 miles. We Itaken several trips of six hours or more and put quite a few miles on it. The cars technology is something to get used to. Lots of automatic features like lights, windshield wipers, blind spots etc. all good just something to get used to
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Great Value for Luxurious Car
I bought the Grand Select AWD in Soul Red with the Parchment leather interior. It is a very showy car and I have had quite a few compliments from strangers. I wanted a Volvo XC-60 but I couldn't bring myself to part with the coin. The Mazda gave me 95% of the satisfaction for 50% of the cost. With rebates and dealer discounts, I purchased a fairly loaded vehicle, tax included, for just over $30K! Many of the concerns of other reviewers were non-starters for me. Driver legroom - I'm 5-8. Cargo capacity - I have an F-150 when I need to haul stuff. Engine power - I'm more focused on mileage. That said, the CX5 has plenty of power. I've played with the Sport mode a couple of times which raises the shift points, but I think standard driving mode is just fine. I took the car to Lake Tahoe from SF Bay Area and got 31.5 mpg! (That's over a 7,000 foot elevation climb.) The interior in this car rivals many luxury cars. Very comfortable for long drives and the materials are top notch. I love the console controls - I can operate the radio without looking at them. My only complaint to date is a buzz in the dash speaker that, hopefully, can be rectified when I get the vehicle serviced. Other than that, it is a quiet, fun-to-drive, luxurious car! Update: After 2 years and 23,000 miles, I'm still very happy with this purchase. Got 32 mpg on recent round trip to Oregon (1000 miles) and 29 mpg round trip SF to LA. Speaker buzz mentioned above isolated to Sirius XM; probably compressed signal. Carpets are a little difficult to vacuum and red paint chips easily, but my CX-5 still looks and runs great! Update: 5 yrs and 50K miles. I still consider this my best car purchase. After listening to me rave, my sister bought one, too!
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Nice CUV
Very nice CUV. I traded a 2016.5 CX-5 Touring for the 2017. Much nicer car. Seats are vastly improved! Don't like the placement of usb ports inside the console, and disappointed that it doesn't have a cd player. Other than that, couldn't ask for more. UPDATE On June 20th, I traded the 2017 Touring for a 2018 Grand Touring. I obviously like the Mazda brand. But I wanted all the bells and whistles the GT had to offer.
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Touring edition has strange options left out
Overall, I like the car, well enough that we leased another of the same model/trim for my wife. The car is fun to drive, relatively good MPG and quiet. A few issues: I paid extra for the Machine Gray color, which looks really nice, but has been extremely prone to scratches and acid etching from bird droppings. I had a large seagull dropping that I removed within an hour of noticing. There was an acid-etched ring from the dropping's perimeter which I tried to take out with Meguire's Ultimate Compound, which is extremely gentle from my experience on several past vehicles. I used a microfiber cloth with very light pressure and I was left with what looked like a black burn mark from a rotary buffer. I had to get the area repainted. Any sort of contact from anything (jeans, kid's backpack etc.) seems to leave a mark. The paint seems ridiculously soft and I'm pretty annoyed I paid a premium for the "upgrade". No light in the glove box, no center vents' flow control are strange things to be missing at this mid-trim level. The headlights automatically go on in dark areas which lull the driver into thinking all the lights are on. What you find out once you're pulled over, is that the taillights aren't on. I'm sure it would have been just as easy for Mazda engineers to have all the lights go on once the light sensor has been activated, but they want you to upgrade to the Grand Touring. I wanted the Touring, since I preferred how the wheels matched the Machine Gray color. Another aggravation is if you mistakenly push the engine off button if you're not in park, you have to cycle through turning the engine back on/off to have everything turn off. If you have a lot of contacts (I have almost 1100), they won't all fit into the memory, mine stop at "M" and it takes at least 45 seconds for the (limited) contacts to load, which slows down everything (listening to music, making calls) until the infotain system loads. I was worried about the faux leather/cloth combo seats holding up/repelling stains since I go to the gym fairly frequently and am often sweaty getting in the car. The seats still looks like new over a year later and they're pretty comfortable.
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Mazda cx5
I have had the car for 6 months and all is great. Just wish the maps would be live.
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Luv the car but hate the electronics.
Navigation poor. Obviously they have never used or seen a Tom Tom. Mazda would benefit greatly by partnering with Tom Tom. It is a shame to have this system on a car that is,otherwise, a very up to date vehicle. I would have expected a system like this four or five generations ago. Also, the sound system is not really great, for a ten speaker Bose system. Nav screen is bright at night and dim during day instead of bright in daylight and dim at night.It is distracting and a pain to keep resetting it On auto it should not require adjusting. Update 23k miles Needs brakes and tires $2,000 combined cost. Not a very happy camper. I do not drive it hard. I have never owned a vehicle that needed brakes at less than 50-70k miles. Tire wear is excessive. This could likely be fixed by going to selective 4WD instead of full time AWD . This would likely increase fuel MPG.
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Forget the CRV
My wife and I test drove the 2017 CRV EXL, which has wonderful reviews, and the car felt "ok" to us. There was nothing really exciting about the CRV, except for the cargo space and remote starter. One week later, we test drove the 2017 CX-5 GT, and we were both very impressed. The interior is gorgeous, doors thump just like a German car, and the car feels substantial on the road. My wife made a comment how she felt tuned and "one" with the car while driving it. I was likely impressed with the quality of the car and felt the power was adequate although, this car could be made near perfect by adding a turbocharger or a slightly more powerful engine. So overall, this is a clear winner between the CRV and the CX-5. We decided to wait few months until Apple Carplay comes out on the CX-5 before we purchase this car. As a long-time Honda owner, my suggestion to all of you out there is go out there at least test drive this car. You will be pleasantly surprised with the driving dynamics and overall fit and finish of the cabin. However, if you are looking at more cargo and rear seat space, look at the CRV, which will be much better suited for this.
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Better than expected
This vehicle is the best way to travel or shop for seniors. Its nice to be able to get into and step out Rather than get down into or fall into and climb up and out of a vehicle. You don't need a cast of thousands to extract the old folks at the event! Shopping bags come out at waist level even from the seats. Bending is eliminated. CX 5 looks good makes old folks look cool. The body contouring has people asking what is it? Young or elderly this car fits everyone.
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The Best One!
Had a 2014 CX5 Touring AWD. Very reliable car but it had significant road noise. Bought our 2017 CX5 GT w/ tech as a new leftover. WAY better sound insulation and many more features including HUD. We were going to get a ‘18 turbo but heard about the ‘new’ cylinder deactivation. Having seen the problems with CD in GM cars in the ‘80’s, I didn’t want to gamble. Interestingly, when I asked the dealer about the CD ‘feature’ they acted like they were not aware of it on the ‘18’s. I’m really glad I got the 2017! So, the car is much more quiet and has all the features we could ask for. The power is perfectly adequate for me; I don’t miss the turbo at all. At this point we’ve owned it for about 18 months and it’s been just about perfect. Only complaint is the sub-par navigation system. We intend this car to be a keeper because we will be retiring in the next few years.
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High End Luxury with value - Red Pony - Zoom Zoom
First test drive in the Mazda CX-5 was quite impressive. I had gone to the dealer to look at a low mileage 2015 Cadillac SRX - love that vehicle but this one only had front wheel drive and living in Colorado, I wanted all wheel drive. The Cadillac had some very nice features and a V-6 with lots of luxury and tech toys. I only owned one new car in my life and that was in 1973. I never thought I would purchase another new car in my life. Until after that test drive in the CX-5 that had caught my eye (yes, the salesman noticed)... The CX-5 was just as luxurious and had MORE tech toys than the SRX, my only concern was the 4 cylinder engine (my trade in was a V8). I was quite impressed with the zoom-zoom and only tried out the "sport" mode on the transmission for a few seconds that made me believe I would be satisfied with the performance. That along with the wonderful handling while driving, turning, cornering and stopping convinced me to purchase. Then when new 2017 Mazda ended up being affordable after some negotiating - trade-in - and a great 0% financing deal I drove it home. I have only had it for 12 days, but each day I like it more. Maybe by the end of the month I will have learned to use all the technology (and I am a computer programmer by profession). Don't purchase a vehicle over $30K without giving this premium Grand Touring with premium package a whirl. I think you too will be impressed by this zoom-zoom. After the first year driving locally only racked up just over 4600 miles. Very reliable and luxurious. Took it up into the Colorado mountains via I-70 and was quite impressed by the performance of the 4 cylinder engine. I thought it would struggle on the steep inclines, but it zoomed just fine. The AWD is wonderful when we have our rare ice and snow on the road. The CX-5 handles very nicely on poor road conditions. I am planning the first road trip for my Red Pony in May back to the Indiana area and will put about 4,000 miles on it in a few days. I know I will miss the ride of my previous vehicle (2005 Cadillac DeVille), but am looking forward to having all the modern technology at my disposal. The HUD is very much appreciated but the most appreciated bell and whistle is the cruise control that senses vehicles in front of you and automatically slows down (even comes to a stop!) without touching a thing, then speeds back up to the set cruise speed. Way Cool! I am looking forward to another year with this (still new) SUV and will report back next year.
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Newer is better
This vehicle replaced my 2015 CX5 Touring which was 100% reliable for the 35,000 miles that I drove it. My only complaints with that model were a poor sound system and excessive engine and road noise. The new model resolved both of those issues and is a very nice drive. The GT upgrade is worth the money with some very nice tech features plus leather and moon roof. Highly recommend this vehicle which has sporty handling and great fuel mileage. After 16,200 miles, I still have had no issues and will probably buy another one in a couple of years.
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Unabashed Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring owner.
This CX-5 has fantastic handling and road manners and adequate acceleration. Mazda does not do CVT's or turbos in their drive trains and that factored in to my decision to buy the CX-5. The Bose sound system is top notch for an SUV in this price range. The jury is out on the reliability and resale value but I suspect it will be competitive. Fuel economy is competitive but it's not the leader. This is a very under-rated SUV because it seems to be overshadowed by the CR-V, the RAV, Rogue and Forester which are its' nearest competitors. Mazda is a much smaller company and does not have the "cache" and reputation of Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Subaru but it's still producing a very competitive product. Comparably equipped, the CX-5 seems to be the best value for the money especially when you factor in the safety features and other amenities that are all standard in the higher trims. The others are slowly coming around to that marketing concept. They all have their strenghts and weaknesses obviously but for me, the CX-5 hit the sweet spot. Buy this SUV to enjoy driving it.....it's a great value and it won't disappoint!!
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CX5 - bang for the buck
We bought a 2014 CX5 and loved it. In looking for a new car we tested Audi, Acura and Mercedes and found the value proposition more enticing in the Mazda. The interior and exterior are pleasing with comfort and roominess. We took the car on a long trip and loved the comfort, ride and handling. The safety features in the new tech are solid with the ability to allow the car to drive itself - only steering. Biggest beef I would have is the updated Sirius which no longer has your favorite pre-selected picks bundled. While the new model has favorites you have more work to get through the list and cannot do what we did - pre select our top picks so either of us could easily transfer between music selections. The navigation takes some patience but appears better than Tom Tom. Pet peeve is that you are locked out of NAV when car is moving rather than having an option to allow the passenger to key in directions. And the programming took a little getting used to but the search feature is a plus. Updated: A year in to ownership I find myself returning to my earlier CX5 primarily due to the radio set up. The screen is touch screen and embedded in to the dash. While the Tom Tom navigation remains a joke the Sirius radio remains a favorite with a three tab offering (18 pre-programmed stations). The 2017 has Sirius and the ability to pre-program favorites but rather than just hitting a button on the screen to change stations I have to use the control in the column between the front seats and scroll through the favorites. That is distracting, even with the monitor being set above the dash so that your eyes are not straying far from the road. The navigation does not lend itself to a quick program - having a speech programmed navigation would be much better (like Siri on my I Phone). Supposedly the navigation updates automatically but we found ourselves traveling on a 4 lane interstate in Indiana, while the GPS showed us driving through corn fields. The mileage is not as advertised with an average of 22.3 mpg since we bought the car (mixed conditions). Another comment is that the seat settings don't appear to be co-ordinated with the side and rear view mirrors so adjusting to my settings still requires having to re-align the mirrors. The car has radar controlled distance and breaking and such to give you more a a car driving itself feel but we haven't used that feature since we took the car home.
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Great, but not perfect
My CX-5 is fiercely sexy and hot, and it drives like a dream. My biggest disappointments in this vehicle are the technology and fuel economy. The InfoTainment center is lacking. Navigation has no up to date traffic. The Bluetooth is kinda clunky. The climate control is a little frustrating. And the fuel economy is no where near the EPA estimate. It reminds me of the economy I got on a 2001 Ford Taurus. They promise iCar will be supported in a vague "sometime soon."
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Style and substance, but a few imperfections
Our family has been leasing our CX5 for 7 months now, and I wanted to share our honest opinion of it. We love how it drives, feeling sporty and engaging whilst also holding the road well and hugging corners superbly. Acceleration is often cumbersome, and a few times I have noticed gear shifts seem nonsensical. Ride comfort overall is great, especially for the driver, with minimal cabin noise. Rear seats could have more leg room for sure, four six foot plus adults will struggle. Quality of interior materials is especially eye catching, giving the cabin a real upper class feel. Cargo storage definitely lags behind rivals, but rarely has it been a problem for us so far. We have the navigation system as part of a package including the power liftgate (which is great), however it is very unreliable and not recommended. The infotainment system is simple to navigate and logical, although no Apple CarPlay is a huge disappointment. Another big let down is lack of SiriusXM on the Touring trim, but we weren’t prepared to upgrade to the Grand Touring to get it. Overall we are very pleased with the vehicle. I am just hopeful that the next time we are looking to lease that Mazda have ironed out the imperfections stopping this being the perfect compact SUV. As it stands, it’s not far off at all.
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Mazda CX-5
Like all the bells and whistles in the Grand Touring level. Have about 30,000 miles on car and still enjoying. Great car for long trips or short hops. It is still 5 Star. Over 45,000 miles and still going strong. Over 60000 miles still 5 stars. Over 70000 miles and still 5 stars.
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Reliability failures makes me extremely concerned
The honeymoon phase is over with my CX-5. After a short 5 years, the amount of issues I have experienced with my cx-5 makes me wonder how much longer I should hold on to this car. The Cx-5 has the perennial Mazda problems like extremely poor air-conditioning, horrid OEM tires, and a poor front suspension. This model suffers from a number of issues that has me scratching my head. First, the lower bumper lights are held on to the bumper with a piece of molded plastic that breaks the ease. To fix this you need a whole new bumper AND paint job because the one piece oem bumper isn't painted. More concerning is the electrical infotainment system. Mazda doesn't properly shutdown the system when turning the car off. You can observe this because a Bluetooth connected phone tries to stay connected to the cx-5 after power off. After not properly shutting down the infotainment over time, the firmware becomes corrupted. As a result, the system starts to restart many times while driving and have phantom button pushes while driving causing undefined behavior. This also applies to the backup camera. In many cases you must shut off the car to fix the issue which you can imagine is extremely tough to do on a highway going 65 mph. A firmware reset doesn't fix the issue. Mazda can't fix the issue or has no knowledge of the computer internals to fix it. They say they can't reproduce or doubt the issue when it does happen. Either way, if this phantom button entry hits the CAMBUS which controls signaling over the whole car, this could in a worse case cause infinite acceleration or braking.... I have to wonder if Mazda is one horrible accident away from a class action. In any case, Mazda doesn't care about these issues.
Handles well, stiff ride, not very quiet
I own a 2017 CX-5. I love the feel of the handling. I love the look of the two-tone leather interior. The seats are comfortable and enough around town but on longer trips I notice the stiff ride and constant body motions over less than perfect pavement. On gravel roads the ride is almost punishing at times. It feels better as a driver than as a passenger. The driver's seat adjusts pretty well but the passenger seat really needs the extra adjustments the driver's seat has. Mazdas in general are not quiet cars and the CX5 is no exception. Over coarse pavement it gets noisy inside. The car has exemplary handling. I pushed it around quite a bit on some twisty roads and it seemed capable of more than I felt comfortable pushing it. I always felt in control, even doing some emergency maneuvers felt tight. The stereo in the car isn't the best not the worst I've ever heard. XM radio sounds good but CDs as q source really show the stereo's limitations, so I mostly listen to XM radio in the car. The nav system in the car or good at getting you where you're going once set but getting a destination programmed in is like doing computer programming in Assembler language. It's primitive and poorly designed and is far, far, far from user friendly. The voice interface is even worse - even if you speak sloooowly and loudly and enunciate clearly it still can't understand 95% of the time and it comes up with the wildest guesses as to what it thinks you said. I like my CX5 but for highway trips I'm finding the stiff ride and road noise tiresome. I owned a VW Passat previously and the lack of road feel and sloppy emergency handling scared me. It did have a comfortable ride, though.
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best in class
Feels like a lot more expensive car. Very quiet and classy interior. Has many safety and luxury features only found on expensive luxury cars. After 25,000 miles, still best in breed! 60,000 now and still enjoy but could use a little more power
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Lovely
I feel very safe in my car. Fast, beautiful, fun, easy to drive. Love the interior design.
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Modern, sporty, and luxurious!!!
The touring model with the preferred equipment package gets you so much for your money! Once you sit in this car you feel the difference from other models in its class and price range! The CX5 practically sells itself!
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BMW and Lexus competition
I love my car, it's great and fun to drive. The transmission is tuned more to a sport drive and holds gears a bit long. But other than that I love the car . It lacks android Auto and apple car play, but Mazda says they're going to add it. Once they do, it would be the best car money can buy
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I love my Mazda
I bought a white CX-5 after I crashed my Tribute I was deciding between a CRV RAV4 and CX-5 I like the CX-5 so much when I test drove it I never made it to the CRV and RAV4. Never looked looked back. Every time I get behind the wheel of something else I’m reminded how much I like my car.
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enjoying the cx5
we have the 2017 touring with nav... almost 14000 miles to date... the ride is composed and quiet, we had the transmission reset as up and down shifts were not smooth. have the snowflake metallic paint, very nice, but the touch up oem paint is horrid at best, even with shaking the pen til it gave me elbow pain, the color does not match at all. still a bit peeved that mazda did not include sirius xm capability in this trim class, however, using an xm receiver with antenna plugged into the auxillary plug, it works. a problem though, the manual lumbar support will not stay locked in full extension, the dealer is superb but the first two fixes did not resolve the problem. currently awaiting next potential solution by mazda, replacing the entire seat frame for the top portion of the seat. the mileage to date is average, with a few longer rides the average is 23.7, which does not match the honda crv's. oh, by the way, the oem geolander tires were god awful, and expensive to replace. due to bad luck, i had three tire punctures, one ruined the sidewall. so, i bought 4 new general altimax tires, which are superior in tirerack.com ratings, and much less expensive to replace.
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