CleanMPG Reviews the 2013 Mazda CX-5

Quite simply the most affordable and highest fuel economy compact crossover available in all of North America.
Click here to read the entire review

OR.....we could just admit my forecast was right!

/lol, just kidding. Darn good numbers for a non hybrid, non diesel of this size.
//Mazda has accomplished something here.

Makes the mazda 2 look so silly....A car that small should get much better FE than the cx-5.

Hi Jesse:

The 2 at 35 mpgUS highway and the CX-5 at the same does not make any sense and I am sure the 1.3L SKYACTIV-G mated to the CVT in Japan is making amends for this prior to its arrival here in the US.

A few more additions regarding the CX-5.

This is the driver’s side door side mirror controls above the window and door lockouts, and window lift controls.

Does anyone notice anything "unusual" about the side view mirror control layout?


Also there was a creaking or clicking within the cabin that I could not find while driving down the road two nights ago. I know where it is now. The driver’s side seat clicks when you are sitting in it and moving around. I will take a closer look underneath and at the rails to try and pinpoint where this clicking is coming from tomorrow during the daylight hours.

Wayne

To me, the mirror control is reversed. I would say the L and R (and respective control movement) should be at the 11 and 1 o'clock positions -- not the 5 and 7. Japan's on the opposite side of the world so maybe it makes sense over there.

Hopefully the seat creak is just a one time mistake. How was the wind/road noise at highway speed?

Why not at 3 and 9, with up and down at 12 and 6? What's that center button do? Fold it?

Here is what I think is "unusual" about this : I think that the upper ,round switch should be like a joystick for up/down/left/right , and that the lower switch (to left of the lock/unlock)should select the right or left mirror. Most people are already familiar with round or rotary joystick-type controls.
Do I win a prize ?

I believe that's for the passenger ejection seat. But to get that option you also must buy the sunroof package.

Very important to not get the L and R confused when using the ejection seat option.

Ok xcel, I feel better about my 43 now Still, seems like I can do better.

I've been reading up on your jargon and I think I get the basics. I've been doing the neutral coasts and I can appreciate how much more efficient they are than the fuel cutoffs.

I also picked up a scanguage II so fiddling with that now also. I programmed the transmission temp into it to assuage my paranoia about putting too much strain on the transmission. I'm getting some crazy 2800 degree temps, which I'm assuming are erroneous. Either that or Mazda has invented some pretty amazing alloys for their transmissions!

Thank you for you kind offer to show me the ropes. I would take you up on it, but I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area, and while the trek would give me some great opportunities to practice efficient driving, it doesn't seem that practical

And as a point of interest, we tend to have gas closer to the $4.50 mark that $3.50. I think we pretty much have the highest gas prices in the nation.

I did like your review, and thought it was pretty much spot-on. I differ only in the handling -- you mentioned some body roll at higher speeds - I'm not getting it, or noticing it, but I also have the 19-inch tires on there, which might be masking it.

Why I bought it? That's a long story, but to condense it down: I initially was convinced the Prius V was our new car. I was ready to configure and order one online but the wife (the brains in the family) insisted I test drive one. To my horror, I couldn't stand it. Everything about it on paper appealed to my inner nerd and tinkerer, but there was zero sex appeal. It was a really tough day for me.

I briefly thought of pulling my kid out of college and instead buying a Tesla (there's a lot of those cruising around here), but sanity prevailed and I started looking realistically at options. We're replacing a 2000 Rav4 4-cyl, so it was basically the new Rav4, the new CR-V, a Hyundai and the CX-5.

The CR-V was designed by a one-legged engineer, because the e-brake pedal is placed so close to the left of the brake pedal that you have to contort so it doesn't rub up against your shin as you drive. Otherwise a VERY strong contender. Great-looker, great handling.

The new RAV4 was nice but the handling was not that impressive, plus the pricepoint seemed high for what you got. I felt like I was paying a premium for their track record; fair enough, but you'd expect that more from Honda and their offering was cheaper!

The Hyundai was ok, but frankly the design of the cabin felt odd and the handling was so so. That and, as a designer, I can't quite get over the fact the the Hyundai logo is an italicized Honda logo.

The Mazda was great. Sort of love at first drive honestly. I'd never driven a Mazda before in my life. It sticks to the road, has a normal comfy interior, and the clincher were the back seats. Unlike EVERY other car we looked at, they fold flat to the center arm rest/console cover. Our dog Oliver like to ride so that his head rests on the center console and in th CX5 there is no gap, no seats folded up before it: perfect. On a more-rational front, I feel like the CX-5 is taking all of the existing technology for ICE and squeezing everything possible out of it, which makes a lot of sense to me (I laugh at my hybrid-driving Eco-conscious neighbors who haven't replaced their 1950s-vintage weatherstripping -- but I'm also happy they support new tech; someone has to invest in it to make it viable).

And that's the short version of the story! We've been shopping for about 11 months.

jm

Hi xcel,
Thanks so much for the great info on the CX-5. I stumbled across this forum while searching for online reviews, but am also amazed at the fuel economy figures you've managed, and will definitely be trying out the techniques listed elsewhere on this site.

My wife and I just went to test drive a CX-5 MT, and I definitely love it. Awesome handling and clutch feel. There was only one thing the salesman told me that I thought was mindbogglingly dumb if it is actually correct...

I tried to play the radio with the engine off and he said I needed to start the engine. Is that true? Can you only play the radio with the engine running?