2025 CX-5 rental review

[tagman31]

I would not buy a new Mazda. I had a 2020 CX-30, and it lunched a rear differential at 36k miles. Sounded like 4 bad wheel bearings, took 2 weeks to get a new differential from Japan, and getting Mazda to pay for a rental was like pulling teeth (not to mention an odd process, I had to fill out a I9 to get a check). It started having shifting issues at 40k, where it acted like it was in neutral and reved freely, then would grab hard and chirp the wheels. Or, it would get stuck in too high of a gear and try to climb a steep hill at 20 in 5th, wouldn't react to the kickdown. Dealer said "we can't make it do it, but we see you have a Ham radio so that's what's doing it", which is completely moronic. Did a fluid and filter change, and the fluid was black like diesel oil. Dumped the old fluid back into it and and traded it in. Not my problem.

Couple that with an AC that was barely adequate (this is a common complaint with Mazda, I suspect with the system is completely undersized), the Bose amp randomly playing static at max volume at key off (which to their credit was fixed with a amp software update), the complete inability to turn off traction control, the stupid knob to control everything, the horrible dealer experience at multiple dealers. I had enough. Never again.

 

[panthermike]

I would not buy a new Mazda. I had a 2020 CX-30, and it lunched a rear differential at 36k miles. Sounded like 4 bad wheel bearings, took 2 weeks to get a new differential from Japan, and getting Mazda to pay for a rental was like pulling teeth (not to mention an odd process, I had to fill out a I9 to get a check). It started having shifting issues at 40k, where it acted like it was in neutral and reved freely, then would grab hard and chirp the wheels. Or, it would get stuck in too high of a gear and try to climb a steep hill at 20 in 5th, wouldn't react to the kickdown. Dealer said "we can't make it do it, but we see you have a Ham radio so that's what's doing it", which is completely moronic. Did a fluid and filter change, and the fluid was black like diesel oil. Dumped the old fluid back into it and and traded it in. Not my problem.

Couple that with an AC that was barely adequate (this is a common complaint with Mazda, I suspect with the system is completely undersized), the Bose amp randomly playing static at max volume at key off (which to their credit was fixed with a amp software update), the complete inability to turn off traction control, the stupid knob to control everything, the horrible dealer experience at multiple dealers. I had enough. Never again.

Our CX-9 is solid at 89k. It does now make a mild whine noise under load, hoping diff is ok or goes out before warranty is up I will agree on the a/c system. It is "adequate" most of the time, but above 104-105, it is rough. One hot day last year, it decided it wasn't going to blow cold air at all. Only happened that one time, but annoying.

 

[JDenyer232]

Our '17 drives and handles great. But it has electronic gremlins. Odd beeping when the doors are opened, The front wipers are automatic, and don't sense well, i hate them . The rear wiper has a variable delay. Why the front has no variable delay makes no sense.

The navigation has just died, gives the message that our car is not equipped with it.

I also find that the brake and accelerator pedals are a bit close together, i have E+ wide feet.

You can turn the automatic wipers off in the vehicle settings. Once you turn them off they will work as intermittent wipers. I did this on my 2019 cx5 and on our new 2025 cx30. I agree the auto wipers are terrible.

 

[zigziggy]

I own a cx30 and a cx5, both are 2023. These replaced our 16 Kia Soul and a 19 Infiniti Q50. The cx30 was built in Mexico and feels more solid than the Japanese built cx5. In theory, the cx5 has a more advanced independent multi-link rear suspension, which suppose to offer a more stable, quieter and comfortable ride - that's basically not true in reality. I drive both on the same exact roads and I just enjoy the 30 more than the 5. The cx30 uses a torsion beam rear suspension and yes while it is more basic however, it contributes to its more agile and engaging handling and that's why the cx30 has over 10k miles on it while my cx5 only has 4k on the clock...