So we've had this vehicle for approximately 6 months and a little over 10 000kms (we've probably actually surpassed 11 000kms by now). So far so good. As expected (it's practically a new vehicle) it has given us zero problems. I've took it in for an oil change a month ago - that was about $120. It got oil sprayed at Rust Check last month - that was about $250. Winter tires will be going on sometime this month.
As well as fulfilling regular daily drive duties, at which it performs exceptionally well, it also transported myself, my wife and daughter out to BC for a 4500km road trip. Android Auto was a welcome addition. The vehicle was comfy and quiet, with all the amenities one could want on a road trip, save for cooled seats. On that trip, we returned an average fuel economy of 7.8L/100km while maintaining speeds of 120km/h. At no point did I feel like the 2.5NA was underpowered - it was 'sufficient' at all times.
This past week my brother and mother were in town for a family wedding. The CX-5 transported my brother and I with our bikes on the hitch rack out to the boonies to do some mountain biking. We also had the dogs in the cargo compartment, separated from us by our trusty dog cage. Most markedly, we had the opportunity to fill all five seats of the CUV for the first time - both for family outings in the city, as well as the hour drive out to the wedding venue (in Starbuck, MB) and back. No complaints were heard about lack of space in the back, and my brother is 6'-2 with very long legs.
The CX-5 is turning out to be a very competent vehicle for us, fulfilling 99% of our needs. The other 1% of need can be achieved by hitching up a small utility trailer to haul bulky items as needed. If we wanted to continue pulling a camper trailer, the CX-5 certainly wouldn't be the vehicle for us, as it has a paltry 1500lb tow rating, barely capable of pulling even a small 8' pop-up. BUT, seeing as we have made the decision to forgo RV-ing for a few years, focusing instead on hotels and cabin rentals, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. In the meantime, we are enjoying decent fuel economy from the 4-cylinder powered, relatively lightweight CUV.
The CX-5 is an absolute pleasure to drive. When driving rationally through town, or when on a long straight highway, it likely isn't markedly different from contemporaries like the Rav4 or CR-V, but take the car onto a twisty road (as I've had the pleasure to do numerous times on Hwy 307 and Hwy44 in Whiteshell Provincial Park) and its character changes completely. Throwing the transmission into Sport mode increases throttle response, and downshifts the transmission so that the engine holds 3500 - 4000rpm, right in the middle of it's powerband. The transmission is eager to downshift even further, and also maximized engine braking. Twisties are dealt with absolute confidence, and when throwing the small CUV into corners, one can really feel the pedigree that it inherits from the manufacturer that builds the Miata. The chassis is really just that buttoned down, and can easily carry speed through corners, somewhat negating the need for a more powerful engine to pull you out on the other side.
If you LIKE driving, are relegated to a single vehicle, and need something a little more utilitarian for various reasons, like dogs, bikes, etc, you could do a lot worse than a CX-5.