Advice on mid sized SUV's (Mazda cx-5)

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dotdan

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I am really looking hard at a Cx-5 Active auto. Mazda Fourways has a special for R479K new with a 5 year service plan

Before I go for it, I would love to hear some real world experience on these cars as well as what the average fuel consumption is?

I have been looking hard for a good, reliable family car to replace my T-cross. Obviously I had great fuel usage avg on 5.5-6L per KM and was used for daily commuting between work and school runs etc. Main reason for looking for something bigger is due to my kids being in high school now and they have grown up. Need more space in the back and boot for all their crap.

Cars I have looked at: (Test drove the Kia and Territory so far)

Toyota Corolla Cross (hijack/theft risk and not that much bigger but does have a marginal bigger boot)

Kia Sportage (just seem to be very pricey atm, even second hand they don't seem to drop below R500k for a 2024 model. Would be my first choice just ito of overall package)

Ford Territory (looks good and is very spacious, but seems to be on the high end of fuel usage and also don't trust that Chinese influence. Also still a bit pricey sitting at R500K without a service plan. There is also no long term data on this car)

Not a fan of the current Hyundai cars looks.

Not looking at a Chinese car (main issues are unknown reliability, high fuel usage and long term trade in value over 3-4 years)

Nissan X-trail ( Ilike the look of it, but seems to be not selling well at all which makes me worry a bit that it might get cancelled in SA. Price is also still sitting @R550k for a demo.. which is not really worth it)

Nothing really in the Honda or Mitshibishi range sticks out to me, as well as poor dealer network atm.
 
Have you test driven it? Reason I ask is I found it (and Mazda's in general) not spacious at all and the reason you want to upgrade is due to space. I am 1.88m 90kg and even with the seat all the way back my legs were cramped in the drivers seat and I can't imagine the back seat would have much space.

Can't comment on the rest but reputation is good.

VW Tiguan Allspace?
 
Brawler said:
Have you test driven it? Reason I ask is I found it (and Mazda's in general) not spacious at all and the reason you want to upgrade is due to space. I am 1.88m 90kg and even with the seat all the way back my legs were cramped in the drivers seat and I can't imagine the back seat would have much space.

Can't comment on the rest but reputation is good.

VW Tiguan Allspace?
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Thanks man, yeah I have, my friend actually owned a 2021 version before he immigrated. So I have driven one and sat in it.

Yeah from most of the cars, the Cx-5 seems to not have the overall best interior space, but still a heck of a lot better than the t-cross which is more suited for a lady and smaller kids to be honest. I am also 1.85, so not the smallest bloke under the sun
 
I have looked at the Tiguan's. Some good deals on 2023 models now with the incoming new shape. Don't know. My own mental issue I suppose, but I hate buying a car that has a new model out.
 
So you are going to upgrade on Size but downgrade on power, Are you sure you are ready to go from a turbocharged car to a naturally aspirated 4cylinder? It might be a frustrating experience so tread carefully there.

Mazdas are great but the entire line-up is simply outdated now, My suggestion is go for the Kias or Hyundai. Dont forget the Creta or Seltos if you are looking for a more budget friendly alternative to the Tuscon and Sportage.
 
dotdan said:
the Cx-5 seems to not have the overall best interior space
Click to expand...
weird, it is bigger in every exterior dimension vs say a corolla cross, 115mm longer, 65mm higher, 20mm wider and when they're parked next to each other the CX-5 certainly looks bigger

but I've never sat inside a corolla cross and it's been a long time since I've sat in a CX-5

way back when I bought my mid-size SUV the CX-5 was easily top of the list, just too expensive, I can definitely recommend what I ended up going with ... but if a poor dealer network concerns you then probably also an issue: Subaru Crosstrek
 
epah said:
Dont forget the Creta or Seltos if you are looking for a more budget friendly alternative to the Tuscon and Sportage.
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smaller tho and close to foggol boot space in both. rear seat legroom is also much less than a bigger crossover

Tucscon and Sportage is same size category as the cx5 no?

Theres also the RAV but toyota tax.... Eish

Warrabout a chery or Haval/gwm @dotdan ? Tiggo 7 or jolion
 
ShloshMalosh said:
smaller tho and close to foggol boot space in both. rear seat legroom is also much less than a bigger crossover

Tucscon and Sportage is same size category as the cx5 no?

Theres also the RAV but toyota tax.... Eish

Warrabout a chery or Haval/gwm @dotdan ? Tiggo 7 or jolion
Click to expand...
Yap the creta will be marginally bigger than the Tcross, But man a naturally aspirated engine in this day and age especially coming from a turbo charged motor will be Op's biggest regret. I can promise him that.
 
Why not a bakkie? The Isuzu double cab could be in your price range? Or maybe a Renault Koleos?
 
epah said:
Yap the creta will be marginally bigger than the Tcross, But man a naturally aspirated engine in this day and age especially coming from a turbo charged motor will be Op's biggest regret. I can promise him that.
Click to expand...

I hear you, but I am also now getting grey and I am less and less energetic so the turbo motor is currently quite lekker to zip past a car in traffic now and then but overall I am quite a subdued driver.
 
We have recently bought a CX-5 a few months ago which my wife uses. We went for a 2021 Active Auto model which was in excellent condition with no accident damage and FSH.

Few things i have noticed so far:
  1. The 2.0 SkyActiv is a reliable and trusty motor with excellent consumption (She averages around 7.5l/100km with 80% traffic and 20% highway, however it comes with a drawback of lacking some power, especially here at altitude and if you going to be fully loaded with kids and luggage. She is perfectly fine with it as it is her vehicle but my car is a NA V6 so for me it is abit different, not bad but you have to get used to it.
  2. The 6speed auto tends to hunt through gears and often stays in a lower gear until you completely let off the accelerator a considerable amount but you learn to drive around this.
  3. The rear leg room in it is much smaller than others in this category, again this doesn't really bother me as it is just my wife and I with a newborn arriving next year.
  4. There is a very premium feel to the Mazda, NVH not quite like my current Lexus but it really comes close. All switch gear in the vehicle feels really good.
With all the above said, it was no deal breakers for me. My wife does not care about the sound of a V6 nor does she care about driving fast hence this car fit perfectly. My main reason for this care was safety, longevity and reliability.

The Ford territory is a chinese vehicle that Ford rebranded to sell built by the JMC-Ford joint venture.

My suggestion for you given that your kids are older hence requiring much more rear leg room would be to look at the Kia Sorento.
 
ShloshMalosh said:
smaller tho and close to foggol boot space in both. rear seat legroom is also much less than a bigger crossover

Tucscon and Sportage is same size category as the cx5 no?

Theres also the RAV but toyota tax.... Eish

Warrabout a chery or Haval/gwm @dotdan ? Tiggo 7 or jolion
Click to expand...

Yeah the Rav is just a bit too expensive and there is the risk factor. I don't feel comfortable driving a Toyota with my wife and kids in the car.

Yip, Tucson and Sportage is similary sized. Don't like the Tucson or Creta's looks. Sportage was my first choice, but battling to get a used/demo one with low milage for under R500K. They seem to be priced rather high.

Not interested in a Chinese car. They are great value for money and some look really good, but I need to look at something that keeps it value more or less over 3-4 years with reliability as I do +- 20-25K KM's a year.
 
GhostSixFour said:
Why not a bakkie? The Isuzu double cab could be in your price range? Or maybe a Renault Koleos?
Click to expand...

Considering a Ranger as well. Had one a few years back, lovely cars. Does not feel like a bakkie at all and drives like a SUV.

Little bit of a risk factor, but I don't think nearly as big as the Toyota's are atm.
 
bennyblanco said:
  1. The rear leg room in it is much smaller than others in this category, again this doesn't really bother me as it is just my wife and I with a newborn arriving next year.
My suggestion for you given that your kids are older hence requiring much more rear leg room would be to look at the Kia Sorento.
Click to expand...

Yeah this worries me. Thanks for this.
 
dotdan said:
Considering a Ranger as well. Had one a few years back, lovely cars. Does not feel like a bakkie at all and drives like a SUV.

Little bit of a risk factor, but I don't think nearly as big as the Toyota's are atm.
Click to expand...
Rangers are most definitely up there with Toyota. Don Dewitt.
 
Have you thought of a Subaru Forester?

They are perhaps a bit pricier and fewer examples are to be found but the interior is cavernous, it is probably the safest car in that class thanks to stacks of standard safety features, has AWD and is not even near the criminal’s shopping list.
 
Also Volvo XC60. They are big, drive lekker and have a 2l tdi.
 
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