Would you prefer the CX-5 SKYACTIV Gas or Diesel?
 

I'm debating whether to get a CX-5 gas sooner, rather than a CX-5 diesel later.

It seems most people here would rather drive the SKYACTIV-D, rather than the SKYACTIV-G. But why?

I get that the diesel makes a lot more torque, but the HP is about the same, and oddly the 0-60 times are very similar. So I'm wondering what the experienced, practical advantage of the diesel is? If the 0-60 times are similar for both engines, I wouldn't think the diesel would be much better at merging onto the highway, would it?

I'd assume the diesel would be great if you plan to tow a boat or something, but I'd just be commuting and picking up things at home depot and such. Is all that torque useful for anything other than towing?

In this case, the main difference would be in the MPG...the diesel would probably get near 40.

Since we won't be seeing a new rotary anytime soon...if ever, I am now hoping for a new Mazda6 coupe with Skyactive diesel.

I'm waiting for the diesel. The gas is decent, and I'm glad it's doing well, but the diesel is just so much better: Towing is one of the big benefits.

http://carandvannews.co.uk/2012/05/3...ve-mazda-cx-5/
Note: Not all of those variants will come to the US.

That is a combined (city/hwy average) MPG of 54.3! Vs ~30 for the gas

HP is about the same because the diesel will have a lower red-line

I remember 170hp/280tq and 190hp/310tq variants mentioned elsewhere, so not sure why this has the tq as high as it is, or missing the 190hp. Not sure which combinations are accurate between the UK and US.

Diesel. No need to drive a gas suv, it's a waste of money.

@Riwwp:
150 and 170ish hp are the diesel ratings here.

and remember that the gallons probably used above are Imperial gallons. you need to convert to US gallons

1 imperial gallon = 1.2 US gallons

so000 47.1 impgal * .8 = 37.68 US gallons

...........61.4 impgal * .8 = 49.12 US gallons

.........................................86.8 US gallons.......... / 2 = 43.4 combined average US gallons per mile(all things being equal)


RETCON

The CX-5 won't be getting north of 50 mpg. VW's 2.0l CR TDI's are EPA rated around 42 mpg (In real life you can get just south of 50 mpg) due to all the emissions slapped on them.

The Sky-D CX-5 should get somewhere in the 40's. You have to consider that:

- Sky-D has a larger engine that makes more power.
- Sky-D has lower fuel pressure.

I was going to say the CX-5 Diesel weighs more, but it looks like they weigh roughly the same - 3300 lbs. You guys wishing for 65 and 75 mpg are out of your minds :)

Disclaimer: I own a 2010 VW SportWagen TDI.

There are HPFP issues with the VWs. I will be looking closely at the Sky-D. I'm just weary of buying first year gen1 hardware, as I did with the RX-8 in 2004.


Edit: CX-5 made 44 mpg on Japan's JC08 test cycle.

But doesn't diesel typically cost a bit more than regular gas? Doesn't that somewhat offset the better mileage, cost-wise?

I know this thread is about CX-5's, but my daughter just bought this last week.

https://www.rx8club.com/lounge-4/new-addition-family-233779/

Of course it's a SKYACTIV-G, and this is her first Mazda, but she loves it so far........we are back to a 3 Mazda family! :)

Based on what you say your intended use..........I don't think matters that much, but if the CX-5...............I'd take the "D".

Oh I do like the Mazda3 too! I almost feel like I've owned one already lol, as I've spent a couple hundred miles in rented/loaner Mazda3's this year - though not SKYACTIV ones. But it's nimble and comfy and quiet, much more relaxed than the always-on-your-toes RX-8.

It's just that the CX-5 seems to take the Mazda3 things I like and emphasize them even more, mainly the higher up seating position and visibility (and ease getting in/out), and the parking lot wars nimbleness. And the idea of AWD is intriguing for those few times I have to find a way to/from work in snow.

As for the diesel, it just sometimes seems a little surprising that rotary fans would prefer a lower-rpm, higher-torque engine over the high-revver.

And I see the diesel has turbos. Does it make that turbo "sneezing" sound in-between shifts then (the wastegate or blow off valve or whatever)?

High RPM piston engines make me paranoid. The torque I want so I can tow either my Miata or my RX-8 to the track. The MPG I want because it would then also work for a daily with my 152 mile commute.

The right tool for the right job.
Why would one want a gas engine in a suv? high torque and low fuel consumption are what one needS when daily driving or driving with the whole family + luggages \ towing.
Turbodiesels are the right engines for daily drivers.

Diesel? No!

Diesel no but cut spring yes?

Definitely...lol

And yet most people here bought RX-8's as their DD's ;)

I can see that the diesel would be great if you often carry lots of people, and/or want to tow things into the mountains. But 90% of my driving is just me commuting. No towing ever. No kids to drive around now, but maybe occasionally taking another couple out to dinner. So if the diesel accelerates about the same as the gasoline engine, I'm just wondering if and where I'd ever notice the difference in torque?

Absolutely diesel and as bse50 said "The right tool for the right job".

Paul.

:rollingla

You probably wouldn't really take advantage of the torque. But if you had the option of buying a 170hp 35mpg or 170hp 45+ mpg, same price for each, or only a slight difference, why WOULDN'T you buy the diesel?

It doesn't have the same penalties as a diesel used to (filthy exhaust, lots of noise, etc...)

You would appreciate the torque difference. No doubt. They almost never feel stressed in normal driving.

My main worry is the availability of diesel fuel. None of the three, fairly large gas stations I usually visit have it. I do know of a few stations nearby who carry it, but I don't know if it's something I want to have to keep track of in general, especially when on road trips and away from major highways.

And I don't know what a diesel "feels" like to drive? Is there any fun factor to it? I mean look at our beloved RX-8's, being so down on torque and even power compared to normal engines. But many of us prefer it over "better" (ratings-wise) engines because of it's subjective qualities. The only diesels I've heard all make that mechanical, knocking kinda sound which isn't exactly inspiring.

I like the numbers, the torque, the mpg's... I'm just wondering about some of the surrounding issues with it.

Your location says NJ, and no diesel? I commute between PA and NYC through the northern side of NJ, and not a single station I have visited HASN'T had diesel. It's been quite a while since I've seen a station without it.

No, this is not something I'm worried about. Even long trips. At ~45mpg and what I'd guess is at least a 15 gallon tank, you are at ~675 miles between fillups. ~337 miles at the halfway mark, at which point you can start trying to find the next closest station within a 6 hour drive.

No, I don't consider diesel availability to be a problem at all.


Historical diesel unpleasant items aren't an issue with the diesel CX-5, but it's something that people are going to have to see for themselves. The people test driving them in Europe and Japan are saying that there is no low RPM or cold banging, the clean diesel has no diesel smoke clouds, their isn't even any need for most of the exhaust treatments common to other diesels because of how low of a compression it runs at.

The subjective nature of how the engine feels is something I will have to wait on for my person opinion, but I don't doubt that it will still be plenty enjoyable. The chassis itself is something I already have no problems with at all. An SUV that can do this without rolling over or inspiring terror is riding on one sweet chassis indeed! Mazda is claiming that the automatic AWD gas CX-5 can beat the SkyActive 3 around Laguna Seca by 3 seconds. That's pretty impressive. REALLY impressive. I expect it will be more of a sports car than many "sports cars" are.
http://www.wheelstalk.com/files/2012...track2-web.jpg

there ya go mariesRX8. you can hardly go wrong NOT listening to monchie

Charlie...

Test drive a VW TDI if you want to see what a diesel feels like.

Except the TDI still doesn't have the Sky D engine, which is dramatically different in many ways.

Calling 2 engines similar just because they use the same fuel is quite an injustice to both. After all, our rotaries feel just like those V8s don't they? Both use gasoline, so they must be.