Mattyredsox
Member
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- 1990 Eunos (Mazda) V-Special Roadster (sold), 2014 Mazda CX-5 Pr
Yeah, that's how I'm leaning. To be honest, if I was serious about buying a 2017 I would look more at a Mazda 3. With the reduction cargo space and ground clearance, it seems like the CX-5 is now really just a high seating position 3. I don't know, I'm more "utility" minded, so I'm not as impressed with all of the changes as I thought I would be.
Thanks for the review. Fair and to the point. I will disagree regarding the CX5/Mazda 3 comparison though. I'm currently driving a 2016 Axela (the Japanese version of the 3) while waiting for the delivery of our 2017 CX5 XDL on next Saturday. Both my wife and I immediately noticed how different the two cars are (we had a 2014 CX5 until recently). The driving style and seating position are very different, it's more like driving my old 280ZX or MINI Cooper than the CX5, the seat is really low. The car is also considerably lower, even though the 2017 is a little lower than the earlier CX5's, so much that both my wife and I are uncomfortable in it in Japans narrow walled lined streets. The rear seat leg row is half of what a CX5 has, and is narrower, I've had three adults in the rear of a CX5, no way in a 3. The hatch space also seemed about half the size of the CX5 (the new 2017 CX5 has considerably more storage space under the floor than the pre 2017s, although it may have lost an inch of height due to the different configuration of the items under the floor. The diesel 3 also has considerably more driving range than my older diesel CX5 (at least 200 km more), not sure if it's more efficient or a bigger tank, but I'll assume it's efficient.
While the 2017 CX5 is certainly more "refined" than it's predecessors (it genuinely feels BMW-like and I think Mazda made the right call by comparing it to higher end models), it is not a sedan or sports car (I've had several, from a Eunos V-Special (the M5's early family tree), MINI Coopers, 280 ZX, Lotus 7, and an Alfa Romeo 1600 Junior Z, I know what sports cars feel like). No, the CX5 is a practical family hauler, that has space for a long trip, and is still fun to drive, but it's not a Mazda 3. You'd have an easier time convincing me that the CX3 (is that available in the states?) is more comparable to a Mazda 3 due to the hatch size and rear seat.