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OK, I know this is a Dodge Forum so I don't want to derail anything but I've been talking about getting my Dakota a little sister. So here she is... A 2024 Mazda CX-5 Premium. 30,000 miles. 2.5L, 6-speed automatic, AWD. All kinda doo dads on this thing. I researched the living snot out of Japanese cars before pulling the trigger on this Mazda. I came to a clear conclusion that the CX-5 was the best value automobile out there. I'm not saying the CX-5 is better than a Toyota or Honda because I don't believe they are. But they are on par with them in terms of reliability, dependability, and durability. Much of it depends on taste and features. Mazda need not make any apologies. There were a number of things I liked about the CX-5 over the RAV4 or CR-V. One, the price. You don't have to pay for the brand image that comes with Toyota or Honda. That's several thousand dollars right there. The CX-5 has a peppy engine. Only a 4-knocker but it has enough get up and go for 99% of my needs. I don't drive like a raped ape anymore. It's also quiet. That surprised me. The interior is quite classy, nothing cheap or cheesy about it. I think it's also a sharper looking suv than RAV or CRV. It drives like a charm and so far I could not be happier.
I think you'll be happy with the car. Up to 4 people inside, it has plenty of room. I have a class III receiver on the back for a cargo carrier or bike rack, but I've pulled small trailers with it too. I also have a roof rack and use it. Mine has the earlier headlights as they changed those in 2017, but otherwise our cars look similar in shape. I've had soot build up on my tail pipes and I quit cleaning them as I like the blacked out look. Here's what mine looks like before loading up to go camping.
I put seat covers on my front seats when I bought it. I change the drivers seat every year or two and the passenger seat was recovered last summer. I found it's easier to remove the seat to put covered on them. Four nuts and one electrical connection and the seat comes out. I do pull the air bag fuse first through as the seats have side air bags.
I didn't drive it in the recent 9 inch snow but once the drifts were cleared, that AWD drives just fine. Not as much clearance as my '96 Ram 1500 4X4 with versized tires, but it handles the icy spots better than the truck.
Just remember, the car has animal magnetism!
Last edited by ol' grouch; Jan 31, 2026 at 12:58 PM.
Reason: i kant spel wurth a durn
In terms of appearance, I find the CX-5 to be one of the least changed vehicles out there. Some complain about it but I'm like if it looks good leave it alone. I think the CX-5 is a sharp looking automobile. No one can tell from a photograph but to the extent it is accurate it looks like a good compounding and polishing would brighten up that paint. Have you ever considered replacing that smooshed-in door?
In terms of appearance, I find the CX-5 to be one of the least changed vehicles out there. Some complain about it but I'm like if it looks good leave it alone. I think the CX-5 is a sharp looking automobile. No one can tell from a photograph but to the extent it is accurate it looks like a good compounding and polishing would brighten up that paint. Have you ever considered replacing that smooshed-in door?
The door was replaced quite a while ago. They had to replace the entire door shell. If I had tried to open it, it may not have shut again and rolling the window up and down under the tension it was in would have probably broken it. I was hit by a large buck Deer who was flipped over the roof. You can't see the hoof prints in the top in the photo. Wile E. Coyote was there so the police would notice and realize it was like that for a while if they ever looked for a red hit and run vehicle.
When it's clean it still looks new. I was just getting ready to load it up when I took that photo. Away from the headlights, if I'm at the dealer, it looks like all the other red CX'-5's. Outside of maintenance like oil changes, brakes and such, I recently had my first repair from age. I was putting new belts on it and noticed the weep hole on my water pump was leaking. I'm just shy of 118K miles and that's the first worn out part to replace.
The door was replaced quite a while ago. They had to replace the entire door shell. If I had tried to open it, it may not have shut again and rolling the window up and down under the tension it was in would have probably broken it. I was hit by a large buck Deer who was flipped over the roof. You can't see the hoof prints in the top in the photo. Wile E. Coyote was there so the police would notice and realize it was like that for a while if they ever looked for a red hit and run vehicle.
When it's clean it still looks new. I was just getting ready to load it up when I took that photo. Away from the headlights, if I'm at the dealer, it looks like all the other red CX'-5's. Outside of maintenance like oil changes, brakes and such, I recently had my first repair from age. I was putting new belts on it and noticed the weep hole on my water pump was leaking. I'm just shy of 118K miles and that's the first worn out part to replace.
Yeah, there's no room for complaint about a 118K mile repair for a water pump. I may never see 118K on my CX-5. We drive only 5 - 6K miles a year and we're 66/67 years old. We'll be closing in on our mid 80s before we see 118K. Good chance we'll both be dead by then or the state will say we're unfit to drive and take our keys away.
I see this Mazda has cylinder deactivation on it. I think Mazda started that in 2017. Not sure I'm a fan of that, but then I'm thinking this has an aluminum block and it may not be as big an issue vs a cast iron block.
Yeah, there's no room for complaint about a 118K mile repair for a water pump. I may never see 118K on my CX-5. We drive only 5 - 6K miles a year and we're 66/67 years old. We'll be closing in on our mid 80s before we see 118K. Good chance we'll both be dead by then or the state will say we're unfit to drive and take our keys away.
I see this Mazda has cylinder deactivation on it. I think Mazda started that in 2017. Not sure I'm a fan of that, but then I'm thinking this has an aluminum block and it may not be as big an issue vs a cast iron block.
Mine does just fine with out deactivation. On state highways with the cruise set, I regularly get 29-32 mpg. Interstate driving with 70-73 mph and some hills, that drops to around 27-29. You'll find it easy to drive in a rather spirited manner. I would have loved to had a car this nimble in my racing days. It came with Michelins so that's what I put on when I need new shoes. I'm on my third set of tires.
One time I got nearly 36 mpg but I've never been able to repeat that. I may have overfilled before getting it or short filled it afterward. Since it's not repeatable I don't claim to get that good a mileage.
Mine does just fine with out deactivation. On state highways with the cruise set, I regularly get 29-32 mpg. Interstate driving with 70-73 mph and some hills, that drops to around 27-29. You'll find it easy to drive in a rather spirited manner. I would have loved to had a car this nimble in my racing days. It came with Michelins so that's what I put on when I need new shoes. I'm on my third set of tires.
One time I got nearly 36 mpg but I've never been able to repeat that. I may have overfilled before getting it or short filled it afterward. Since it's not repeatable I don't claim to get that good a mileage.
I've heard of some minor complaining about deactivation. They can feel a slight jolt when it deactivates or reactivates.
I've been watching a lot of vids lately on tires. Lots of brands (especially the Japanese and Koreans) have caught up to Michelin quality for much less $. I also learned BF Goodrich is owned by Michelin and use the same processes and materials as Michelin tires, again, for less $. Basically, a BF Goodrich is a Michelin tire. I too am a big Michelin fan. Always bought them for our cars except this last time about a month and a half go. Michelin no longer carried my size on my Dakota so I got a set of GoodYear Wranglers.
Say OG, do you have iStop (auto stop-start) on your CX? I believe you do. My CX was one of the last ones to have it. They stopped putting them in less than a month after mine was built...supply shortages I guess. Not sure if they ever went back to it. Anyway, I can disable the iStop by pushing a button on the dash but I have to do it every time I restart the engine. Supposedly there is a disabling harness that can be spliced into the iStop harness on the car that permanently disables the iStop. Do you know anything about that?
Say OG, do you have iStop (auto stop-start) on your CX? I believe you do. My CX was one of the last ones to have it. They stopped putting them in less than a month after mine was built...supply shortages I guess. Not sure if they ever went back to it. Anyway, I can disable the iStop by pushing a button on the dash but I have to do it every time I restart the engine. Supposedly there is a disabling harness that can be spliced into the iStop harness on the car that permanently disables the iStop. Do you know anything about that?
No. My 2016 was post Ford, but the last of that generation of the model. I think it came in on some 2017 or later versions.
No. My 2016 was post Ford, but the last of that generation of the model. I think it came in on some 2017 or later versions.
Hmmm. Based on what I'm learning, about a dozen conditions have to be met in order for iStop to activate. That means it rarely activates. Just another way the carmakers can head fake the federal regulators.
Are there any CX-5 forums similar to this Dodge Forum that you're aware of?
Hmmm. Based on what I'm learning, about a dozen conditions have to be met in order for iStop to activate. That means it rarely activates. Just another way the carmakers can head fake the federal regulators.
Are there any CX-5 forums similar to this Dodge Forum that you're aware of?
My car was built as Mazda was going its own way after a long partnership with Ford. I have keyless push button start, but the other one I was looking at still used a key. I think this is Mazda's biggest seller around the world so they prefer to refine rather than redesign. For a Mazda forum, head over to
You'll have to join but there are a lot of good people there. There is one who is extremely self assured and knows everything. I won't mention his name here but you'll see him on a lot of the boards. I ran a shop for several years but evidently he knows more about everything than I do. One board there is specific to the CX-5. I'm just Grouch over there.
