Next Gen CX-5 Design and Content Suggestions

[jmhumr]

My wish list:

1. Give the car a slightly wider stance and slightly wider tires.
2. Add slightly more rear legroom and cargo space - not much, just a couple inches to make more car seat friendly.
3. Add Mazda3 infotainment, obviously.
4. Add ambient lighting and external lighting (puddle lights, handle lights, etc.)

I*m fine with the engine options and don*t think they need to do much there.

[erhayes]

Add about 2 inches additional shoulder room in front. Ed

[ALafya]

I am in my last year of ownership before replacing the vehicle. It is not likely I am going to get another CX-5, unfortunately. The main reason I bought it back in 2013 was because it had AWD with best handling and best fuel economy. I still want an AWD in the family, but thinking of getting a Subaru Impreza for my wife and drive something more fun.
I think Mazda has to continue to offer lower competitively priced trims, or they will lose business. I will not likely ever get a Signature or even GTR with features I don't need nor want (e.g. my wife hates smell of leather). If I can get a mid-trim CR-V EX for less, I would. Back in 2013, CR-V was hideous. Today, RAV-4 and CR-V are pretty good.

Here is what I think would make the CX-5 better, would make me consider it again:

* Trailing the best in fuel economy. Promise of SkyActiv G squandered somehow, not just in the CX-5, also in the 3. Mazda needs to be same as the best with SkyActiv-G, better with SkyActiv-X.
* Needs to have better quality. My CX-5 had a few quality issues and required few visits to the dealership.
* My 2014 looks better than current gen. Needs to look great again.
* My 2014 shift points, especially when going uphill at 30~35 MPH are not ideal, likes to keep revs at or below 2K, making unrefined sounds and vibrations consistent with engine lugging. Programming should change to avoid this when going uphill.
* Needs more storage below the dash.
* Needs to ace the diagonal test https://youtu.be/xlt11Z4JAB8?t=210 and https://youtu.be/xlt11Z4JAB8?t=494
* The whole point of a crossover is to have better ground clearance. Mine has 8 inches, which is pretty good, compared with only 7.5 in current gen.

[MyFirstMazda]

I am in my last year of ownership before replacing the vehicle. It is not likely I am going to get another CX-5, unfortunately. The main reason I bought it back in 2013 was because it had AWD with best handling and best fuel economy. I still want an AWD in the family, but thinking of getting a Subaru Impreza for my wife and drive something more fun.
I think Mazda has to continue to offer lower competitively priced trims, or they will lose business. I will not likely ever get a Signature or even GTR with features I don't need nor want (e.g. my wife hates smell of leather). If I can get a mid-trim CR-V EX for less, I would. Back in 2013, CR-V was hideous. Today, RAV-4 and CR-V are pretty good.

Here is what I think would make the CX-5 better, would make me consider it again:

* Trailing the best in fuel economy. Promise of SkyActiv G squandered somehow, not just in the CX-5, also in the 3. Mazda needs to be same as the best with SkyActiv-G, better with SkyActiv-X.
* Needs to have better quality. My CX-5 had a few quality issues and required few visits to the dealership.
* My 2014 looks better than current gen. Needs to look great again.
* My 2014 shift points, especially when going uphill at 30~35 MPH are not ideal, likes to keep revs at or below 2K, making unrefined sounds and vibrations consistent with engine lugging. Programming should change to avoid this when going uphill.
* Needs more storage below the dash.
* Needs to ace the diagonal test https://youtu.be/xlt11Z4JAB8?t=210 and https://youtu.be/xlt11Z4JAB8?t=494
* The whole point of a crossover is to have better ground clearance. Mine has 8 inches, which is pretty good, compared with only 7.5 in current gen.

Sometimes one wants to try a completely different brand/model even if they had zero issues with their car.

[mcteague]

How about a freakin' rubber cover for the dead pedal?

Tim

[Sacandagadan]

How about a freakin' rubber cover for the dead pedal?

Tim

May I suggest maxpider liners,perfect fit covers dead pedal,unlike weather techs, I got them from Auto Everyting...

[Young-nyc]

I am in my last year of ownership before replacing the vehicle. It is not likely I am going to get another CX-5, unfortunately. The main reason I bought it back in 2013 was because it had AWD with best handling and best fuel economy. I still want an AWD in the family, but thinking of getting a Subaru Impreza for my wife and drive something more fun.
I think Mazda has to continue to offer lower competitively priced trims, or they will lose business. I will not likely ever get a Signature or even GTR with features I don't need nor want (e.g. my wife hates smell of leather). If I can get a mid-trim CR-V EX for less, I would. Back in 2013, CR-V was hideous. Today, RAV-4 and CR-V are pretty good.

Here is what I think would make the CX-5 better, would make me consider it again:

* Needs to have better quality. My CX-5 had a few quality issues and required few visits to the dealership.
* My 2014 looks better than current gen. Needs to look great again.

-the current gen has a much better interior quality than the previous one you're getting rid of.
- 2014 looking better than the current gen? that's highly speculative....just like i'm sure everyone thinks their kids are the cutest..

[Kaps]

Sub 80 mile EV with Range Extender.
A Plug in Hybrid with 30 mile range + the 2Liter gas engine to supplement.
- PHEV starting around 35K and EV around 40K.
Replace 2.5 G with 2.0 Sky X and keep 2.5T for higher trims.

[mcteague]

May I suggest maxpider liners,perfect fit covers dead pedal,unlike weather techs, I got them from Auto Everyting...

Thanks but I already bought the WeatherTechs.

Tim

[ColoradoDriver]

My wish list:

1. Give the car a slightly wider stance and slightly wider tires.
2. Add slightly more rear legroom and cargo space - not much, just a couple inches to make more car seat friendly.
3. Add Mazda3 infotainment, obviously.
4. Add ambient lighting and external lighting (puddle lights, handle lights, etc.)

I*m fine with the engine options and don*t think they need to do much there.

Agree with wider tires, but the Gen 2 is already wider than the Gen 1. Any wider and this thing won't fit comfortably in my garage anymore.

As for looks/style. All subjective. I subjectively like the external style of the gen 1 much, MUCH more than the Gen 2. That said, when it comes to the interior, the Gen 2 very clearly has better materials, though I don't like some of the design choices and layouts of the Gen 2 (or even later Gen 1's) when compared to my 2014, like the center console, or removal of the hand brake and use of piano black or chrome materials.

I have a cousin who I saw for the first time in years over the holiday. He tows cars for a living now and I asked him about what he sees a lot, and it's always these cars going with electronic parking brakes having issues, or these cars now going with button activated shifters (which I saw and immensely disliked in the GMC Acadia rental we had over the holidays) with no way to get the car into neutral if you have issues. Small things like that. I think some things should remain mechanical.

My thoughts for a CX-5 redesign?

1. Agree, wider tires would be nice.
2. For the non-turbo models with the 2.5L NA, need to bring them up to the levels the Gen 1's are, or surpass it. The 2019 GT loaner I had felt very noticeably sluggish to accelerate (outside of sport mode) compared to my 2014 (which doesn't have a sport mode). I personally don't think the slight bump in hp between the Gen 1 and 2 are fully accounting for the added weight of the NVH improvements of the Gen 2.
3. The newest infotainment (from the 3).
4. Style wise, redesign the front grill and hood overhang. I think it looks awful personally, like a hillbilly overbite.

[Avoidin Deer]

May I suggest maxpider liners,perfect fit covers dead pedal,unlike weather techs, I got them from Auto Everyting...

And don't get WeatherTechs, because they only cover half of the deal pedal. Kinda pointless...

[yrwei52]

How about a freakin' rubber cover for the dead pedal?

Tim

Exactly!!!

Mazda6 has always been having one, no excuse not to put one on the CX-5 just to save a penny!

[Mazdiod2]

My EPB but it hasnt stuck on but I try park on level ground with the brake off. It would suck to have trouble with it because of cold weather.

I wish the would bring back the 6MT.

[Chocolate]

How about a freakin' rubber cover for the dead pedal?

Tim

Hey, watch the language.

[Chocolate]

No more touchscreen lockout... makes no sense to lock this feature out. You're paying for the touchscreen. Touch inputs can be as direct if not more so than those with a controller. There is a Carplay button that I can not press and it is irritating.

This could even be enabled with a software update, but never will be.