No more Mazda. What’s next?

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by Josh (PA)

WDC, i was going to PM you but your mailbox is full. A good friend of mine is shopping CX-5s. Can you remind me what the engine issue/concern is / was and what models and years were effected please? Any thoughts and pros/cons vs similar little SUVs would be interesting. He's looking 2018 or newer.

Oo. Need to attend to that inbox.

My concerns were oil consumption based on an engine valve flaw (if I'm remembering correctly) and possibly the coolant leak problem. The fix at the time I owned my car was a complete engine replacement. My car was a 2021 CX-5 2.5T and was an affected VIN. It was showing looming issues with oil consumption and started having a bitter smokey smell--like something was burning.

Your pal should do a deep dive into Mazdas247:

https://mazdas247.com/forum/

Here are some of the troublesome threads:
https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/2-5t-e...tsb.123876574/

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/mazda-...wtf.123876828/

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/cracke...his.123876197/

Also a problem on the same engine in the CX-9s:
"The cracking cylinder head, leaking coolant, and various engine failures in 2.5T engines are problems that are being reported by owners of the 2016 model year and later. Some are getting their engines replaced both within and outside of their warranty expiration date. While others are not."

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/2-5t-c...tsa.123877405/

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/2-5t-c...ent.123875515/

My conclusion was that the non-turbo engine was probably a safer bet, yet nowhere near as peppy and fun, I'm afraid. My son's is a 2020 non-turbo with no issues so far (knock wood). Although, I believe older models had some cylinder deactivation problem...

[John V]

For what it's worth our '17 (first year of the current bodystyle) 2.5 (non-turbo) CX-5 has been absolutely bulletproof. I do all our oil changes and if it burns any in between the 7,500 mile intervals, it's not perceptible on the dipstick. Currently at 66,000 miles.

wdc is right that it's a pretty soulless engine, but I remain extremely impressed with the handling.

[Josh (PA)]

Originally Posted by John V

For what it's worth our '17 (first year of the current bodystyle) 2.5 (non-turbo) CX-5 has been absolutely bulletproof. I do all our oil changes and if it burns any in between the 7,500 mile intervals, it's not perceptible on the dipstick. Currently at 66,000 miles.

wdc is right that it's a pretty soulless engine, but I remain extremely impressed with the handling.

WDC/JV - Thanks. So from what I'm reading stay away from the turbo engine and he'll be fine. He's a recent grad, just got engaged and needs to stay away from something that will grenade on him (so I'm steering him away from BMWs and all thing German this go around). He's looking at a Lexus NX (souped up RAV4), the CX-5 and CR-Vs.

At first pass, a 2019 Lexus NX actually seems like the best value proposition of the three.

[wdc330i]

Originally Posted by John V

For what it's worth our '17 (first year of the current bodystyle) 2.5 (non-turbo) CX-5 has been absolutely bulletproof. I do all our oil changes and if it burns any in between the 7,500 mile intervals, it's not perceptible on the dipstick. Currently at 66,000 miles.

wdc is right that it's a pretty soulless engine, but I remain extremely impressed with the handling.

I agree that the handling on the CX-5 was just great for what it is. Really very good.

[lemming]

Originally Posted by wdc330i

Oo. Need to attend to that inbox.

My concerns were oil consumption based on an engine valve flaw (if I'm remembering correctly) and possibly the coolant leak problem. The fix at the time I owned my car was a complete engine replacement. My car was a 2021 CX-5 2.5T and was an affected VIN. It was showing looming issues with oil consumption and started having a bitter smokey smell--like something was burning.

Your pal should do a deep dive into Mazdas247:

https://mazdas247.com/forum/

Here are some of the troublesome threads:
https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/2-5t-e...tsb.123876574/

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/mazda-...wtf.123876828/

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/cracke...his.123876197/

Also a problem on the same engine in the CX-9s:
"The cracking cylinder head, leaking coolant, and various engine failures in 2.5T engines are problems that are being reported by owners of the 2016 model year and later. Some are getting their engines replaced both within and outside of their warranty expiration date. While others are not."

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/2-5t-c...tsa.123877405/

https://mazdas247.com/forum/t/2-5t-c...ent.123875515/

My conclusion was that the non-turbo engine was probably a safer bet, yet nowhere near as peppy and fun, I'm afraid. My son's is a 2020 non-turbo with no issues so far (knock wood). Although, I believe older models had some cylinder deactivation problem...

ARGH.

In general, turbocharged engines really are grenades past 150,000 miles. No matter who makes them. It’s really difficult to get all of the compression related things correct. And the added heat just kills all of the plastic engine parts.

Even if the manufacturer figures out the turbocharged engine issues (like Honda did for the CR-V and Mazda will for this engine), long term it’s a preventative maintenance nightmare, IMHO. Avoid at all costs.