Test drove a '19 GT-R and Signature today

[turtl631]

I think it's funny that these cars are readily available at dealers now, I took our car in for an oil change and was able to drive a GTR...yet there have been no official write-ups in the mainstream automotive press and there are only a few videos on YouTube. I figured given that most cars in this compact crossover class are pretty underpowered and Mazda is the enthusiast darling that there would be a lot of attention paid to this new engine. Guess not.

[erhayes]

ACURA RDX and the BMW X3 have had the 2019 turbo version out for many months and either produce more HP or better acceleration times. Our CX5 T is a late comer, so let's hope it can over shadow the others with something special besides price. I also await a genuine road test from Car & Driver or other US magazine. Ed

[dougal]

I think it's funny that these cars are readily available at dealers now, I took our car in for an oil change and was able to drive a GTR...yet there have been no official write-ups in the mainstream automotive press and there are only a few videos on YouTube. I figured given that most cars in this compact crossover class are pretty underpowered and Mazda is the enthusiast darling that there would be a lot of attention paid to this new engine. Guess not.

Yeah, I think Mazda does a terrible job of advertising. They should be screaming about the high reliability rankings and high crash test scores. They released the Mazda 6 and CX5 with the 2.5T and there is no press about it at all. Zero.

[Unobtanium]

Yeah, I think Mazda does a terrible job of advertising. They should be screaming about the high reliability rankings and high crash test scores. They released the Mazda 6 and CX5 with the 2.5T and there is no press about it at all. Zero.

What CUV in their price bracket are they more reliable than? Source?

[davefr]

ACURA RDX and the BMW X3 have had the 2019 turbo version out for many months and either produce more HP or better acceleration times. Our CX5 T is a late comer, so let's hope it can over shadow the others with something special besides price. I also await a genuine road test from Car & Driver or other US magazine. Ed

I can't comment on the X3, but the RDX and CX-5 2.5T perform very differently:

- The RDX has a dead pedal affect (turbo lag). You press the gas and there's a very noticeable delay before it finally takes off. However once it does, it really moves.

- The CX-5 2.5T is like a V-8. Power delivery is seamless. There is no noticeable turbo lag.

I have no idea which one will ultimately produce better 0-60 numbers. Although the Mazda feels faster, I think RDX might be the 0-60 winner if you do a launch. I'd gladly sacrifice a little 0-60 time in order to get seamless acceleration without the dead pedal affect. The Mazda also sounds so much better. The RDX was on my short list until I actually drove it.

I'm also anxiously awaiting expert CX-5 2.5T track reviews.

P.S. I have yet to drive the CX-5 with premium fuel. That test will be soon.

[Monterra]

Yeah, I think Mazda does a terrible job of advertising. They should be screaming about the high reliability rankings and high crash test scores. They released the Mazda 6 and CX5 with the 2.5T and there is no press about it at all. Zero.

Agreed w/terrible- but I did hear a cx-5 ad other day- now w/signature trim and turbo..

[davefr]

What CUV in their price bracket are they more reliable than? Source?

It was either CR or JD Powers.

I believe it was Infinity #1, Toyota #2 and Mazda #3.

[cleverusername]

I can't comment on the X3, but the RDX and CX-5 2.5T perform very differently:

- The RDX has a dead pedal affect (turbo lag). You press the gas and there's a very noticeable delay before it finally takes off. However once it does, it really moves.

- The CX-5 2.5T is like a V-8. Power delivery is seamless. There is no noticeable turbo lag.

I have no idea which one will ultimately produce better 0-60 numbers. Although the Mazda feels faster, I think RDX might be the 0-60 winner if you do a launch. I'd gladly sacrifice a little 0-60 time in order to get seamless acceleration without the dead pedal affect. The Mazda also sounds so much better. The RDX was on my short list until I actually drove it.

I'm also anxiously awaiting expert CX-5 2.5T track reviews.

P.S. I have yet to drive the CX-5 with premium fuel. That test will be soon.

I liked everything about the RDX except the funky joystick transmission shifter. Completely turned me off the car.

[Monterra]

I liked everything about the RDX except the funky joystick transmission shifter. Completely turned me off the car.

I thought the brakes sucked too, cargo space lacked but it is pretty nice effort overall.

[Turborascal]

Going to pick up a Machine Gray Signature this weekend. Any reason the 2018 WeatherTech floor and cargo mats wouldn't fit on the 2019?

Also responded in the other threat where you asked the same question ... they should fit perfectly.
I'm planning to transfer the same mats from my '17 to the '19 once it arrives.

[davefr]

I liked everything about the RDX except the funky joystick transmission shifter. Completely turned me off the car.

^^I agree.

The entire instrument panel/interior in the RDX is way over cluttered/over complicated. Acura's approach seems to be to maximize gadgets/settings/modes/displays/options etc. Mazda's approach is more toward providing the important features yet make them as uncluttered/simple/intuitive as possible.

I find beauty in simplicity but maybe the millennials prefer the Acura approach.

[sm1ke]

Mazda's approach is more toward providing the important features yet make them as uncluttered/simple/intuitive as possible.

I'm not sure I wholly agree here. While Mazda definitely takes the simpler, intuitive approach, some of the menu options are buried so far that it can get annoying sometimes. I guess that is one area where a touchscreen has a big advantage. It can be easier to touch a small button on the display vs. navigating menus with the HMI Commander switch. For example, there are some who don't like the HUD. Because the HUD always turns on with the car, those people have to go into the menu and disable the ADD every single time they start the car. However, if the ADD could be toggled with a button on the touchscreen, that makes turning it off every time much less of a hassle. Of course, ideally they would just make it so that the ADD would remain ON or OFF, instead of having it default to ON every time the car is turned on.

Can't have it all, I guess.

[dougal]

^^I agree.

The entire instrument panel/interior in the RDX is way over cluttered/over complicated. Acura's approach seems to be to maximize gadgets/settings/modes/displays/options etc. Mazda's approach is more toward providing the important features yet make them as uncluttered/simple/intuitive as possible.

I find beauty in simplicity but maybe the millennials prefer the Acura approach.

How can you not like this:

[banjos-n-beer]

Lol. At least 35 buttons on the center stack... that looks like it has a shoe dead center.

[dougal]

Lol. At least 35 buttons on the center stack... that looks like it has a shoe dead center.

At least they don't have the stupid two screen set up of the older model MDX's.