Hi, we're debating whether to buy a 2016.5 Cx-5 Grand Touring or 2017 CX-5 Touring. This time of the year, they seem to be comparable in price.

The luxury package had obvious benefits.

A couple of questions I have are:
1. Are the improvements on the 2017s considerable? Most notably how much quieter it is? Do the improvements outweigh the luxury features of the previous year's model?

2. What do you think of the leatherette seats (in the 2017 Touring) vs. leather (in Grand Touring)?

Thanks in advance!

Ryan

 

Hi Ryan,
We've been looking at these and the CX-9 for the past week and signed on for a '5 GT yesterday in Soul Red. Awesome car.

I really wanted the CX-9 but it came down to not really needing the extra seat row nor the extra $100-plus per month on the lease. The CX5 is just as nice driving as the '9, looks almost the same inside and out, except for the Signature version, and is just a little shorter. Otherwise the feature list and styling is virtually identical.

To answer your questions...
1. IMO the improvements are worth going with the new model. From what I was able to research there is over a hundred pounds of sound deadening materials in the new model so it is MUCH quieter going down the road. We traded a 2015 Mazda3 GT, primarily because it seemed small and it was really noisy. Nice car, but we were ready to move up to something more luxurious. We're in southern-Cal and our roads are AWFUL - so a CUV with some bigger tires made the most sense. We absolutely love the new car.
2. We have a 12lb pom that goes everywhere with us, so the light color leather (parchment) is super light, almost white, in the GT, so that was a non-starter. In the Touring the center section of the seating surfaces is a microsuede - also a none-starter. It wasn't so bad in the black seats, but I just didn't care for it at all - would rather just have then standard fabric seats then.

Wife and I both drive both of our cars so the seat-setting memory was a big plus for us. Also the lumbar adjustment and power passenger seat was a plus. The heated rear seats was just over the top for this part of the country, but part of the package.

Our Mazda3 was Soul Red but this new 'crystal' version of the color is simply outstanding - nothing else like it out on the road.

Also, our '3 had the heads-up display so she wanted it on the new car, and a roof, and the Bose sound, so the top-end was where we were headed.

Driving, the new car is pretty amazing. It's quiet, has good power, and handles excellently. Very pleased. She also really liked the stop-hold feature that keeps the car from rolling if you take your foot off the brake when stopped. Lots of new technology features that really make the car. Now if they would just get the Apple Car-Play feature option - hopefully that's coming soon.

 

I traded in my 2015 GT CX5 for the 2017 GT yesterday, after also comparing it to the 2016.5. There is no comparison when it comes to noise. The 2017 is fantastic, on city streets and the highway. Also I live in Florida and the rear air vents make a big difference in how fast the car cools. Another factor that swayed me was the power liftgate. Beware of the seats however. On the plus side the passenger seat can be adjusted for height, but the con is that they are not very soft and are on the narrow side. I think the old driver seat was more comfortable from the start. Lastly, I'm getting better highway driving mileage. I could never get over 27.9 mpg driving 75-85 over long stretches and just got 30.1 with the new car in similar conditions

 

I traded in my 2015 GT CX5 for the 2017 GT yesterday, after also comparing it to the 2016.5. There is no comparison when it comes to noise. The 2017 is fantastic, on city streets and the highway. Also I live in Florida and the rear air vents make a big difference in how fast the car cools. Another factor that swayed me was the power liftgate. Beware of the seats however. On the plus side the passenger seat can be adjusted for height, but the con is that they are not very soft and are on the narrow side. I think the old driver seat was more comfortable from the start. Lastly, I'm getting better highway driving mileage. I could never get over 27.9 mpg driving 75-85 over long stretches and just got 30.1 with the new car in similar conditions