Even though my wife really wanted Android Auto, we're probably getting her a car that doesn't have it (yet)

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
08/01/2018 at 11:01 • Filed to: None

Look at the kangaroos!

After !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! that while Honda has subsidized lease deals on the base model CR-V LX, those lease terms can’t be applied to other, higher priced CR-V trims, I made a trip to another car dealer, to check out a car that should’ve been on our list, but sorta kinda wasn’t: the Mazda CX-5.

My wife’s top features she wants are:

Higher-than-a-regular-car ride height and hip point

Runs on regular fuel, not premium

Non-leather seats

Active safety features including automatic emergency braking

Auto-dimming mirror(s)

Android Auto

The CX-5 Touring offers all of these things, except for Android Auto. Mazda supposedly will retrofit it to their existing cars at some point, and there’s been some !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but so far in the US it’s only !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

The mirror can be had either as a dealer accessory for $325, or part of the $1200 preferred package which also includes navigation, Bose stereo, sunroof, and power tailgate. I think the package is worth it.

When we got home from the Honda dealer, my wife had to head out to do some work stuff, and I was planning to go to the gym. But right next to the shopping center where my gym is, there are Chevy, VW and Mazda dealers. So I figured I’d go peek at a CX-5 real quick and find out if the subsidized lease terms could be applied to not only the base model that’s being advertised.

I drove the CX-5, and, well, it’s nice. More on that in a sec.

The CR-V is an extremely practical and space-efficient vehicle. There’s tons of room inside and all sorts of interesting cubbies and organizers and dividers and cup holders. It is probably the most rational 2-row crossover on the market. The interior is nicer than the average mass-market car, and most folks would be very happy with it.

My wife was willing to try and lease one, and liked it, but she thought it was a little too big. It’s not big, really. But the dash and cowl are super tall, and the top of the hood kinks up towards the fenders and protrudes into your view. The height of the non-glass parts of the front of the car is substantial.

Also, it’s not particularly inspiring to drive. Which is fine for most people. It’s competent, but driving it doesn’t feel quite natural. When you take a turn with a little speed, it turns in, changes direction, leans over some, then takes a set and continues through the turn. It’s capable of doing it just fine, but it’s not smooth.

The CX-5 on the other hand, is much less rational than the CR-V. While its exterior dimensions are within an inch or two of the CR-V, there’s just less room inside. The interior is high quality, but console around the shifter doesn’t offer much knee room if you splay your knees out sideways some. When I adjust the driver’s seat for my 5'11" self, I can fit in the back fine, but there’s less leg room than the CR-V. The trunk is reasonably large, but again, smaller than the CR-V. There are less handy nooks and cubbies and dividers.

And yet...

It’s actually pretty decent to drive. Both cars have smooth, quiet rides, but the CX-5 feels much more fluid in turns. Unlike the CR-V, there’s no turn-lean-bite dance. It just...turns. The brakes are much less grabby, requiring more pedal pressure. Its normally-aspirated 2.5 liter motor feels more responsive to throttle inputs than the CR-V’s 1.5 liter turbo. At least you get something in return for the lower mileage. The cowl height is lower than the CR-V and there’s no sticky-up fenders in your view.

I thought my wife would like it enough that I asked for some preliminary lease numbers, just to see if it would be in the ballpark of what we want to pay. The numbers sounded good. I told them I’d bring my wife back. Then she texted me that her work stuff finished early, and I asked if she wanted to come check out the CX-5. She stopped in, took it for a drive, and liked it a lot more than the CR-V.

We weren’t quite ready to pull the trigger on Sunday, because my wife couldn’t make up her mind on color. We wanted a CX-5 Touring AWD with the lighter, “silk beige” upholstery, the preferred package, and she was trying to decide between the gunmetal grey or navy blue that interior can be combined with. They had a blue one on the lot, but not grey.

You might be thinking to yourself, hey, that looks like leather that my wife wants to avoid, but Mazda specifies that the Touring has leather ette and ultrasuede upholstery. This is acceptable.

Once we got home and she had some time to think about it, she decided she wanted grey. I did some searching online and this same dealer group has another Mazda store about 23 miles from us, instead of the one that’s a mile down the street from us, and they had a grey/beige one in stock.

I called our sales guy yesterday, and he suggested putting a deposit on the car so they could swap it from the other location. I stopped in on my way over to the gym last night, and the sales manager couldn’t get a hold of his counterpart at the other location, so he said not to worry about the deposit, they would get us the car, and then we can come in and work out the deal.

We’re probably going to do that tomorrow night. Because tonight is leg day. Yes, my wife is willing to wait another day for her new CX-5 so I can avoid skipping leg day.

DISCUSSION (29)

itschrome > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:04

“ My wife’s top features she wants are:

Higher-than-a-regular-car ride height and hip point

Non-leather seats

Active safety features including automatic emergency braking

Auto-dimming mirror(s)

Android Auto”

I believe this is what your wife wants:

Kinja'd!!!

Textured Soy Protein > itschrome
08/01/2018 at 11:06

The TourX is a foot longer than the CR-V that she thought was too big.

Also she hates poorly integrated tacked-on and un-painted body cladding.

Oh, and the list also should include “runs on regular unleaded gas.”

mazda616 > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:10

We have an early build 2013 CX-5 Sport (have had it since December 2012) and it’s a great vehicle. It has been extremely reliable for us, needing only tires, brakes (which I admittedly replaced a bit early for peace of mind), a battery, and a TCM software update in six years and 56,000 miles.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:11

I hadn’t gone to the gym in two weeks until yesterday due to Golf problems. Yesterday was leg day. I can’t walk.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:12

I’m glad you’ve seen the light! Also, from what I understand from Mazda corporate employees I’ve talked to, you will be able to retrofit any Mazda Connect vehicle with Android Auto later this year.

We shall see though.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:14

I still approve of this choice, Mazda and Honda are my top 2 “regular” brands. Toyota's not too far off either.

Textured Soy Protein > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
08/01/2018 at 11:14

Yeah that’s the talk out of Europe and Canada. Mazda USA so far has only announced the retrofit kit for the 2018 6. That car’s USB port for hooking in a phone is only 1 amp or something like that and the retrofit bumps it to 2.1 amp, but I believe the CX-5 USB port already is 2.1 amp.

Arrivederci > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:14

I really liked the CX5 when my wife and I were looking to replace her Rogue that was totaled by an inattentive driver. It’s a great driver and nice interior, the only downside my wife found was that it was too small. We ended up going with the Sorento because it offers substantially more space inside. It doesn’t drive as nicely as the CX5, due to both its larger size and chassis tuning, but has good power from its turbo-four, a traditional automatic (I hate CVTs) a nice interior, tons of space and a massive warranty for my wife who puts over 20k on a car in a year.

Stapleface > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:16

The CX-5 really is a nice vehicle. That being said, I don’t know if I’d hold my breath on Mazda actually making Carplay and Android Auto available like they say they’re going to. I know for instance on the CX-3 and Yaris IA, it was available to do by flashing a rom on a USB stick to the headunit. Mazda has since disabled the ability to do that on model year 18 vehicles. Not sure if it’s the same with the CX-5, but I’d hazard a guess to say it is.

Hopefully Mazda will come through with it and do what they supposedly say.

Then again, maybe I’m just bitter because Honda put a completely half baked system into my 2015 Civic and have since said “tough shit, we’re not updating it” even though they said they would.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:17

If need be, I can buy a retro kit in Canada and send it to you. But I don’t see why Canada and Europe would get something that the US does not.

*Looks at Nissan Micra, Smart Diesel, Mercedes E Class Wagon and functioning (ish) political systems *

Oh... Nevermind

Textured Soy Protein > mazda616
08/01/2018 at 11:22

One thing I don’t like about the CX-5 is its tire size, and shitty-in-snow OE tires. The CR-V EX comes with Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 in 235/60-18, vs the CX-5's 225/55-19 Toyo A36. The reviews on the CR-V tires are that it’s also poor in winter but at least replacements are cheaper and there are way more options available in that size . The General Altimax RT43 comes in both sizes but is $30/each more in the CX-5 size.

( Although that’s my inner former Wisconsin resident talking, because while we do get occasionally large snowfalls in DC where I live now, it’s not nearly as persistent as in Wisconsin.)

Textured Soy Protein > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
08/01/2018 at 11:23

Based on my experience renting one, t he current-gen RAV4 is trash.

Textured Soy Protein > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
08/01/2018 at 11:23

In the US there may or may not be a cost associated with the retrofit. I’m crossing my fingers for no cost.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:24

oh no, it will cost $$. It is what it is.

Textured Soy Protein > Stapleface
08/01/2018 at 11:26

I read up on that flashing issue with the later firmware versions. There are some workarounds if need be. For now though since it’s a brand new car and there’s a decent chance of an official retrofit, I don’t want to mess with it. Here’s a press release from Mazda Canada :

Mazda also announced the addition of Apple CarPlay™ and Android™ Auto support to its vehicle line-up. In Canada, these mobile device connectivity technologies will first be offered in the 2019 CX9 launching this summer, and then rolled out across the entire model line-up thereafter. In addition, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will be available as a Genuine Mazda Accessory retrofit for MAZDA CONNECT systems starting this fall.

So I figure that means hopefully Mazda USA will get on that same train.

Textured Soy Protein > Arrivederci
08/01/2018 at 11:27

At the Honda dealer, m y wife liked the size of the HR-V over the CR-V. It took some persuading to get her to try the CR-V. But she felt like the CX-5 was just right for her. We don’t have kids and our main use of cargo space is if we buy a piece of furniture or other large item online and need to take the box to the dump.

Textured Soy Protein > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
08/01/2018 at 11:29

In the US, the retrofit is free on the 6. From my link:

All but the base 2018 Mazda 6 Sport trim will receive Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as no-cost dealer-installed upgrades. That includes 2018 model year cars that have already been sold. So, if you should have already purchased a Touring, Grand Touring, Grand Touring Reserve or Signature, make an appointment at the dealer in a month and it’ll upgrade the infotainment system to not only include the Apple and Android software but also the latest Mazda Connect software and a more powerful, faster-charging 2.1-amp USB port.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:32

Oh yeah, I didn’t mean the RAV4, I just meant I liked those brands in general. That new RAV4 doesn't look too bad though, the 2019.

wafflesnfalafel > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:39

L ove hearing the back and forth story you guys are doing. A couple years ago when shopping for my wife we had a similar experience - Rav, Honda CRV, HRV, Mazda CX5, CX3, Subie Crosstrek and Outback. I honestly liked the CX5 better but we ended up with a pretty Crosstrek in hyperblue largely because it was smaller, (which my wife discovered she preferred when cross shopping all of these - and I wasn’t going to complain especially since it was quite a bit cheaper even after getting the stereo upgrade and sub .) I really like the looks of the new CX5 and I thought it drove the best of all that we tried at the time.

mazda616 > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:47

Our 2013 came with Yokohamas and they were excellent. It now has Goodyears and I’ve been happy enough with those as well.

Kinja'd!!!

Someday, we’ll be upgrading to a CX-9.

Spaceball-Two > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 11:51

We bought a CX5 last year and are very happy with it. It’s rather zippy in Sport mode and works quite well in the snow. My only complaint is the UI on the infotainment system. It’s laggy at times and moving between audio and map can be a frustrating . It hauls our toddler and all his shit around quite nicely and we even took it “camping”.

Textured Soy Protein > wafflesnfalafel
08/01/2018 at 11:55

Her current car is an Impreza hatchback. When we were shopping for it, all the other options we considered were subcompact crossovers like the HR-V and CX-3. But she hated the cladding on the Crosstrek so we went for an Impreza.

The beginning of her desire for a higher up car was when she had a Forester service loaner. Once we moved from Madison to DC, even though she knows the Impreza is very safe, its lower ride height and big windows left her exposed in traffic.

Now she’s all excited about the CX-5 being easier to get in and out of, and its higher-but-not-too-high beltline.

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 12:09

This is interesting oppo. I’ve been shopping for a car for the Mrs, been looking at roughly three year old luxury SUVs. I had prior been recommended a cx5, but kind of pushed it out of my mind. That said, earlier today I noticed that Mazda has 0% going across their lineup and the grand touring CX5 has a ton of toys for the price! The Mrs approves and I think we’ll be heading to a dealership soon.

Curious, what’s the interest in finding not leather but leather like for the interior?

Textured Soy Protein > TysMagic
08/01/2018 at 12:23

We’re avoiding leather because we’re vegan. It doesn’t need to be fake leather, just anything that’s not real leather. The CR-V EX has cloth seats and soft touch plastic on the steering wheel and shifter. The CX-5 T ouring does have supposedly-real leather on the steering wheel and shifter but we can live with that because at least all the upholstery on the seats and doors is fake. We’re already imperfect vegans thanks to buying cat food.

Textured Soy Protein > Spaceball-Two
08/01/2018 at 12:49

The screen in her current Impreza is a dumpster fire, so the screen in the CX-5 will be an upgrade, especially once it (hopefully) gains Android Auto.

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
08/01/2018 at 14:43

I appreciate the commitment. I’m immediately thinking of some vegan friends who are driving around in a leather wrapped Mercedes

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
08/06/2018 at 08:50

Checked them out this weekend! Ended up liking the options and lesser price on the touring with the preferred package. I like the leatherette with suede insert, a lot less maintenance than the real deal! Did you pick one up?

Textured Soy Protein > TysMagic
08/06/2018 at 11:01

We got a touring preferred on Saturday. I have a post scheduled to go up soon.

TysMagic > Textured Soy Protein
08/06/2018 at 11:15

if you got the light silver, we will soon match