2025 CX-5 rental review

[duck__dodgers]

Thats one of the good things! The 6 speed is nice, very reliable, and its not a CVT!!

and the ATF filler plug is accessible under the air box. theoretically you can use a Mityvac to do an ATF change. though I imagine you won't get much old fluid out at each exchange.

If there ever should be a "Kirkland Signature" car, it's the CX-5....and I mean that as a compliment.

 

[Urshurak776]

We have a 2024 CX-5 and a 2023 Mazda 3. You're spot on.

The stereo unit.......terrible. If they were ice skaters, their show would be 'stinks on ice.'

Other than that, they really are nice vehicles for the money.

 

[Al]

CX-50, if people buy CX5 great keep using their investment, Mazda is a shoestring budget company as evidenced by dated things like 6 speed auto.

True but its good value for the money. I have bought 4 new cars in the last 6 years. I will probably never get rid of my CX-30

 

[Skippy722]

I'd rather have 6 larger gears than 8 or 9 little ones.

More gears means you don’t need as big of a jump to vary speed.

The 4l60 and 545/65RFE has ruined sub 8 speed transmissions for me.

 

[Dave Hess]

Nothing wrong with the 6 speed automatic. I drive one regularly, and I’m not sure what benefit 2 or 3 more gears would provide.

Yeah, their 6 speed transmission are excellent and very smooth.

 

[BForce1]

We had a rental 2025 CX-5 Preferred with just under 1,000 miles on it last month. Put about 500 miles on it across three states. I concur with most of the OP feelings about the vehicle.
Virtually everything about driving it is wonderful. I personally had no problem with the NA engine. Seats were excellent, although I prefer a firm seat. Build quality was tremendously good. Even the sound of the shutting the doors was satisfying. The vehicle is also very quiet.
And yes, there’s the infotainment system FYI: You can touch the screen in motion (at any speed) when using CarPlay or AA. There’s a setting that needs to be checked first. Even with this, still not the greatest system on the market, but I did find it tolerable.
My biggest complaints:
1) Backup camera is terrible, especially for a $33000 vehicle.
2) No individual tire pressure readout. There are cars that cost $10000 or more less that have this.
3) Wish the center console had better padding like the doors and rest of the interior.
4) Speaker sound quality was poor. Hoped for more on a car of this price, although that would be an easy fix

All in all, I wouldn’t rule out purchasing one

 

[samven]

If it helps, only the MSRP is $33000, I got the same model for 27,000 and I didnt negotiate as hard as I normally would.

 

[panthermike]

Nice review, thank you for sharing. We own a 2018 CX-9 that has been just absolutely wonderful. 89,000 mi and not a single issue to date.

I agree on the infotainment, ours actually doesn't have carplay. I've gotten used to the control knob, but still do not feel like it was a great choice.

Otherwise I'm always surprised by how quiet, smooth, and quality feeling it is. The turbo motor is really nice too, especially if ran on premium.

 

[Turbo Actual]

My gf's 20' CX-5's infotainment likes to change songs and even call people through her contacts. At first she thought someone was hacking through, a little research shows it's a common problem. It's known as the ghost touch. I believe there was a TSB on it. Other than that she loves it. The paint is really thin and chips if you look at it the wrong way. That's my only complaint with it.

 

[Finklejag]

2026 is a major redesign

AI generated youtube garbage.

 

[Bladecutter]

2) No individual tire pressure readout. There are cars that cost $10000 or more less that have this.

The car doesn't have TPMS sensors in the wheels, so it just plain doesn't have the ability to do this.
Saves people from having to replace wheel sensors every 7 years, so you have to take your tradeoff on this one.

 

[I<3oil]

AI generated youtube garbage.

Ok

 

[Propflux01]

The car doesn't have TPMS sensors in the wheels, so it just plain doesn't have the ability to do this.
Saves people from having to replace wheel sensors every 7 years, so you have to take your tradeoff on this one.

yes, they do. It's just been "turned off" in 2023. See video:

 

[edyvw]

Wired over wireless CarPlay/Android any time! It is much better sound. But I am audiophile so I can see how people want convenience.

 

[Skippy722]

Wired over wireless CarPlay/Android any time! It is much better sound. But I am audiophile so I can see how people want convenience.

On a scale of 1-10 how much do you like my cobalts new stereo?

 

[edyvw]

On a scale of 1-10 how much do you like my cobalts new stereo?View attachment 285983

Having Cobalt is not an excuse for not having good audio.
Good audio in a car is like on par having 4 wheels.

 

[Skippy722]

Having Cobalt is not an excuse for not having good audio.
Good audio in a car is like on par having 4 wheels.

The stereo gets power but I get no sound…. It’s aftermarket but thankfully they didn’t hack the factory harness up. The blower motor failed last night so working AC takes precedence over functioning stereo

 

[edyvw]

The stereo gets power but I get no sound…. It’s aftermarket but thankfully they didn’t hack the factory harness up. The blower motor failed last night so working AC takes precedence over functioning stereo

Man, I had in Zastava 101 (predecessor of Yugo. When I sold a car, it broke in half in two weeks), and in it Pioneer head unit, two JBL amplifiers (when JBL was the benchmark), and 12 speakers, including two 8" subwoofers

 

[tbm5690]

Wired over wireless CarPlay/Android any time! It is much better sound. But I am audiophile so I can see how people want convenience.

Compressed audio is compressed audio...unless you actually are playing FLAC or the like off your phone and not streaming? Even then, with the noise in a moving vehicle there's no point.

 

[edyvw]

Compressed audio is compressed audio...unless you actually are playing FLAC or the like off your phone and not streaming? Even then, with the noise in a moving vehicle there's no point.

No streaming. Wired connection to iPod.
Of course car is never perfect but environment for sound, but you make best out of it.