I can't seem to find a full review/test drive of the new 2017 CX-5... Only first drive type reviews that really don't go into any detail. The car has been in dealerships for nearly 3 weeks now...
There are a few videos on youtube, but nothing very thorough.
Having said that, I took one for a test drive last Saturday and really really liked it. My wife and I went to our local dealership in Oakville (Budd's), and they have a couple of 2017 CX-5 in the showroom. One of them is the fully loaded GT in that beautiful red colour, and the other one is the base model.
First impression was great. There is definitely a WOW factor in that Kodo design. The car looks gorgeous, especially in that soul red crystal metallic. Once inside, the initial good impression continues. The interior design, the dashboard, the center console, the seats, the door panels, everything looks well laid out and very well put together. The fit and finish is head and shoulders above the competition in that price range (Nissan Rogue, Honda CR-V, Toyoto Rav4). The materials used inside are very upscale as well, with leather and soft touch materials everywhere. It really looks and feels upscale.
I particularly appreciated the fact that Mazda did not cheap out on anything here. The top of the doors panels is soft on both front and rear doors, whereas most competitors will have soft touch materials on the front door panels but hard plastics on the rear doors. Also, the inside of the glove box is lined with a nice soft material. The carpet in the trunk is thick and soft to the touch, as are the wheel wells, supposedly for sound deadening purposes.
Everything feels right to the touch and everything is right where it should be (i.e. the volume knob button is located next to the infotainment buttons and falls right into your hand when your elbow is resting on the center armrest.
The rear seats are comfortable and spacious. You can recline the seats a little for more comfort. I like the armrest, with the heated seat buttons and the fast USB chargers. Although if you have a passenger sitting in the middle seat, you won't be able to use any of that. Putting the heated seat buttons on the doors and USB chargers on the center console like other manufacturers do is probably a better idea. Adults can travel comfortably on the back seats, there is enough leg room for a 6ft 2" adult like myself.
The sunroof is a small one. Mazda say they are not putting panoramic sunroofs in their cars to reduce weight. Yeah ok... It still would be nice though.
Unfortunately, I could not take the GT-tech model for a test drive, so couldn't try the HUD, which is one of the novelties here. The information is projected directly into the windshield instead of a little piece of glass like in the Mazda 6. I really wanted to see how it looked IRL.
Instead, I got to drive a GS model, which offers the same engine and transmission : The 2.5L 4cyl engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The GS model is already pretty well equipped.
Once on the road, the CX-5 feels pretty good to drive. The handling is very incisive and direct, however a little heavy at times. You can definitely feel that there is somehow less assistance from the power steering. I think that while Mazda wants you to feel more connected to the road and wants the car to feel more sporty when you toss it around corners, they should have provided a slightly fatter steering wheel rim with better grip, I thought this one was a little thin and did not allow me to fully appreciate the steering and handling.
The power feels adequate, I didn't feel that is needed more, but it also didn't feel very powerful or quick. Not sure how it would handle mountain roads with steep inclines. You can use the Sport mode which will let the engine rev to 4,000 rpm before shifting to a higher gear. When you do that, the car definitely feels more lively and peppy, but it also translates into more engine noise inside the cabin. You can definitely hear the engine in the car, a little too much for my taste, even though Mazda claim to have gone to great lengths trying to improve sound deadening. However the engine noise is not too bad, it sounds throaty, and the auto transmission is pretty good and fast. Maybe the GT version and its BOSE sound system would help cope with the noise.
Overall, I really liked the car. There are only minor quibbles, like the small sunroof and also only the driver's window has auto up and down. There is no Android Auto currently. The reviews online indicate that Mazda is working on it and will make it available through a software update but the sales guy didn't know much about it.
This new CX-5 is a well designed and well built car. Currently on the top of my wish list.
Now, to give you some idea, right after this test drive, my wife and I went to the closest Honda dealership to take the new CR-V for a spin. I must say that after sitting in the CX-5 for a while, the CR-V feels like a full step down in terms of interior quality, fit and finish, etc. It feels a lot more plasticky inside, with plenty of cheap feeling black hard plastics especially on the center console and stack. The exterior design is also more quirky, especially the front. The lines are not as fluid as the CX-5.
While the Honda has the 1.5L turbo engine (vs. the naturally aspirated 2.5L in the CX-5), the power and torque output are almost the same as the CX-5 and acceleration did feel very similar, as did cabin noise. Step on the gas pedal, and you'll hear the engine roar. It's nice for a few minutes but will get tiring on a long trip. The transmission felt OK, I did forget that it was a CVT at first because it simulates gear shifts very convincingly.
Overall, the Honda is more spacious inside, maybe a little quicker, but it feels a lot less "premium", it feels cheaper, even though it's not, which was a bit of a let down as I had high hopes for this CR-V.
I am booking a second test drive for next Saturday, this time with my two kids (5 and 12), to see how they fit in the back and to get their input.
