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When a crossover utility vehicle is designed with driving in mind, one of the most logical venues for testing its performance is the race track. Fortunately for Mazda, we have one at our disposal: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
We recently invited members of the world's top automotive press to join in on one of our CX-5 testing sessions, watching professional drivers put the new CUV through its paces, and then doing it themselves. You'll be hearing their opinions soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this behind-the-scenes look into our shenanigans (er ... performance testing).
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If I would have wrecked my 8 a month later than I did, I'd have probably considered one over my Evo X...at least as a daily driver. I'll definitely consider after it's paid off.
Driven with this guy at Shenandoah and Summit Point Main, where I chased him while he drove a 'Stang GT and a MazdaSpeed3. His take on the CX-5 was enlightening.
Jack Drives a Cute-Ute
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I’ve found the perfect urban wagon for young couples and families. It’s also ideal for empty-nesters, a vehicle that respects the limits of their retirement incomes without boring them to death on the road.
Meet the 2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD, the most complete compact crossover-utility vehicle I’ve driven to date. That includes the CX-5’s outstanding Japanese rival, the redesigned Honda CR-V.
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A larger engine, for example, does not guarantee better driving. What matters is how engine power is produced and transmitted. In the CX-5, those operations constitute a collective work of genius.
URL="http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/03/trackday-diaries-in-which-our-author-falls-in-love-with-a-cute-ute/"]
Jack Drives a Cute-Ute[/URL]
Yeah. This was my favorite review also.
I liked this part:
"The CX-5 is meant to channel the spirit of the Miata in the way that
Porsche claimed the Cayenne would for the 911 — but unlike the
Germans, Mazda’s pulled it off."
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During many spirited runs through the autocross course setup at the track, the CX-5 exhibited one of the trademark signs of a proper suspension setup: during tight high-speed corners, the right or left rear wheel would come off the ground without causing the vehicle to spin off the track. Usually, this kind of manoeuvre results in an immediate loss of control, but not here. Nice.
I test drove both the Grand Touring FWD and AWD this past week. The AWD didn't feel as nimble and quick as the FWD. I ended up picking the FWD and actually took delivery of it just 3 hours ago tonight. It's a Stormy Blue Mica with sand leather interior.
I traded in my '11 CX-7 i Touring. Yup, the car is just 13 months old. The CX-5 is better in every aspect.
I drove an AWD CX-5 over the weekend and loved it. It's way more fun than any CUV has a right to be, kinda like driving a tall Mazda3. And as a rule, I generally hate S/C UVs.
I'd buy one tomorrow, it meets all my "next car" needs... except it means I'd have to sell my 8, and I just can't wrap my head around that idea. I may have to buy a bigger house just so we can have three cars
I like the clean design of the stately-bordering-on-prim Honda CR-V. It appeals to my inner Rick Santorum. But I absolutely love the swank swagger of the Mazda CX-5’s body. It addresses the dominant, motivating Barack and Michelle in me. There is an audacious flow about it front to rear. The three-point grille (left corner, right corner, bottom-connecting corner) opens gently, almost with a smile. The side panels are rhythmically muscular, as if they are involved in dance. The rear end with its upward-tilted bottom, slanted back window and sloping, roof-mounted air spoiler, is downright sassy.
My gf and I went out on Saturday and test drove the Mazda 2 and the CX-5.
Both cars we found were fantastic, and there wasn't a single negative thing we could come up with about either car. THey are just fantastic to drive, comfortable, and love it when you turn up the wick on a fun little road.
The CX-5 was a delight to drive, and that's the one that had us thinking all weekend about coming up with a reason to buy it. We don't need the car, and we don't want to trade in any of our current cars to buy it, but we really like it so much.
Also, we test drove the Touring package, with the 6 speed auto, and AWD.
This is the first auto trans that I've not only not hated in a long time, but I actually liked the way it decided when to shift, and how quick the shifts were.
We're still waiting for the first Sport Manual CX-5 to arrive in the state (they always make the first shipment of cars to CO AWD, the idiots), so we can see how much better that feels over the AWD Auto that we test drove.
The CX-5 was a delight to drive, and that's the one that had us thinking all weekend about coming up with a reason to buy it. We don't need the car, and we don't want to trade in any of our current cars to buy it, but we really like it so much.
LOL, welcome to my world! I've been trying to justify it too, as we'd really like the practicality (and it's fun to drive too). But my 89,000 mile '04 RX-8 is just *perfect* at the moment, almost better than new with a replacement engine and all major wearables replaced recently. So it's a want, not a need.
But the CX-5 kinda got "under my skin" the same way the RX-8 did when I first drove it. I find myself thinking, "I wanna do that again!" lol. Surprising, because it's not exactly quick by any means, but it just FEELS good to drive. It's the first car I've found in a year that I'd actually be excited to get... except that I'd have to give up my 8 for it
I've been at Laguna Seca once when i used to live in the Bay Area. It's about 2 hours drive from San Francisco. That place is near the ocean beach and on the largest aquarium in the western U.S. (Monterey Bay Aquarium).
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2004 Mazda 6i (Hellasunk)
2005 Mazda RX8 (Hellasunk)
i still dont have the time to try one. grrr i stil own 12k on my 2010 mazda 3 gt hatch .... and has 18k on it. if i trade it in i wonder how much can i get outa it. mmmm
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Almost makes me want to test drive one, but then I remember I can get a new TC for $19k. We test drove the new Mazda 3 and the Scion TC this past weekend. It's sad, the new Mazda 3 is onlt 8 MPG more than the TC, and has about half the back seat room. I honestly wish the TC wasn't better equipped, but my wife just wasn't feeling the sluggish skyactive 3 at all.
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The dealer's first manual Sport arrived today, so myself and my gf got to be the first ones to take it for a spin.
Ahh yes, the manual transmission livens up the car that much more.
But the auto is a darn fine one, as I mentioned before.
Also, in case you aren't aware, if you buy a Mazda CX-5, Mazda is throwing in 6 complimentary services on either Schedule A (7500 miles or 6 months), or Schedule B (5000 miles or 4 months), entirely up to the owners choice, if you are a current Mazda owner, as a loyalty reward.
Hope that those of you who bought got the complimentary services.
And no, we haven't signed on the dotted line yet, but we want to.
will hope for a mazdaspeed cx5 version before considering
Perhaps you are referring to the diesel version coming within the next 12 months? The turbocharged one with 20 more HP and 160 more torque?
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Originally Posted by Bladecutter
Also, in case you aren't aware, if you buy a Mazda CX-5, Mazda is throwing in 6 complimentary services on either Schedule A (7500 miles or 6 months), or Schedule B (5000 miles or 4 months), entirely up to the owners choice, if you are a current Mazda owner, as a loyalty reward.
Looks like only ~300lbs heavier. Even the mileage is testing out in the 50s.
There are some videos of the diesel version out there. Take a listen to it. Just like 'gas' engines cover a wide range of sounds, based on configuration, firing order, cam timing, header runner design, and the rest of the exhaust....diesel engines don't all sound the same either. Especially as this is a diesel never before seen/used, don't immediately put blinders on about something completely subjective.
There won't be an actual "Mazdaspeed" version, but since everyone that asks for "Mazdaspeed" is looking for torque/power, the diesel will provide that bump over the gas version.
a lot of cool dudes will answer your questions accordingly 
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