The original post: /r/whatcarshouldibuy by /u/Main-Sale7664 on 2025-03-06 02:43:40.

I’ve only ever owned 2 car brands, Mazda and Toyota.

Drove a 2019 Mazda 3 then switched to a 2011 Toyota RAV4 when AWD became more necessary for me - I wanted to love the RAV4 for its boots strapped utility and reliability but I couldn’t last more than 1.5 years with it after the Mazda 3.

Once I figured out that I wanted a Mazda again I settled on a 2018 CX-5 GT for all the reasons everyone else gets a Mazda.

  • Simple powertrain - naturally aspirated & 6 speed transmission
  • Leather seats, premium speakers, adaptive cruise control and automatic headlights were all chefs kiss at an affordable price
  • Good looking, nice lines (except for the rear)
  • Great handling for a crossover, I never doubted my ability to take a tight turn at high speeds
  • Safe - the “Break” notification saved me multiple occasions, like I avoided major accidents.

But then came the bad:

  • Build quality - after owning it for 2 years the car started looking super worn. Steering wheel was disintegrating, drivers seat ripped, windshield chipped easily, paint chips everywhere, piano black trim scratched.
  • Alternator failed at 100K Miles (happens but annoying)
  • Power lift gate failed - apparently it’s somewhat common in colder climates for ice to get dislodged in the trunk panel seams. Opened it one cold night and the trunk totally misaligned, stopped opening fully, a $2,500 repair job according to Mazda.
  • Jerky transmission that feels like impending doom, the transmission on this vehicle is the worst and most indecisive I’ve ever experienced. Every time I loaned my car out someone would ask if my transmission was ok.
  • Fuel economy is weak compared to competitors.
  • Depreciation hits hard-ish
  • Rattles as it ages, specifically caused by the Subwoofer
  • Gas tank is wayyy too small, like seriously.
  • rear reflectors broke out of place, both

All this to say I believe Mazda is the interim car you get when you don’t know what to get but you want to play it safe. You don’t want a RAV4/CRV, you have champagne taste with a beer budget so the better equipped German trims are out so you settle on the cheapest, best equipped, good reputation vehicle you can feel safe about, a CX5.

You’ll buy this car for logical reasons but emotionally you’ll always wonder, as it ages, what should you trade it in for.

I finally traded the CX-5 with all of the aforementioned issues once the repairs = 33% of my trade in-value for a 2016 4Runner, while it’s a different class of vehicle I’m amazed by how new the interior and body is after 8 years of being on the road and also how well they hold their value.

This is what keeps me going back to Toyota. Their vehicles are honest and extremely well engineered with immaculate quality.