Hello. I just bought a 2016 CX-5 with both safety electronics packages. I love the car and everything is great. But something is baffling me here. Why is there no audio warning option with the DRSS when you are getting too close to the car in front of you (unless a collision is imminent)? I had a MobilEye on my last car and you could have it chime when you were within, say, 2 seconds of the car in front and it got your attention so you could slow down and allow more space. This does the same thing, but unlike the other safety options, there is no audible alarm option and it only displays a ridiculous graphic to the right of the speedometer. It's absolutely useless. Why would you be looking there to find out how close you are to the car in front out you? It would have been trivial to add an audio option. The MobilEye was great to have when you're looking in your blind spot and someone changes lanes closely in front you. "Chime"- you look forward and see that you're getting too close to someone.

I called Mazda and the woman I talked to agreed that it made no sense, but said it was unlikely there would be a software update to add the option. The other (trivial to do) thing I'd like would be for the navigation system to tell you that you're speed even when you haven't programmed a route.

This car seems to be very well thought out, but the DRSS situation really bothers me and I may end up adding a MobilEye anyhow, which I never would have though necessary with all the other great stuff on this car. Can anyone think of a logical reason they'd leave audio off this particular feature?

Thanks!
Brian

 

Brian, please don't take this the wrong way. At some point in time, with all the safety features todays vehicles have, we must take some responsibility in the way we operate them.

 

I appreciate your reply and I agree (I don't take it the wrong way). I've been driving for 20 years, never had an accident, haven't had a ticket since 2003 and never drink and drive. I take driving very seriously, which is why I'm quite happy to have an extra set of eyes on the road without relying on them, and stand behind what I said above. The graphic display for the DRSS is totally useless and if they want to set an audio alert default to OFF that's fine, but at least give people an option like with everything else on the car.

 

I was wrong about the navigation not giving a speed warning without an active route. I've only had to car for a few days and am still figuring it out.