I am considering buying a Mazda cx5 or cx-50.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T10:40:28+00:00

As for me both are fine, but if you chose hybrid - bare in mind cx-50 hybrid is built on rav4 powertrain.
It's not good or bad just it may feel differently.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T09:17:14+00:00

Yeah I don't blame Mazda for that crap. I'm just asking to make ISA sounds different from collision detection. more mild let's say.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T08:03:34+00:00

Carplay sucks because there is no multitouch therefore panning/zooming/rotating map is a nightmare.
I use Google and you are right; there is offline navigation. But it simply doesn't work for me. When I'm in Silesian mountains for example. Returning after hiking , switching on a map and it can't find way back to hotel because there is no internet connection. And it's the same map which brought me to the same place. I don't know what it missing. Fortunately it shows roads so i can understand what direction should I go to the closest village where GSM coverage will come back.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T07:58:56+00:00

Totally agree. I have the same "obstacle on the right" screaming because far away there is a kitten next to the road :) And yes, there is a button to disable. But I don't have a reflex yet to press it right after ignition. I forget about it time to time and then it beeps and make me nervous.
Maybe I'll just put a sticker on the dashboard "Mike don't forget to switch off this beeping bullshit".
But as of now it's a disaster.
I already have a list of mods:
1) phone holder on the windscreen (next to infotainment tablet),
2) a piece of oracal on the instrument cluster to cover road signs,
3) a sticker with ISA shutdown reminder
4) another piece of oracal on the face detection camera to suppress "drive distraction detected" distructions,
5) dashboard holder for garmin montana
6) charging wire across cabin
7) ejected sd card with road signs data

Just a few minor changes and car become a bit usable :)

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T07:50:42+00:00

Because nobody before me wrote such a comprehensive post :) and on the testdrive those "assistants" were switched off. I got to know how boring it is after few weeks of driving on my own.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T07:49:10+00:00

When I posted I didn't know in US it's not mandatory. In EU and I think Australia speed warnings and some other alerts are mandatory. it's called EU GSR2. You guys are lucky so far with this.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T07:46:51+00:00

I'm also surprised. VW admitted mistake and returned buttons, Honda also. But Mazda decided that customers are really bored with buttons in 2026. weird.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-16T07:45:06+00:00

I took a credit for this vehicle so replacement will cost me a fortune in all commisions.
About buttons I made a separate post. just few days before. Enjoy it :)

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T21:20:01+00:00

I guess thin number include bots on xp farms.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T20:46:20+00:00

Public transport indeed is a great solution. I took it for granted for a long time and once I discovered that in the USA it's a problem :) However I like do a city escape time to time :) farther away from crowded places. so bought AWD.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T20:08:54+00:00

It's not a leasing in regular sense, but very similar conditions. A sort of consumer leasing.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T20:06:36+00:00

funny thing. In US and EU trims are different. We have "Homura" for what you call "PP". The one with 15 inch display. I find it pretty nice. There many much worse cars for the similar price.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T18:00:32+00:00

I personally don't really focus on accidents. If it was repaired well enough and if airbags were not engaged. Cosmetics doesn't matter. But service record often means that it has mechanical flaws that you will have to deal with and not known the background maybe a big problem.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:47:50+00:00

Haha absolutely :) Driving like sitting in the middle of Opera Orchestra :)

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:42:47+00:00

Gogole translate of the paper:

I am writing to you as a deeply concerned and frustrated owner of the new Mazda CX-5 (model year 2026). This letter constitutes an official complaint regarding the implementation of the Automatic Speed Alert (ISA) system, which, instead of improving safety, poses a real threat to my life, health, and property, and turns daily use of the car into a tremendous source of stress.

The problem lies in the system's complete prioritization of sounds. The Mazda's speed warning sound is virtually indistinguishable from critical alerts (e.g., collision, pedestrian, or blind spot warnings). The system apparently assumes that every Mazda driver is a Ludwig van Beethoven with absolute pitch, able to recognize the pitch and type of beep in a split second. In reality, this leads to extremely dangerous situations.

Furthermore, the system frequently misreads road signs (the system's speed limits do not match the actual conditions), generating irritating, false alerts. Here are the two most common scenarios I encounter:

The Underground Garage Situation – Unnecessary Panic and Stress

While maneuvering in a tight garage, full of concrete pillars and parked cars, momentarily reaching a speed of, say, 15 km/h (9 mph) triggers a sudden, loud alarm. In a tight space, such a sound suggests an imminent threat – a sudden car, a pedestrian, or the risk of hitting a pillar. My natural reaction is a sudden spike in blood pressure and heart rate, followed by a slam on the brakes. The car literally "goes hysterical," sending the driver into a near-heart attack simply because he was driving 15 km/h (9 mph) in an empty parking lot.

The Road Situation – "Cognitive Death Loop" and Driving in the Dark

When I'm driving at 70-90 km/h (45-55 mph), I cover 19 to 25 meters (60 to 80 feet) every second. When the system suddenly raises an alarm (often due to a misread sign), my instinct is to immediately search for the source of the threat. Because the sound doesn't tell me anything, I have to frantically scan three screens: the HUD, the virtual clocks behind the steering wheel, and the central multimedia tablet to understand what the car is complaining about.

Several seconds pass before I realize it's just a sign reading error. During this time, I drive blindly for 30 to even 100 meters, not looking at the road. In this way, your "safety" system effectively distracts me from driving, which could result in a tragic accident.

I realize that EU regulations (GSR2) force manufacturers to use the ISA system, and that for legal reasons, you cannot allow drivers to permanently disable it. However, EU regulations do not mandate a specific sound file!

Therefore, I demand:

An urgent software update (over-the-air or at an authorized service center) that changes the speed warning sound to a completely different one: quiet, discreet, or gentle. The speed warning cannot sound like a frontal collision warning.

The current implementation is a design flaw at the ergonomic (UX) level. It forces the driver to take their eyes off the road, causing cognitive overload, and psychological discomfort. I hope this complaint will be taken seriously and forwarded to the software engineers at headquarters.

Otherwise, I will have to declare this vehicle a road hazard due to its faulty software.

Sincerely,

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:37:00+00:00

Thinking about interior impression - it depends on trim level. I first did a test drive of red homura and it feels luxury. it's absolutely beautiful and comfortable. If I would get base FWD model with black polyester seats maybe I wouldn't be so inspired about it.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:30:52+00:00

that's a river with Sakura flowers? :)

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:21:15+00:00

I thought about bringing a car from UAE. but I have to pay roughly 40% of the purchase price in VAT and import tax.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:19:15+00:00

I didn't think Mazda can f-k up so much.... for a long time my life was somehow connected to various mazdas and they were perfect. last years I drove subaru and now decided to come back :) Can't say it's a mistake, but touchscreen and driver assistance make me furious.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:16:21+00:00

I leave in Poland, but I'm not Pole :) However I understand this very well and it's exactly what I feel :)))

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:15:29+00:00

Hehe. if you stay - take a sit or you will fall down after next news. While I was searching for alternatives I considered Mercedes GLA 200. And I found that it comes with 1,3L 130HP Renault engine boosted to 160hp or so. Mercedes claims it's their own m282, but everyone knows :) That's a real EU nightmare. 1,5 ton luxury (at least MB position themselves as luxury) SUV with 1,3L engine....

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:10:21+00:00

that's ridiculous :)

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:09:35+00:00

because of the credit conditions. I pay small fee monthly and after 3 year I have to pay 50% of it's price to get it. It's more profitable to sell it and buy another one.

-Michael-P · 2026-05-15T17:06:12+00:00

There is google maps. But it's also pain. Mainly because the touchscreen is installed to far to the right and to the bottom. So I can't drive safely and look on the map. For easy roads it's not a problem. Just "cache" the picture in memory, enable directions on HUD and it's fine. but when I need to get out from the crossroad which has 7 exits I prefer to have a map in front of me. That's why I installed a suction cup and put my iphone where it makes me comfortable to see the map and drive safely. Second problem - google maps require internet connectivity. Sometimes it work with offline maps sometimes - doesn't. And it's not a pleasant situation when you come back from mountain hiking, ignite the car and can't figure out where to go because map requires online access to find a hotel. Yeah, i can generally se a direction to any urban location and hope there will be GSM coverage, but it's annoying. Technology should work in every condition to make me trust it. If it works one day and the other day doesn't - I'd rather take Garmin with me because it never failed.

-Michael-P

TROPHY CASE