I didn't notice the elephant right away. When I needed a second car, for some reason I didn't consider the CX-5, even though our first car is a 2017 Mazda 3.
The 3 was assigned to my wife, and I needed a car with higher ground clearance than the sedan. I drive out of town almost every weekend, including unpaved forest roads with potholes and protruding rocks. These roads are washed out by streams; sometimes there is snow on them.
Living in the U.S., sooner or later one gets the urge to buy a Jeep Wrangler. I didn't want an old one, and they ask almost as much for them as for new ones. With the 2018 update, they became very expensive in either the naked or any equipped version, so I didn't even take it for a test drive.
The Tiguan didn't want one. The Honda CR-V wasn't memorable in any way. Forester was a winner on paper, was sure I would take it, but took it for a ride and the desire to own it was gone. I did not understand it.
The Rav4 is disappointing. True what they say about the 2.5 non-hybrid engine, it is annoying. The old multimedia system and all the useful options scattered in various packages.
Stopped in out of grief at the Mazda we bought the 3. I thought I should expect a similar experience from the CX-5: noisy, frisky, tough as a go-kart, and I wanted something more comfortable and softer.
To my surprise, I liked the CX-5 the best. I would describe my experience as a crossover that rides almost like a sedan. Tougher than other crossovers, but softer than the 3. Quieter than the three.
It is an objective fact that the interior of the CX-5 is the most qualitative in its segment, it applies to materials and ergonomics. The control of the climate is reference, with an ideal number of elements, with which it is necessary to cooperate. A pleasant, rigid stroke of the knobs. Modern multimedia. I realized at once, that I will take the CX-5 in the Touring configuration:
2.5 atmo.
Dual-zone climate
Vinyl seats, power seats
Heated front seats
Only contemplated whether or not to take the $1445 package with Bose music, power sunroof, power fifth door, dimming rearview mirror, and real leather on the seat and backrest. The takeaway.
LED headlights, radar cruise, blind spot monitoring are in all packages. I did not take the turbo engine. I have not considered two more expensive options (there is nappa leather and ventilated seats).
I did not want all-wheel drive, as strange as it may sound in connection with my frequent, but short trips on bad roads. It was the ground clearance that I lacked. All-season tires in our area are all-season, no one puts winter tires except for winter off-road enthusiasts. If there is snow in the foothills, with all-wheel drive I will drive 1 km further and 200 meters higher on the ground, and there will be more snow, and I'll get up anyway.
But finding a front-wheel drive car was unrealistic. Of the 300 cars available within a radius of 100 km with front-wheel drive was only one, and in the cheapest configuration. I had to take all-wheel drive (last year it snowed only 4 times).
Configurator price was $31,130 plus sales tax, in my area it is 10.7%. The dealer that we bought the three at the first price sounded $500 off, it was not serious.
Wrote on the website of the largest Mazda dealer in our area (they had 95 units of CX-5 in stock). They immediately gave $29150, that's a $2000 discount. That's a lot, they usually don't call such numbers in absentia, and the news of the impending chip shortage was already starting to come in.
I went to them, they gave me a sheet of figures-taxes-registration-payments. The price, as promised, was $29,150. On top of that, Mazda as the manufacturer was offering a choice of 0% credit for 4 years or a $1500 rebate. Taking the 0% was more advantageous, which I did.
As the owner of the three, Mazda was giving a loyalty discount, thereby taking another $750 off the price.
So the factory price of $31,130 turned into $28,400. The sales tax was $3200 and the final cost was $31600. I think it was a good deal. The dealer did not impose additional equipment. I was, frankly, too embarrassed to bargain further. Before we struck a deal, I took a break. The manager added 3 years of completely free oil changes to the deal, and I asked for a metal bumper pad. Deal!!! Signed the paperwork, filled out the loan application, half an hour later they gave me the car and I drove away. A couple of weeks later I got a letter where I should pay the loan.
I have been driving the car for six months, passed 10 thousand kilometers. I still like it as much as on the first day. The pros have already said a lot, I will note the disadvantages:
- Old automatic transmission with six speeds. I would like to have 7-8.
- High gasoline consumption in comparison with other cars in this class.
What I personally like:
- Awesome display and Carplay support. The display is controlled only from the puck, so Mazda was able to put it far in the front panel, it is easy to look at it without taking your eyes off the road (because your hands are not needed to reach for it, it does not support touching).
- Radar Cruise. This is my first car with this feature, I drive a lot on the highway and it is very convenient. Support for Stop and Go mode is handy in a couple of areas where on the highway if there is a traffic.
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