In a previous COAL, I spoke about how the 2014 Kia Soul Plus—that my grandmother bought new and that my sister inherited—succumbed to the Hyundai/Kia 2.0-liter engine defect and threw a rod through its block. This occurred in March 2022, or thereabouts. At the time, it was Little Sister’s only transportation, and she didn’t live close to me. The car was under its original powertrain warranty and Kia had put in place an extended service campaign to replace these engines, but it was still like pulling teeth to get it fixed. I put a lot of the blame for that on the horrible dealerships in the Houston metro. And the dealership had sold all its loaners during the COVID fever, so we would need to rent cars (at insane COVID rental rates) during the three (?!?!?!?!) months the car would be out of service and then submit for reimbursement with Kia America and hope they paid.
The 2014 Soul, after it put a window in the engine block.
Little Sister didn’t have that kind of money, and I did have it, but didn’t want to spend $3,000 or more on rental fees and potentially not be reimbursed. I did have a couple of spare cars (the 2011 Lexus LS 460L AWD and the 2000 BMW 528i 5MT), but neither of those was suitable for someone who needed an uncomplicated automatic-transmission car that got decent fuel economy and that took regular fuel. So, never needing an excuse to go car shopping, that led me to the idea of buying an inexpensive, but reliable, car that my sister could drive while hers was out. After that, she could hold onto it as emergency transportation, or it could go to whoever in the family needed it at the time.
The problem was that COVID pricing had also reared its ugly head at the bottom end of the market. I really, really feel for people shopping in the sub-$10K car range these days. In 2019 and earlier, that used to get you a decent, reliable car. These days…not so much. And it was even worse last year. People who honestly needed cash cars in that price category had essentially gotten their buying power slashed in half. And nowhere was that more apparent than Honda and Toyota, which always command a premium on the used market. I recall someone wanting $12,000 for a 2011 Toyota Corolla with 187,000 miles, and $9,000 for a 2010 Fit with 210,000 miles. Even when I looked outside of those to the less-desirable-but-still-reliable cars, I couldn’t find anything that made sense. Someone wanted $8,500 for a 2010 Ford Fusion SE. Someone else wanted $11,000 for a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5 SE. Even a Mitsubishi Lancer I looked at was overpriced.
This, for $13,000. Are you effin’ kidding me?
And that got me thinking: if it’s going to be $12K-$15K for a piece of crap, why not just buy a new car for $30K, with the latest features and a factory warranty?
My mom had been driving her 2012 Sonata Limited 2.4 since mid-2013, when she bought it. That car was still drivable but was worse for wear, a lot of which was due to defects. The driver’s backrest had quit working, as had the satellite radio and the panoramic sunroof. A wiring harness gremlin meant that the right rear taillight socket kept melting and ruining bulbs. The HVAC panel required multiple presses of the same button to get a response. It had also required an engine replacement, due to an entirely different defect, involving metal shavings left in the engine block during the machining process that clogged the oil passages. And, on top of that, it had been in a few accidents. But, as I said, it still worked. So, the idea was to treat Mom to a brand-new car (she’d never had one) and then retire the Sonata to spare-car status.
The question was what to buy. I knew it would be a compact SUV. Mom had come to hate crawling in and out of the Sonata, and I wanted her in something that was more ergonomic. A Hyundai or Kia was out of the question. No one was impressed with how any of the ones in the family had held up after the six-to-ten-year mark (including Dad’s heretofore-unmentioned 2007 Sonata SE V6, which more or less fell apart around the engine and transmission). So, no Tucson and no Sportage, though they did look as cool as ever. The Rogue’s (and Outlander’s) JATCO-sourced CVT and the Cherokee’s general lack of longevity put them on the no-buy list. The Tiguan? Also a “no.” I knew my mom didn’t like boxy cars, so the Terrain and Bronco were out, but their siblings (the Equinox and Escape, respectively) seemed promising…though I was concerned about the longevity of their turbocharged engines. The Forester was too expensive and also too boxy and utilitarian-looking.
And then there was one: the CX-5. I read reports on the CX-5 and found that it was a perfectly reliable vehicle that auto journalists were especially sweet on. Having first been introduced in CY2016 for MY2017, but that gave it a sense of mechanical intimacy and simplicity that other vehicles lacked. It was also easily the prettiest thing in the segment (and still is). Without telling Mom why, I sent her some pictures of it, and she thought it was absolutely gorgeous.
Better still, the CX-5 had been updated for 2022. It included new front and rear fascias with full LED lighting, new wheel designs, a new, wider infotainment system, and newly standard AWD. To my eyes, the updates were an improvement on an already pretty design.
MotorTrend’s 2022 CX-5 press car, in loaded-up Signature Turbo guise.
Best of all, Mazda had a glut of inventory and dealers weren’t marking up the CX-5. Indeed, most of them were actually offering discounts off of MSRP.
Mom isn’t too picky on how something drives, so I knew she’d be fine with the base 2.5-liter engine, which is neither especially fast nor especially torquey on the low end, but I was more concerned with the feature set. What I was less sure of was the trim beyond that. Mazda’s latest trim nomenclature makes very little sense, but I zeroed in on the 2.5 S Preferred, which was second-from-base and which came with leather, a sunroof, a power driver’s seat with memory, the full-suite of driving aids (blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, automatic high-beams, rain-sensing wipers), Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated seats, keyless access and start, and a power liftgate. Mom liked the Soul Red paint a lot, and I agreed, but then I read the forums and saw how badly it wore. Not only that, but the 17-inch wheels on the 2.5 S Preferred looked too small.
Looks alright, but we can do better.
And then I saw the 2.5 S Carbon Edition, which was the next size up. That one came with an exclusive blue-gray Polymetal Gray metallic paint and (usually) a brick-red interior that was slightly darker than the one in my 2021 GX 460 Sport Design. It also had gloss-black appointments, including the 19-inch wheels. I casually texted Mom and she thought that one was even better-looking than the one with the Soul Red. And it was barely more expensive.
Bob Moore Mazda, which was nearest me, didn’t have any Carbon Editions in stock, but Nelson Mazda in Norman (30 minutes away) had three of them. They also had another store in Tulsa, from which they could transfer inventory if I wanted. Nelson Mazda was a no-haggle store that put their best price forward, and that best price was competitive. MSRP on the car, after destination, was somewhere around $31,500, but Nelson Mazda’s out-the-door price was a grand off that. I thought that was a great deal, especially for all the content the car came with. A Toyota or a Honda so equipped would have easily been $36K or more. On top of that, the process was so smooth, just like buying a luxury car. “Which car would you like?” “Would you like these extras?” “Are you paying with cash or financing?” I was impressed.
The CX-5 with fresh temp tags.
The interior. This is a gorgeous color.
I got to call Mom and tell her about her new car, with fresh temp tags, that afternoon. To say she was over-the-moon was an understatement. She absolutely loved the pictures. I offered to bring it to her that weekend (she lives in yet another state), but she said that she would let Little Sister drive it for a couple of weeks and then when she went to visit Little Sister in Houston, they could trade (Mom would give Little Sister the Sonata and drive the CX-5 home).
I drove the car for a few days, and then drove it to Houston. It felt a lot less computerized than my X5, but still great. It was quiet, comfortable and easy-to-use. The driving aids were primitive, but that was okay, since the Sonata didn’t have any of that. Overall, it felt old-school to me. Like I said, the current CX-5 dates back to MY2017, and—as far as I can tell—that was a heavy refresh on the old bones, so really, the engineering dates back to the first year for the CX-5, MY2013. But I liked it. It was charming. The only thing that wasn’t especially charming was Mazda’s decision to exclude a touchscreen and force you to use their controller. It’s fine in the car’s base UI, but honestly, CarPlay and Android Auto are annoying without a touchscreen. Mazda has since rectified this by including touchscreens on its newest cars, but restricting their use solely to CarPlay and Android Auto. So those guys are stubborn.
The CX-5’s lovely screen.
I knew Mom liked factory navigation systems (the Sonata and the Murano that preceded it both had the factory ones) and the Mazda car came with one, but you had to buy the Mazda map SD card to activate it, which was $500 at the dealer…but $40 on Amazon. Best $40 I’ve ever spent, and I installed it before dropping it off in Houston.
A week later, I got a call from Little Sister and Mom. Little Sister tearfully explained that she was driving to her friend’s house, when she hit a pothole and was thrown into a curb. This popped the rear right tire and chipped that wheel, which was fairly visible since it was painted black. After she sent me pictures (and I calmed down), I had her use the insurance to tow it to the local dealer, since that was the only place that had the correct tire in stock. They verified that the wheel and suspension weren’t functionally damaged and that it looked a lot worse than it was because of the concrete dust. After it was cleaned off, it was hardly noticeable. I authorized the new tire installation, and the car was back on the road the next day.
The damaged wheel and tire.
The CX-5 being loaded onto a rollback.
Mom finally got the CX-5 from Little Sister in late April, and immediately fell in love with it. She says it was easy to figure out all the controls and that she gets a lot of compliments, especially about the color combination. She takes reasonable care of her cars but has been especially kind to this one. I believe it currently has 18,000 miles on it, and the only issue is that (as of a week ago), every time she goes through the car wash, the driver-side mirror tilts down on its own. And she said that multiple car washes have exhibited this behavior, touch and touchless. She has an appointment to get that looked at next week at her local Mazda dealer, so we’ll see what that’s all about.
Other than that, it’s been smooth sailing, and I have good reason to believe that it will remain a solid, well-built, reliable and comfortable car for the long haul. It was my pleasure to be able to do this for Mom, and I think she really deserves it for having to put up with my ornery ass all those years.
There should be a special ring of hell for Kia dealers, in general. I swear almost every one that took on the franchise back in the beginning was some creep who owned a buy-here/pay-here lot, and felt no desire whatsoever to make their sales experience any classier. The dealers are usually the single biggest negative when it comes to shopping for the brand.
Which is frustrating, because Maggie and my experience over the past decade is that Kia makes some really good cars, and great values for the money. Still have the ’08 Sedona that is scheduled for another 50k before I consider replacing it. Yeah, it’s shabby but reliable and I don’t skimp on the periodic service. It was helped along in the beginning by Richmond north of the river having a really excellent Kia dealership, good sales experience, excellent service department, and a dealership that quietly assumed that if you’re buying a Kia rather than a Honda or Toyota it has something to do with what you can afford. Although they never openly treated you that way.
Unfortunately, the dealership was sold off to another dealer chain about four years ago, and the new owners are OK, but definitely a bit of a slide backwards. Dealer protection laws definitely work for the negative here, because Kia needs to do a major culling of their dealerships, based on reputation.
” I put a lot of the blame for that on the horrible dealerships in the Houston metro… “.
Skye’s dealer in Richmond north of the river excepted (above comment), my education on the subject indicates that poor HK dealer service in the USA is nationwide. If that is inaccurate, I apologize, but when one smells something bad, chances are that somewhere, something is bad.
Mazda’s lineup is attractive, and your logic on used cars in the Covid era seems well thought out.
A non-turbo engine and a 6 speed automatic transmission are much preferred over any hot and high spinning turbo in front of a CVT, thought truth be told, I do like Toyota hybrids (not that I have one).
As I have mentioned before, life is too short to wrestle with unpleasant auto dealer sales and service personnel. But sometimes it’s hard to predict who will be unpleasant.
You’re a good man getting your mother a new, safe, and reliable CX-5. Life is so much nicer when one does not have to worry about the failing components of an aging car. And take it from an old man, SUVs are much easier on one’s body than lower sedans and, unfortunately, MX-5s.
Toyota hybrids do not rely on a conventional CVT (ski-doo style). There is no belt in the toyota E-cvt .
How sad was little sister when she had to swap the new CX-5 for the old Sonata?
FYI my wife and I both drive Mazdas (hers a 2017 CX-5 and me a 2019 CX-9. We both have the non-touch screen but are used to it. I think that is part of the Mazda philosophy to keep physical radio and HVAC controls to the maximum extent; thus limiting the utility of a touchscreen. i think moving the phone apps only to touch mode (ours don’t have that) is a reasonable compromise. Mazda in general seems to be the only mainstream brand still interested in the tactile and elemental driver experience. I’d love a Miata (or whatever they call them these days) but the small size gives me pause in this age of crazy post-Covid drivers and mid-30’s used for a very occasional ride I just cannot justify.
I guess I didn’t know that Hyundai/Kia’s had so many problems. We don’t have their dealership in town but they still seem very popular, everything from older Elantra’s or Accents to high-end Tellurides and lots of the EV’s. I guess we’ll stick with our VW. As for the tire blowout, I’ll also stick with 15 and 16 wheels and tires with real sidewalls. But of all the Asian brands, Mazda’s lineup is certainly the most appealing.
Thanks for a good overview of the CX-5. For whatever reason, Mazda has escaped my attention despite putting out some first-rate vehicles of late. Moreover, one of the largest Mazda dealers in Texas is near to me, so I have no excuse for not heading over there when in the market for a new car the next time.
Your experience with Hyundai-Kia dealers in metro Houston seem to be in line with what I’ve read and heard about H-K dealers nationwide. I will add that a large Hyundai dealer near me in the DFW metro seems to be a cut above, but most of the Kia dealers in my area operate in secondary locations (the one nearest me was once a Suzuki motorcycle dealership) and are throwbacks to the bad old days in terms of high-pressure sales and service tactics.
When the Telluride was first introduced four years ago, it was the hottest vehicle on the market, attracting affluent, educated buyers who appreciated the innate goodness of a well-designed vehicle. For the first time, Kia dealers were visited by people who had plenty of choices in the car market and were not shopping solely on the basis of easy credit and low monthly payments. Predictably, the dealers milked the situation for all it was worth, not allowing test drives, demanding thousands of dollars over list price, and generally behaving boorishly, if not buffoonishly. I really wanted to check out a Telluride, but the whole experience left me frustrated and angry. I took my money and went to a Honda dealer, where I was treated courteously by a true professional.
Ah, sisters. When my sister got rear ended in my Dad’s Subaru she tried to get the tow truck driver to bring it home and stick it in the driveway so he wouldn’t notice. Never mind that the rear wheels wouldn’t turn anymore…
Speaking of Dad, when he had a Kia Rondo every time he took it in for service the dealer had a new service manager. Every time.
CX5 seems to be a compelling package with good value. I recall JPC saying he was a fan, too.
The seeming end of the affordable used car is quite the phenomena. I was entertaining the idea a while back and could find nothing. A few people I know who have been lifelong experts at sourcing beaters are now starting to draw blanks. I have vehicles that appreciated in value which is so counter to everything I ever expected.
Also I think I need to forward this link to my kids for when dad retires.
The issue with Kia dealers is pretty obvious and simple to explain: most were picked up by marginal types when the brand was new to the US. Our Kia dealer had also been a Daewoo dealer. These guys used to be willing to take the risk on new brands. But not surprisingly, they also tend to be on the sleazy side, and at least averse to best practices, such as they are.
Sounds like a fair amount of issues with import branded cars. I’d think there would be an opening there. In my 40 years of driving, I’ve owned numerous used import brands and exactly 3 brand new import brands. One VW that was a nightmare (2002) and two Kia’s (2005 and 2016), both of which gave me issues or left me speechless with little things that should not have been while the dealer service was really bad. Of all the American brands, only two have given me issues: Both Jeeps and both diesels from an import brands (MB and Fiat). The dealer service was by far better in the cases with the Jeeps. Otherwise, I’ve had outstanding luck with my American brands.
The Mazda CX-5 is indeed an attractive choice… I took delivery of a 2024 CX-5 Signature (also in Polymetal grey) three weeks ago.
My 2015 Infiniti QX50 was now 8 years old, which is not that old, but Montreal weather, rough roads (spring thaw is brutal here) and extensive use of de-icing salt takes its toll. I figured now might be a good time to trade it in, with used car prices still relatively high.
A new QX50 was quickly discarded – a similarly equipped 2023 QX50 would cost about CA$13,000 more than the CX-5 Signature (CA$47,000 MSRP) and in many respects, the CX-5 is better IMHO.
The CX-5 is very similar in size to my 2015 QX50. For my usage, this is ‘right-sized’. The CX-5 is a bit taller outside, and roomier inside despite being very slightly shorter overall.
I really don’t like CVTs (referred to as ‘ski-doo transmissions’ in these parts), so that also did not favour a new QX50, and further limited my choices.
I have owned a couple of black cars, but I hate black wheels, and what I call ‘black lipstick’ all over the car: black wheel-well surrounds, mirror caps, roofs, rocker panels, front air dams, rear diffusers, etc., which is what drove me to the Signature version of the CX-5, and ruled out the new CX-50.
What clinched the deal was a manufacturer’s rebate of $CA2,000 on the 2024 Signature edition, plus a $500 loyalty rebate since I still own my 2002 Miata. Weirdly, driving an identical 2023 CX-5 off the dealer lot would have cost me the same, if not more than the 2024, which was delivered to me within 10 days.
I’m still working my way through the myriad configuration options for connectivity, security, door locks, playing music (900 CDs on a USB stick), navigation etc. There’s about 1000 pages of documentation for the various subsystems, so that’s a bit of chore. Still a few things I need to change to my taste…
Just came back from a trip to Quebec City, and the CX-5 was comfortable, nimble, and quiet. The 2.5l 4-cyl. turbo engine is powerful and flexible: 227HP @5000RPM, 310 lb-ft @2,000 RPM on regular gas, a bit higher on premium. That torque figure gives the engine the feel of small V8. My 2015 QX50 3.7l V6 had to spin a lot faster to generate less torque – 267 lb-ft @5200 RPM.
The QX50 might look and feel a bit more luxurious, but I do not feel short-changed. So far, so good.
I have become a fan of the CX-5, and I appreciate this additional data point. I keep meaning to go look at one just to see if I like it from behind the wheel as much as I do from behind a keyboard.
After a long and happy experience with my 2012 Sedona, I had said for years that Hyundai-Kia would be my first stop for a new car. But then they started having all of those engine problems. Even the best dealers can only replace so many engines in so much time, and getting the parts has been a problem. To make matters worse, my favored V6 engines are now available in very few models – and very pricey ones at that.
My dealer has treated me well on the few warranty issues we have had. But then they were a Toyota dealer who picked up Kia along the way. They sold out a few years ago to a dealer group out of Chicago (Napleton) and I have been less enthralled with them, but they treated me fairly on a big warranty expense right as the car approached its 10th birthday.
Here’s the one I purchased earlier in the year for my wife. Ours is a slightly used 2019 CX-5 AWD Grand Touring model. It’s naturally aspirated 2.5L I-4 is plenty powerful enough for us and the car (yes, I said car and not CUV) is fun to drive because it handles like one.
We love it so far, and it’s Soul Red paint is one of the prettiest colors available right now in the bland monochromatic automotive era in which we find ourselves…
Again today with the picture sizes!!! Let’s try this again…
The front view: Although I really like it, when washing it the other day, I kept seeing the image of a basking shark or whale shark in my head, and now I can’t unsee this…
Good to hear about the CX-5 being a great choice. How does it compare with the near equivalent, and newer Cx-50 model, which seem to be pretty close in dimensions, features, and price?
I’m still trying to figure out if it is Mazda’s eventual intention to replace all of their CUV(s), but they still sell the CX-5 and CX-50 side by side.
I just read a Motor Trend article comparing these two, and the CX-50 is slightly lower, and slightly longer than the CX-5 and is supposedly more geared toward some light off road use than the CX-5.
The CX-30 has replaced the CX-3. The new CX-90 is to replace the CX-9, and the CX-70 is to be slotted in between the CX-50 (and CX-5) and the CX-90, essentially replacing the long dead CX-7. The article I read today also said that the forbidden fruit CX-60 that they get across the pond will be the basis for the new CX-70 for the North American market.
YMMV, and I’m confused by all of this, and I own one!!! Maybe the CX-5 is still sold along side the CX-50 because it is still very popular.
Beautiful car, Kyree! On my latest hunt I was enamored with both the CX-5 and CX-50. The Premium Plus level gives you near luxury without the price tag. My only reservation was mpgs. I sure wish they made a hybrid.
Regarding H-K, they need to reset their dealerships stat. And while they make a beautiful line of vehicles, I have yet see one cross 6–7 years without developing major issues. A good friend and I spent several weekends in 2017 car shopping. She ended up with a 2017 Sonata Hybrid Limited with the Ultima package. Was in love with it until last May, when the hybrid battery crapped out. Same routine your sister faced – no loaner immediately available. She finally got a loaner in July, and just got her car back this week, nearly 4 months later. At least the warranty covered the new hybrid battery.
Great story that I really enjoyed. Some of it due to Mom’s take on seeing pictures and that the car was cute. Then the son’s take on all the amenities and cool capabilities of the car. Mom’s buy a car because it looks nice while son’s buy a car because it has all this cool stuff. Ageless.
Mazda still underrated as a car company. Pretty much always known for good to great cars after the rotary. Yet that never seems to translate into higher sales for the company. Hard to understand. Have dealt with two different Mazda dealers, from two different eras of 1985 and 2018, and both excellent. I had my max price after research and both dealers offered the car at a lower price than I thought possible. A no hassle experience that isn’t advertised as a no hassle experience. Mazda is a no brainer…
By the way those Covid prices on under 10K cars still taking time to drop in the private market. They will eventually come to the realization that their prices need to drop by 50% and soon in order to sell. Premium prices for cars over 200K? Get out of here!
The problem outside of your geographic area is that Mazdas were aggressive rusters for years after all other top-tier Japanese companies licked that problem. As lovely as the Protoge5 was (and it was a car I really had a thing for), those things rusted as badly as any 1960’s Studebaker, 1970’s International Scout or 1980’s Honda. I think Mazda lost many sales in the midwest and northeast because of that issue.
Good choice this CX-5 better than their longer CX50 which does not have more space inside and which gives less like its ‘new’ torsion beam rear axle.
Personally I prefer the styling of the early CX-5 the new front with the narrow headlights looks both beady eyed and blank faced with the expanse of unadorned metal in front. I prefer the looks of my 2016 carryover model along with the hefty discount on offer in March of 2017 to clear inventory. Ours is the basic Sport AWD so cloth seats, no driver aids, no complexity. The only problem we’ve had is the infotainment acting freaky because the batter was failing, but after 6 1/2 years it was expected. .