- 4,822
- Concord, CA
- kylehnat
It was a day I knew would eventually come...sad though it was, it was time to move on. My trusty Mazda 3 has been traded in, and my new daily-driver is here:
2013 Mazda CX-5 Touring, with Moonroof/Bose package
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Billed as the SUV for people who swore they'd never own one, it got my attention. I wanted something with AWD, but short of WRX or Evo, there aren't too many AWD offerings that are enjoyable to drive. I test drove a new Mazda 3 first for comparison. As expected, that car is fantastic to drive. I hopped in the CX-5, and unlike any other SUV or crossover I've driven, I immediately felt at home. It's not a small vehicle, but it feels small behind the wheel. The steering is firm and provides good feedback, even on 65-profile all-season tires. Yes, it's not as tossable as a car, but it sure behaves like one! If the Mazda 3 is Michael Schumacher, the CX-5 is Ralf.
So yes, it's decent fun to drive. Beyond that, the interior is also a nice place to be. It's quiet, absorbs bumps nicely, and is relatively easy to see out of. Amenities in mine include tinted windows, moonroof, back-up camera, blind-spot monitoring, Bluetooth, and a sweet Bose audio package. It's pretty roomy, even in the back, and there is a lot of cargo space in the boot.
The only downside to this car is the horsepower. The 2.0 SKYACTIV engine makes 155-hp, which isn't a lot, but it does do okay for day-to-day driving. The shortfall is passing power, and it would surely feel sluggish at high-elevation. It will get great fuel-mileage, though. Personally, I'd sacrifice 2-3 mpg for another 15-20 horsepower, but Mazda didn't consult me during the design process.
I think I'll enjoy this vehicle just fine.
2013 Mazda CX-5 Touring, with Moonroof/Bose package
.Billed as the SUV for people who swore they'd never own one, it got my attention. I wanted something with AWD, but short of WRX or Evo, there aren't too many AWD offerings that are enjoyable to drive. I test drove a new Mazda 3 first for comparison. As expected, that car is fantastic to drive
. I hopped in the CX-5, and unlike any other SUV or crossover I've driven, I immediately felt at home. It's not a small vehicle, but it feels small behind the wheel. The steering is firm and provides good feedback, even on 65-profile all-season tires. Yes, it's not as tossable as a car, but it sure behaves like one! If the Mazda 3 is Michael Schumacher, the CX-5 is Ralf.So yes, it's decent fun to drive. Beyond that, the interior is also a nice place to be. It's quiet, absorbs bumps nicely, and is relatively easy to see out of. Amenities in mine include tinted windows, moonroof, back-up camera, blind-spot monitoring, Bluetooth, and a sweet Bose audio package. It's pretty roomy, even in the back, and there is a lot of cargo space in the boot.
The only downside to this car is the horsepower. The 2.0 SKYACTIV engine makes 155-hp, which isn't a lot, but it does do okay for day-to-day driving. The shortfall is passing power, and it would surely feel sluggish at high-elevation. It will get great fuel-mileage, though. Personally, I'd sacrifice 2-3 mpg for another 15-20 horsepower, but Mazda didn't consult me during the design process
.I think I'll enjoy this vehicle just fine
.
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