Comments by "Stephen Hendricks" (@stephenhendricks103) on "Kelley Blue Book" channel.

  1. Wow, rear seat HVAC vents! I passed on a second generation RAV4 years ago due to the lack of AC in the back seat for the kid and the dog. Good to see Toyota joining the 21st century on this point, at least.
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  2. KIA is playing a long game with the Forte. It doesn't have to be the best possible entry in the compact sedan segment. It just has to be an attractive, competent, tech packed daily driver that appeals to young and other first time buyers. Most of that market segment doesn't know what a CVT is. As long as it shifts imperceptibly and doesn't drone, it's an automatic transmission. End of story. 0-60 mph? Who's counting? As long as it gets up to freeway speed in 9 seconds of less, it's quick enough, even peppy. What does matter is purchase price, fuel economy, safety, and practicality. For those drowning in student loan debt and parents buying their kids a first car, even a few hundred dollars difference in a purchase price is important. A very well equipped car for less than $24K draws attention. For those paying for fuel and insurance at near entry level jobs, 40 MPG is a magic number. Forty MPG jumps off the window sticker to a potential customer. Thirty-nine mpg? Not so much. Parents buying their kid a first car LOVE safety and convenience features like lane keeping assist and automated emergency braking. (I know; I'm one of those parents.) Need an attractive car that will carry that massive load of stuff to and from college? Just look at what can be stuffed into the Forte. But there's even more to this game from KIA's standpoint. Loyalty to automotive brands isn't what it used to be but it's still true that if a customer buys their first new car from a company and remain happy with it they're more likely to consider that brand when they move up to a second, a third, or a fourth vehicle. KIA can afford to make almost no profit from the Forte if they substantially improve their chances of selling an Optima, a Sportage, a Sorento, a Stinger, or whatever else they come up with as young buyers mature and their needs/desires change. Fond memories of a first car is a powerful sales tool. It might even tempt mom and dad to think about a KIA for their next purchase.
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  3. KIA won't sell boatloads of the K900 in the US. But that's not especially important. It sells extremely well in its Korean home market and other nations in Asia where its K9 moniker doesn't prompt jokes about canines. And in the luxury segment where most vehicles are leased for three years or so, the K900 value pricing for a long term purchase is less important, especially for badge whores and others who judge the quality of a vehicle by the comments of their friends at the local country club. Nevertheless, the K900 is a valuable asset for KIA in the US. It's a halo model sitting in dealer showrooms that shows off the quality and appeal of the brand when shoppers actually shop for less expensive vehicles. Like owning the least expensive house in an upscale neighborhood it improves customers' feelings about their purchases. Furthermore, Hyundai/KIA have shown a genius for sharing components, engineering, and design while appealing to slightly different market segments. Feel a little queasy about buying a luxury car from KIA or Hyundai? No problem. There's that Genesis brand available that betrays almost nothing about its Korean heritage. And whether it's a Stinger, a K900 or one of several Genesis models, they're vehicles at least as Germanic as their rivals in almost every Important respect. The K900 isn't the car for me and my family, as appealing as it is. My backseat is usually reserved for my teenage daughter who requires nothing more than USB charging capabilities and a large dog who is happy in any vehicle as long as he gets to go. But for those feel a car should reflect less about one's economic status and more about one's sense of actual value, it's a winner.
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  4. Actually, it was that "slightly condensed form factor" that was a major factor in our choice of the Sorento over the CX-9, Highlander, and the VW Atlas. The Sorento is nearly a FOOT shorter than the CX-9 while providing more passenger room in the third row, the second row, and overall cargo capacity.
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  5. Here's a hint for Ford. Make sure your "press" cars, i.e. vehicles provided to reviewers are trouble free.
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  6.  @kendrickbrown65  One does pay for cleaner air.
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  7. Love the Alltrack. Tried to convince my wife of its appeal last year when we were replacing an SUV. But since that car is her daily driver she got to choose a vehicle with a higher driver's position. (That choice among female drivers, by the way, largely explains the obsession with SUV's and the decline in both the wagon and family sedan segments.) I would have gone with the Alltrack but I have my GTI to salve my wounds.
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  8. Honda builds a number of good vehicles and very few truly bad ones. But their wheelhouse going back many years to the original Civic is small, affordable, economical, flexible, and reliable vehicles with more than a few innovative features. If you don't have the time and energy to undertake exhausting research on every subcompact SUV you could do lot worse than just grabbing the HRV.
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  9. Wow! Such an abundance of testosterone poisoning in the comments.
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  10. Not a fan of CVT's either but I have to admit that they've come along a fair bit since I drove my first CVT in a droning Murano a few years back. I understand why manufacturers are using them to squeeze a few more mpg's out of their vehicles and Subaru's deficit (due to AWD) on that score gives them even more incentive to push CVT's. Have to say, though, that putting paddle shifters on a CVT vehicle just adds insult to injury and would remind me every time I used them that it's not a geared transmission. If a manufacturer is going to force a CVT on their customers they should own it. That reminds me of a similar issue. Are the exhaust tips on the Legacy real? BTW, does the Legacy have radio controls (tuning and volume) on the steering wheel? I suspect that the reason for putting the radio controls on the right side of the screen may be because they're about the only controls likely to be used by the front seat passenger. Putting redundant controls on the steering wheel for the driver gives both driver and passenger an option to control the radio. All in all, it's hardly an exciting entry in the midsize sedan category. But here in the Pacific NW, Subar-ites are a fanatically loyal and vocal group. I'm not sure many are attracted to a vehicle with less than eight inches of ground clearance and the option of a roof rack but if they're out there, they'll love it.
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  11. Not available nor designed for the US market.
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  12. Norm T: Actually, I'm a Mazda fan, having owned several Mazdas over the years. And the Signature trim is fairly impressive. But frankly, I find the turbo 4 more suited to the Mazda6 than to the CX9. I wouldn't necessarily say the CX-9 is "under powered"; it's adequate for the vehicle's mission. But even with the substantial torque it's hardly impressive. Further, for highway cruising it's not an especially smooth engine, especially when compared to the V6 in the Sorento. Finally, I just don't get the fact that the CX-9 is so large on the outside without corresponding interior space. The length appears to come from a long hood and an extended rear end behind the hatch. I can only assume that's done for styling purposes but it certainly adds nothing to the vehicle's functionality.
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  13. Ah yes, the standard complaints. "Why don't they offer a stick in upper level trims? Answer: They don't want to see cars sitting for months in dealer lots that end up being heavily discounted to sell. "Why don't they include (fill in the blank) feature, especially in the least expensive package?" Answer: Manufacturers have the irrational objective of making a profit and, especially in this market segment, price is an overriding priority and upselling to higher level trims for those with the budget to support it adds profit, as well. How unfair! "Why did they drop the larger engine and substitute a smaller power plant?" Answer: Another critical priority in this market segment is fuel efficiency. And achieving that magic "40 mpg" for highway mileage on the window sticker is a prime objective. That's especially true if similar real world performance can be achieved by mating that smaller engine with an eight speed automatic and still get "40 mpg" on the highway (or at least on the window sticker). "Why did they 'cheap out' with a torsion bar suspension?" Answer: See answers above, especially if it doesn't affect overall comfort in normal driving for the vast majority of consumers. "What about reliability?" Answer: Here's the longest bumper-to-bumper warranty in the industry. And it's transferable to boot. "Why isn't this a sedan version of a GTI?" Answer: Consumers who want GTI performance buy GTI's (and love them.) Next question?
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  14. Gee, Micah. Try to contain your enthusiasm for the Passat. :) The truth is that VW has found repeatedly that Americans aren't willing to pay for European spec VW's. Americans want cheaper, larger vehicles from VW. Thus, the Euro-spec Passat was replaced by what VW believes Americans want. When the American-ized Passat was introduced sales nearly tripled. The excellent but expensive Touareg was dropped in the US and replaced by the Atlas. The first generation Tiguan, still sold internationally, has been replaced by the larger, less expensive Tiguan in the US, a vehicle that's called the AllSpace internationally. The current generation Jetta is not even sold in most of Europe. Even the iconic basic Golf won't be sold in the US for 2020. And the GTI and Golf R are significantly "de-contented" in their US guise. The MK8 versions won''t be available as 2020 models. For a European spec VW sold in the US, the primary example is the Arteon. It's fine European touring sedan but VW admits their expectations for sales are modest in the US. Hopefully, those sales will be sufficient for those of us who appreciate a true European GT at a reasonable price will be able to consider it.
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  15. Fortunately, you don't have to purchase a 2017 model. The 2019 model has LED's front and rear.
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  16. One of the advantages of being late to the party is that you get to see what everyone else is wearing. For example, if Subaru had introduced the Ascent a few years back they might have assumed that 10 or 12 cupholders and six usb ports were enough. Now it's obvious that to stay on top in the midsize crossover cupholder race, nineteen sets the standard and every passenger must have instant access to at least one usb port. (Just ask my teenage daughter.) In other critical areas, the Ascent looks like a pretty good effort. It lacks real off-road cred but that's not the most important priority in the midsize crossover market. Anyhow, Subaru shifted its marketing focus several years ago from driving ON a trail to taking owners TO a trail. And, of course, the vehicle your dog wants you to buy. I'm a card carrying member of the anti-CVT brigade but I'll admit that some manufacturers have improved them in the last few years. Sounds like Subaru isn't necessarily among them but most customers couldn't care less about the design of an automatic transmission as long as they don't have to shift gears themselves. And Subaru probably wrings a few extra mpg's out of that transmission at a lower cost than say an eight or ten gear alternative. Given that Subaru engines are not known for their frugality, that's probably a good decision. Otherwise, the Ascent appears to offer a lot of functionality and efficient design of interior space. At 197" long it doesn't necessarily offer the most efficient use of space but it's comparable to the Highlander, Pilot, and Atlas. And it's far better on that score than the even bigger Mazda CX-9 that has less space interior space than the much more compact Kia Sorento. Driving dynamics don't look like the Ascent's strong suit but for negotiating the wilderness of the suburban traffic jungle and droning down the freeway for mile after mile it looks like a winner. All in all, it looks like it's a hit with Suba-rites, at least here in the Seattle area (where they're legion.) And I have no doubt that dogs will love it. P.S. Great review as usual, Micah.
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  17.  @bryanmabbott  You forgot Ford and Chevy's other sins. I'll never consider a Ford after the exploding Pinto scandal and the "unsafe at any speed" Corvair. My question is how long the boycott should last. Is it over yet? And another question. Should the boycott extend to VW's other brands and to VW's that were never involved in emission cheating? No GTI's, no Porsche's, no Audi's, etc. etc. Should the tens of thousands of VW employees who had nothing, whatsoever, to do with Dieselgate be punished? No one should seek to excuse VW's emission cheating with "what-about-ism." It was a terrible episode and deserved severe punishment. And the 22 VW executives who actually went to jail in Germany, along with many others whose careers were ruined, and the ninety plus that are still under criminal investigation would argue they were, indeed, punished. Dieselgate cost VW over $2,000,000,000 (that's $2 billion) in direct costs. Their market for diesels, a major profit center in North America was destroyed and the company has effectively abandoned long-term diesel development. Just how much punishment is enough?
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  18. One of the most impressive things about KIA vehicles over the last decade is the brand's commitment to incremental improvements, not only with a new generation or a mid-cycle refresh but from one model year to the next, even mid-year on occasion. Bought our first KIA in 2012, a Sorento. Liked the vehicle a lot despite its teeth jarring reaction to speed bumps. In 2013 KIA made significant improvements in its suspension. Not a model refresh, just a significant improvement. When I suggested we replace the KIA in 2018 my wife (the daily driver) was hard to convince. So I suggested she make a list of each and every annoyance and deficiency, major or minor, she had experienced over six years of ownership. (The Sorento was her daily driver and our family road trip vehicle.) Not only had KIA addressed each every item on her list, the new version had features and improvements my wife didn't even consider until we bought the new car. I practically had to pry her fingers off the steering wheel of the 2012 Sorento when we traded it. But like an ex-boyfriend, she'd forgotten about the 2012 version within a week.
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  19. Seems like bullying to slam this poor excuse for a cute ute too much. Obviously, Ford had invested nothing in designing for this emerging market segment and simply looked around for something they could use as a placeholder until they can design a proper Fiesta replacement. Its peculiarities suggest that in non-North American markets it may fill some niches that don't exist here. For example, the cargo space, though smaller than its competition, is tall and square. As such the car can be used for light commercial purposes in urban environments in Asia and South America. Yes, its base engine is ridiculously under-powered, but in environments where going over 30 mph on a backroad is potentially hazardous, that may not matter so much. And though the larger engine is also low on performance and not very efficient, it has been around a while and is probably relatively simple to maintain. All in all, the review gets it right. If you must have a Ford product, the local dealer will be happy to take your money and will probably give you a decent discount in appreciation for your patronage.
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  20.  @jasonlarsen3515  Thanks for confirming my comment.
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  21. That's the problem with capitalism. Here's a test. If you're Tesla and you're selling every single Model 3 you can produce at a price averaging about $50K plus, would you eliminate some of the production of those models to produce a version selling at $15-$20K less? If you have trouble answering that question, try the Kahn Academy.
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  22. Not familiar with the practice of introducing new models a year before they're available at the various auto shows, I presume.
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  23.  @fangyideng3131  Much like an Italian model, the CX-9's looks don't compensate for its lack of actual "utility."
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  24.  @matthews95_  Different strokes for different folks. Of course purchasing a carefully cared for low mileage used car can be a smart financial decision. But a KIA five year bumper to bumper and 10 year power train warranty delivers a lot of piece of mind to a purchase. Add to that the fact many buyers aren't equipped to evaluate a "well taken care of older model" vehicle, especially if they have no way to determine how a vehicle has been treated. A CPO vehicle may reduce those problems but it also reduces the price advantage of purchasing a used car in the first place. All in all, it's not just "marketing." There are rational arguments on both sides of the issue.
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  25. VW has received a considerable amount of criticism for the reduction of their bumper-to-bumper warranty from 6 years to 4 years in their current models. So purely from a PR perspective it was a mistake (imo). On the other hand, from a consumer standpoint the inclusion of two years of standard service/maintenance that's now included it's arguably a considerably better deal. Consider, for example, that only a tiny minority of owners ever redeem a warranty claim in years five and six of a warranty. Not only do all manufacturers require that all service and maintenance requirements be performed on time over the course of ownership, the percentage of owners who experience a warranty covered repair in the fifth and sixth years of ownership is minuscule, well under 2% of owners of any brand. On the other hand, annual maintenance and service runs an average of $300 per year for a VW SUV. That's a $600 savings that virtually every purchaser receives. A rational consumer might well prefer a 100% guarantee of a $600 savings vs the unknown potential of a warranty claim after four years that at least 98% of owners will never receive.
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  26. Ask yourself whether Hyundai/Kia would be offering among the best bumper-to-bumper and drive train warranties in the industry if their vehicles were on average unreliable. Like any insurance plan, the insurer is betting that the insured won't have to collect on the warranty. And Hyundai/KIA appear to be winning that bet since virtually every source of reliability information indicates that the brands come close to the reliability of the champs, Toyota and Lexus.
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  27. "It's modest size amplified its fun potential..." C'mon, Lyn. Are you referring to the passenger space that's 19 cubic ft less than a Kia Sorento? Overall cargo space less than a Honda CR-V or a Subaru Forester? The third row legroom that's virtually identical to a Mustang back seat? By"fun potential" were you referring to how "cozy" it is when filled with very friendly passengers? Surely you didn't mean the overall size of the CX-9 is "modest." At 199" long the only larger "midsize" unibody SUV's are the Dodge Durango and Chevy Traverse. It's longer than a KIA Telluride and a VW Atlas! The CX-9 received widespread praise when it was introduced, especially in the Signature trim added in 2018. But year over year sales of the CX-9 have been dropping since last June. "Fun to drive" doesn't seem to make up for the lack of "utility" in an SUV category where the U stands for "utility."
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  28. The absence of a power lift gate isn't a problem. It has no lift gate. :)
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  29.  @T16-s5o  Source? That's certainly not the case for Ford dealers in the Seattle/Tacoma metro area. According to my dealer sources, the XLT and Limited versions constitute near 90% of their sales to individuals.
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  30. Lengths: CX-9 199"; Teluride 197". Passenger space in 3 rows: CX-9 134 cubic feet Telluride 178 cubic feet. 3rd Row Head/Leg Room: CX-9 35.4"/29.7"; Telluride 37.8"/31.4" Total Cargo Space: CX-9 71 cf; Telluride 87 cf; Cargo space behind 3rd row; CX-9 14.4 cf; Telluride 21 cf. Engine: CX-9 2.5L Turbo 4; Telluride 3.8L NA V6. Curb weight: CX-9 4354 lbs; Telluride 4383 lbs. EPA Mileage: CX-9 20/26/23; Telluride 19/24/21. Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty CX-9 3yr/36K miles; Telluride 5yr/60K miles Top Trim MSRP: CX-9 $46,710; Telluride $46,930
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  31. Looked carefully at the 2018 Ford Edge Sport, the predecessor of the Edge ST, last year. It was impressive enough to rank second in my wife's and my assessment to the KIA Sorento we purchased. I liked the 2.7L twin turbo engine a lot. And I liked the overall size, passenger space, and overall cargo capacity of the Edge, identical in all those respects to the Sorento. Where it fell short was the "50 Shades of Gray" interior and the steep rake of the windshield combined with a dash wide enough to double as a picnic table. My wife complained it felt like she was piloting a very long outboard from the stern. Finally, the Sorento provides a usable third row of seats for occasional use that the Edge lacked. We don't use the third row much but it's a great convenience when we're chauffeuring a gaggle of teenage girls or need room for six passengers for a short trip that would otherwise require two vehicles. It's a major benefit considering that no extra bulk is a penalty and when the third row is folded, the cargo space is virtually identical to the Edge. For 2019 Ford has added some features to the ST compared to the Sport. I'm not convinced, though, that the changes are sufficient to merit a several thousand dollar increase in MSRP. The ST has an eight speed transmission replacing the Sport's six speed but I doubt that's a major upgrade. In fact, even with slightly better HP/torque in the engine and the new transmission, the ST is a somewhat slower than the Sport in standard 0-60 time. Ford claims sub-six second time but the Sport was in the low five second range. Blame increased weight and transmission programming I suspect. Ford claims much improved suspension but unless one is into canyon carving I'm skeptical that those changes are a big advantage in a vehicle used mainly in suburban traffic and long freeway slogs. One bright spot for the Edge Sport was the deal I was offered by a local Ford dealer, an $8000 discount from MSRP. (Essentially the same discount I got on the Sorento.) That brought the real world price down to $40K or so. I haven't shopped the 2019 ST but I suspect dealers might make deals close to that today. If that's the case and one is looking for a "performance" SUV, the ST is worth considering.
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  32.  @crownr0yalonice  I understand. But time machines are in short supply.
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  33.  @normt5463  Fair point. Real world pricing arrived at via serious negotiations with a dealer can be radically different from MSRP's. Some manufacturers set MSRP's as a message that they believe their vehicles are comparable to perceived competition, not as a realistic out-the-door price. Those who rely on MSRP figures alone to compare vehicles apparently have little experience in face-to-face negotiations with a dealer.
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  34. As well as to your local police and fire department. Altogether about 1/3rd of all Explorers go to Fleets.
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  35. Looks like a good choice for a (relatively affluent) couple or a (very) small family. Those who find the $44K outrageous haven't been shopping in the luxury category recently.
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  36.  @HiveofFive  If you really dealt with 100 dealerships, I'm estimating the $3000 you saved amounted to about five bucks an hour for your time and aggravation. Good deal but I pity you.
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  37. Brian Fish: You make a good point. When one gets serious about a purchase it's important to rely on more than published specs for your specific priorities. For my family it was important to have a vehicle that could accommodate four or five teenage girls for local trips. That eliminated two row midsize options like the Ford Edge and Grand Cherokee. At the same time, my wife felt the CX-9 and the VW Atlas were simply too damn big for convenient parking and local traffic. And while the Highlander claims to seat eight, that claim seems to be based on having three seat belts in the third row rather than considering fitting real human beings in the space. For us, measuring the bed for hockey gear wasn't an issue. :)
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  38. Let me get this out of the way at the beginning..."Get off my lawn!" Except for the fact that crossovers of all sizes are the "new black," I just don't get the appeal of these hatchbacks on stilts. The Encore is exactly the same length as my GTI. It offers less passenger room and less cargo space. Inferior performance and handling. And even with optional AWD, the Encore offers virtually no "off road" capabilities. Even on-road in challenging winter conditions a FWD vehicle this size with a set of good winter tires will perform just as well at least 90% of the time. Yes, it has an "elevated" driver's seat compared to a traditional hatchback but it's not sufficiently elevated to provide any real advantage in visibility when contending with the behemoth SUV's, pickups, and large trucks that surround it in traffic. And that "elevated" driving position is a disadvantage when it comes to handling. Other than its value as a fashion statement, I just don't get it. P.S. Despite all that I'd watch a review of a tractor if Lyn were the reviewer.
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  39. How does it feel coming out from under that rock where you've been for the last decade?
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  40.  @shaesham  It's certainly true that well equipped 3 row crossovers typically represent a significant price bump compared to their compact brethren. But having said so, the MSRP of mainstream well optioned crossovers seldom exceed $50K. Ford's MSRP for top trim Explorers explodes that figure to near or over $60,000 and makes a moderately optioned mid-trim Lincoln Aviator Reserve with an MSRP of about $65,000 a tempting alternative.
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  41. They're highly reliable if serviced and maintained properly. I've been driving turbo4's since the 1980's (Saabs) and only had one calamitous failure (a 626 Mazda) but that was at 8000 miles. The engine was replaced under warranty and it ran flawlessly for over a hundred thousand miles after that. The issue with turbo4's, especially in large vehicles is that they require somewhat more maintenance and service attention than NA engines and typically don't deliver power in a seamless, linear, and quiet manner, features in large SUV's where behavior on long freeway slogs is a high priority.
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  42. Definitely a niche vehicle but as such it may be very appealing to those who need a second vehicle that serves as a daily driver for a 40-50 mile round trip commuter or an errand runner. Leave the midsize or full size SUV at home. Balance your carbon footprint and the reduce contributions to the oil companies. While most EV manufacturers are struggling to extend the range of their vehicles, MINI is aiming for a market the others are abandoning. Furthermore, with tax credits and the driving experience of a MINI, it makes a fairly compelling overall case.
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  43. 4000 miles in a year? Not sure that 's a "long term" vehicle.
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  44. The interior packaging of the CX-9 is its greatest weakness. It has 19 fewer cubic feet of passenger space than a KIA Sorento that's 10" shorter. Legroom in the third row matches the back seat of a Mustang. Ever ridden in a Mustang back seat? Less overall cargo space than a CR-V or a Forester. At 199" long it's among the largest midsize crossovers; only the Dodge Durango and Chevy Traverse are larger. Even the humungous VW Atlas is smaller. The CX-9 handles well, especially on secondary roads, but in its natural environment of suburban traffic and on long freeway slogs, its advantage in handling is marginal or non-existent. And fitting it into a parking space or a crowded garage with a bike rack on the rear can be a major challenge. As JPL says, styling is subjective but the CX-9 is undoubtedly stylish. Unfortunately, its attractive profile comes about from its very, very long distance from the firewall to the front bumper necessitated by the massive exhaust manifold mounted behind the engine to accomplish the desired diesel-like performance from the turbo. That in turn is the reason the interior space is so cramped compared to its competition.
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  45. Sadly it appears North America won't be seeing the true N version of the Elantra, the model known as the i30N in other markets. Apparently Hyundai felt that the Veloster would benefit more than the Elantra by giving it all the bells and whistles of a real "N" version and making both available in the US would result in cannibalizing the i30N sales here. Can't say they're wrong. I'm sure they make decisions base on careful market research and not the dreams of youtubers. And Hyundai knows far more about their bottom line than I do. Still, I'm disappointed.
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  46. Ya gotta feel sorry for Toyota. The long-in-the-tooth 4Runner sold "only" about 140,000 units in the US in 2018. That's the most they've ever sold in the long, long history of the vehicle. And 2019 models are slightly ahead of that pace this year. Yeah, they definitely need a major update.
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  47. Congratulations, Lyn. You managed to post an entire review of a sport UTILITY vehicle without once touching on its actual "utility." At 59.6 cubic ft of total cargo space the CX-5 has only six cubic feet more cargo cargo capacity than a VW GTI, a vehicle that's almost a foot shorter than the Mazda and offers better handling, performance, and fuel economy. In the category of compact crossovers, the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester have over 25% more total cargo room in vehicles that are only 1"-2" longer than the Mazda. Kudos to Mazda for finally adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and for including two usb charging ports in the back seat. But don't try to use those ports if you have five passengers in the car. They're buried in the center armrest and can't be accessed if three passengers are occupying the second row. One or two kids in the relatively cramped back seat? OK. Add another passenger and be prepared for whining. When the current generation CX-5 with the 2.5L turbo was introduced last year it garnered a lot of praise from automotive journalists and sales jumped compared to the year before. But in 2019 sales have cooled and are down about 12% compared to the first four months of 2018. (http://carsalesbase.com/us-car-sales-data/mazda/mazda-cx-5/) . The CX-5 offers strong performance for a compact crossover but apparently most buyers looking for a compact UTILITY vehicle take the "U" word seriously.
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  48. gerryblocker: I won't dispute Brian's comments regarding his experience with his hockey gear. But I'd urge you to take a look at the Sorento and judge for yourself. I'm actually a Mazda fan, having owned three of them over the years. But I just don't understand how the CX-9 can be so large and have less actual interior space than the Sorento. As for the Traverse, it's clear it has more capacity than either the Sorento or the CX-9. Have to say, though, that if it's available in yellow it would be indistinguishable from a school bus. :)
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  49.  @rutvijdabro7142  Even so, that doesn't match the features of a Telluride.
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  50. In addition to "watching" the CVT, I'd recommend keeping an eye on that 2.4L turbo 4 banger. The Ascent shares with the CX-9 the dubious distinction of being the only vehicles in the category that don't offer a V6 as standard or optional. Like the Mazda I suspect the Ascent's engine will be adequate for its mission but in a vehicle weighing over two tons I'm inclined to feel a less stressed (usually naturally aspirated) V6 delivers power more linearly and smoothly and with greater long term durability. In any event, if you find fault with the Ascent beware of the reaction of the "Subar-ites." They're a militant group and don't take criticism of their beloved vehicles lightly. :) P.S. And as for the Tribeca, few of my friends who own Subarus are willing to acknowledge that it ever existed.
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