Hi, am looking at the CX-5. Any tips on whether certain year's models are more reliable, especially as they rack up the km?
thanks, any problems they may have to deal with?

 

It depends what you mean by offroad. Relatively smooth dirt roads are easily handled by any AWD CX-5. Sand, mud, rock crawling are not suitable for any Mazda vehicle.

 

I have a 2014 CX5 and a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I would never consider taking the CX5 off-road like I do the GC - the AWD system is not designed for that, nor is the suspension or transmission. While it has decent ground clearance for a crossover, it would probably bottom out on true off-roading and it doesn't have the skid plates like the Jeep.

That said, very few, if any, of the current crop of crossovers would be satisfactory for off-roading. Probably the best of them would be an Outback, but I wouldn't even want to use one of those for anything too difficult (I've had two Outbacks in the past and loved both of the, but not off-road). For serious off-road, the Jeep Wrangler is the best of the American vehicles, but it can be a maintenance nightmare as in expensive at times. The Grand Cherokee is good, but also expensive to buy and maintain, but it's not a Wrangler. Most of the rest of the Jeep line is for wannabes that want to look cool, but really don't get that far off the tarmac. You might want to look for a used 4Runner with the 4x4 option (not AWD). I've had two of those and they had fewer maintenance issues than the Jeeps and did darn well off-road with skid plates and the proper tires.

 

Not quite true. I had a 2006 Mazda B series 4x4 pickup that was excellent off road.

 

i agree with the consensus. Mild off-road go with a Subaru. I would recommend a Forester over the Outback.

Serious off-road go with the wrangler 2 door.