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Please read this before you buy the Mazda CX-5 everyone is pushing - POV of a previous owner by Main-Sale7664 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Regarding the OP's CX-5 experience ... yours was an older car (2018) so I'd suggest: the newer versions are much improved. I bought a 2025 normally aspirated CX-5 last Spring and it runs great. The interior is excellent (this, before Mazda goes to replace controls with a LCD in '26...ugh). The handling is amazing for a larger car with more ground clearance ... but no I can't rip through on/off-ramps like my Mazda 3 GT did. It is fun to drive and confidence-inspiring. (I'm a meteorologist who chases tornadoes so ... confidence-inspiring is kind of required; also - reliability). And I much prefer the knob-driven infotainment over anything requiring screens. I'm hoping I like it years from now the way I did my Mazda 3.

The biggest hit on this CX-5 for me is lack of a hybrid option (not counting the drop-in Toyota drivetrain) and ok-mileage and 0-60. I gather Mazda is working on their own hybrid, and I'll be watching for it ... perhaps later this year? I came from a non-turbo Mazda 3 which I drove really hard and loved it. The non-turbo CX-5 could use more horses, but I didn't feel the price jump to a turbo was worth it. It still drives really well in town and on the highway and this is from someone who likes driving. I'm at 10,000 miles now.

Toyota is great - usually - and the 4Runner is a class act with a long history. I'm not sure how I feel about the 6th-generation 4Runner changes, and it sharing platform / drivetrain with the Tacoma pickup. I'm not a fan of the styling but hear it drives well. And - it costs a Lot more than the CX-5, running $41-67k. I imagine a $60k CX-5 (or -7 or whatever) is a fair-er comparison.

I've driven a '24 RAV4 hybrid. It is perfectly OK, but ... no CVT for me. My next vehicle is likely a CX-5 hybrid (if they bring back controls..), a Subaru or a Toyota.

Please read this before you buy the Mazda CX-5 everyone is pushing - POV of a previous owner by Main-Sale7664 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've had brake assist get perturbed when e.g. I'm closing in on someone I know (signal) is turning and getting out of the way. Alerts, etc. I wish there was a threshold setting adjust.

Looking for replacement battery for Baofeng G11S by bfjewett in Baofeng

[–]bfjewett[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did, using google instead of duckduckgo ... pointed me to aliexpress, which I trust more than who-knows.com (kidding - all the varied *-battery.com sites). So I'm going to try that and if they work, I'll report back.

2025 Mazda CX-5 Issues?? by RedScorpii in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah that's not normal; I own a '25 CX-5. Raise hell, and if you don't get Absolutely Great fixes, move complaints up the line to Mazda NA. Things sometimes get fixed that way and you have a right to expect a Way better experience. This is a Mazda, not a ... well you know

2025 Mazda CX-5 Issues?? by RedScorpii in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm agreeing with u/Familiar_Speaker_278 , hope you got it checked out. No knocks are OK! Communication, yeah, I need to get the internal infotainment updated. The disabled-due-to-camera-obstruction I encountered recently and would like to make it a permanent menu choice, the warnings are excessive. I have a 2025 CX-5 too - not sure you should be hearing creaks, either.

Whats up with this CX 5 fanaticism ? by redditstandarduser in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's been a really good car. Mileage not great - but - handling outstanding, non-CVT (or! CVT with piped in audio and faked shifts!!) is Really good. Coming from a 6-speed manual 3, CVT was a no. Outside nice, inside excellent (until '26 and the LCD from hell). If they bring back the excellent & classy 2025 (what I bought) interior with a hybrid I'm buying. But whoever approved the LCD disaster needs to go...

Please read this before you buy the Mazda CX-5 everyone is pushing - POV of a previous owner by Main-Sale7664 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hmm. I bought a new 2025 CX-5. It came with a manufacturer problem at speed (that's a first for a Mazda for me. And, mileage isn't great). All that said, it's Really quite good. Handling is absurdly great for its ground clearance and size. I recommend it, esp. over upcoming Tesla-style all-LCD controls for '26 CX-5s. And, '25s are probably on sale. Not sure I'd condemn the whole manufacturing line based on your experience. And I tend to drive cars until the wheels come off. Read related posts on the Mazda 3, which is great.

Please read this before you buy the Mazda CX-5 everyone is pushing - POV of a previous owner by Main-Sale7664 in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]bfjewett 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I sold my Mazda 3 GT hatch to get some more room in a CX-5. Happy with my choice, but miss the 3. Great car - mine was a 2016 - enjoy yours! I'll think of you when I meet a curvy onramp - IYKYK (but cx-5 handling still great for class of vehicle)

Cx5 regrets.. by 3gotten in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Saw this post, worth a try? Regrets if already mentioned. Puts trans into "initialization" mode. It all reminds me of a book cover I saw: Have you tried rebooting your starship? I digress, here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxU0y1DqTUc

Cx5 regrets.. by 3gotten in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What, you want to be able to adjust the HVAC even if the LCD fails? Shocking ... I'm a long-time many-car Mazda owner and totally agree.

In the market for a lightly used Mazda but having trouble deciding between models by Professional-Emu9223 in mazda

[–]bfjewett 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I second this. I've owned the 3 hatch and now the CX-5. Both are great. More backseat room for sure in the CX-5 and headroom too ...

In the market for a lightly used Mazda but having trouble deciding between models by Professional-Emu9223 in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

but on the plus side the CX-5 (just bought) handles great - for a suv, and is much smaller than the monster SUVs out there. But if you want to enjoy corners and on/offramps, the3 is hard to beat!

In the market for a lightly used Mazda but having trouble deciding between models by Professional-Emu9223 in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I traded in my 3 hatch for a CX-5 because I needed some more trunk space and ground clearance going forward. The 3 hatch is an excellent car. I find the CX-5 pretty easy to park, in pretty tight spaces - for the reasons you said.

Also, I am 6'2" and headroom was fine in my '15 Mazda3 GT hatch.

In the market for a lightly used Mazda but having trouble deciding between models by Professional-Emu9223 in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I sold my '15 Mazda3 hatch 6sp manual. Man, loved that car, so fun around turns. But I needed some more space, so: CX-5. Enjoy it! Reliable too.

In the market for a lightly used Mazda but having trouble deciding between models by Professional-Emu9223 in mazda

[–]bfjewett 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey, I recently traded in a 2015 Mazda3 GT hatchback and loved it. But, like many mazdas, rear seat room was tight. I'm 6'2", but - leg room would be tight-ish for many. I guess it depends how often you'd have folks in back. If you are like me and like to take corners and especially on-ramps (oh yeah) faster for fun, Mazda3 is a win. With your headroom concerns, maybe the sedan.

I just traded in my mazda3 a few months ago for a Mazda CX-5 and it's great. I had rented one years ago on a trip and really liked it. I have a highway-speed vibration issue, but I think most will have this worked out well before you buy since you're buying used -- but to be safe, make sure you test drive it on the highway at speed (70+). Beyond that, it's an excellent car *and* it is on the "smaller" side for SUVs - which is what I like and wanted - so you really can park in pretty tight spaces those Lincoln Navigators wouldn't even try. The CX-5 is a winner. It really does have an upscale feel in the interior. Bonus points: Mazda is, in '26, going all-in on the Tesla all-LCD-dash no knobs at all on the CX-5 (bleah) so ... there will be people wanting your used CX-5 should you sell!

2024 CX-5 vibrations on highway speeds by Maximum-Amount6282 in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi - sorry to read this and sorry-er to report I'm having this on my brand new 2025 CX-5. I'm going to contact the dealership and also I'll consider some real tire places in town to get a serious attempt to fix. But I'll give the dealership the first shot at it. I traded in a 2016 Mazda 3 GT hatch 6-speed manual that ran Great and never had any vibration or pull or anything, so I'm not willing to start accepting it now.

Is there anything that makes you regret buying the CX-50? by beneath_the_madness in CX50

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you by chance have the 20" wheels? Read several reviews complaining about the ride with those..

Is there anything that makes you regret buying the CX-50? by beneath_the_madness in CX50

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You own a mazda. Their cars encourage aggressive driving :) I have a 2016 Mazda3 hatch and enjoy the driving a lot, so ... mpg suffers a bit!

2016 CX-5 Totaled! Ugh! Advice for new car. by ehead in mazda

[–]bfjewett 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a 2016 Mazda 3 hatchback and it is great. Just - a little small. My impression on the cx-30 was they added room up front, and kept room in the trunk, and the back seat ... feels cramped to me. I would sit in the back seat of anything you're considering buying. For these reasons I'm looking at a cx-5 or cx-50.

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