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Who would have thought that you would have a problem with an EV? Just shocking. The new Corvette has a trunk in the front too but who’s keeping actual count here and aside from the ridiculous tablet it bears no resemblance to a Tesla. Hell the profile screams Jaguar to me which actually isn’t a bad thing (just slightly more “stretched”). You always see the negative in EVs even if it looked exactly like you would want it to look so your opinion of it is always taken with a laughable grain of salt. Thanks for not disappointing with your “expert” analysis.

My prediction is that it will do well* due to being an SUV, having strong name association and being from a volume brand. Also, it isn't priced at $70K (Rivian) or $110K (Tesla) or $125K (Bollinger). I can see it in the top 5 sales-wise in year 2 as long as it doesn't have glaring shortfalls. [* for an EV]

I recently posted 'how the EV tax credit works', but I had it wrong. Want to correct the gist of it here. I was under the incorrect impression that the credit offset the amount you owed when you FILED. My wife [who was an economics major, has worked for a major investment house for a few decades, does our taxes and is one smart cookie] explained to me the credit goes against the TOTAL fiscal tax liability. This would include any check you write at filing time AND your taxes paid during the year, most of which came out of your salary. The bottom line as explained to me by this smart cookie is, anyone who is remotely fiscally sane (income high enough to get financing I guess) and buys an EV is likely to get the tax credit. A single filer who's Adjusted Gross Income is $100K pays $18,713 according to Google, which is comfortably in excess of $7500. I formally retract my accusation that advertising a EV with the tax credit modifying the MSRP is "borderline criminal".

@Drew Dowdell Good luck. I'm sure you'll find something good.

I would sure take it over the GM-China effort Menlo EV

I'll admit to being a Mustang fan since childhood, and have owned multiple Mustangs. I'm also 'EV-curious'...not likely to buy one any time soon, but I'm not rabidly anti-EV like some. Looking forward to seeing this one in person. The performance and range sound great at first read.

2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature Mazda is on a mission lately to make their products feel more premium. They have been tuning their vehicles to be quieter and more refined in order to give them an air that they are above their class. This second generation of the Mazda CX-5 debuted for the 2017 model year with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder producing 187 horsepower and 186 lb.-ft of torque. For 2019, Mazda added the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine from the CX-9. On regular gas, the engine produces 227 horsepower and 310 lb.-ft of torque, but if you fill it up with 93 octane, the horsepower figure bumps up to 250. Available only on the Grand Touring and Signature trims, the 2.5-T makes the CX-5 the compact crossover with the most available torque. Mazda sent a CX-5 Signature for me to try for a week to see what I thought. There’s no replacement for displacement… maybe The biggest CX-5 news for 2019 is the engine options. There is the 2.5-T mentioned above and a 2.2-liter turbo diesel. Both are exciting entries into a relatively conservative segment. The 2.5-T is the second-largest displacement engine available in the segment, behind the 3.2 liter V6 in the Jeep Cherokee. This 4-cylinder puts out quite a bit more torque than the bigger V6, though the Jeep produces more horsepower (271 @ 6,500 rpm). Even among 4-cylinders, this is the largest displacement you can get, but none of those others offering 2.5 liters also offers a turbocharger. This engine is rated by the EPA to get 22 city / 27 highway. I got about 24 mpg in mostly city driving. Zero to 60 is a claimed 6.2 seconds. Under normal driving, the engine is quiet and composed, with torque coming on quickly when called for. When the pedal is mashed at speed, the CX-5 leaps forward with minimal turbo lag and gives off a strong growl from under the hood. The only time you can really feel any lag in the turbo is if you are starting from a dead stop. Overall, you never feel without power at the tip of your toes and the sounds, and lack of sounds, from the engine room is quiet and refined. One area the CX-5 falls behind on is in the transmission department. Although the transmission offers smooth shift and is willing to downshift when called upon, a 6-speed automatic almost feels anachronistic in a time when all of its direct competition is sporting 8 or 9 speeds. I never thought there would come a day when 6-forward gears aren’t enough, but here we are. Adding 2 or 3 more gears to the CX-5 would further liven up the already sporty crossover and help keep the turbocharged engine firmly in the good places of its torque band. Ride: Al dente – Firm but tender If there is a brand that Mazda is looking to emulate here by being premium without the premium badge, it would likely be BMW. The ride is firm, but not so harsh as to spill your latte. Steering is on the heavy side with precise control and great on-center feel. Body roll is minimal. Pushing the CX-5 into corners is fun and the standard G-Vectoring Control Plus makes sure you stay planted where you intended to be. The i-ACTIV all-wheel-drive mostly runs in front-wheel-drive mode until microscopic amounts of wheel slip are detected and then some torque is instantly transferred to the rear wheels. Mazda programs the AWD system to always have at least a little bit of torque going to the rear in order for the transfer of torque to happen faster. It’s what’s inside that matter most Inside the CX-5, the premium story continues. There is a distinct lack of cheap plastic even in places where they could probably get away with it. The dash and door panels are made of soft-touch material and there is a tasteful amount of chrome trim. Though the seats look black in pictures, they are actually a very dark brown that Mazda calls Caturra Brown Nappa leather. This leather is a feature of the Signature trim level and they are both heated and ventilated. Rear passengers get heated outboard seats as well, controlled from inside the fold-down center armrest. Also, a feature of the Signature trim is the real wood dash inlay and ambient cabin lighting. The seats in the CX-5 are very comfortable with just the right combination of support and cushion. They would be most welcome companions on a long road trip. The rear seats are fairly flat and do not offer a lot of legroom. There is no adjustment fore and aft. Wind and tire noise has been kept to a minimum. There are 4 USB ports, two in the up front armrest and two in the rear armrest. Only one of them allows a connection to the infotainment system. Oddly, the USB ports don’t seem to put out much juice as my phones were very slow to charge from them. The infotainment system is another area similar to BMW. The unit is controlled by a large dial in the center console or touch screen controls. I found the touch aspect to be laggy and a long reach, so I found myself using the dial. Using the dial to navigate is simple enough, but the menus and layout of the screen could probably use a re-think. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both here, for some reason only Apple CarPlay can be activated by touch. Operating either system is frustrating with the dial however, this is especially true for Android Auto which I found frustrating to use without touch screen functionality. At least, unlike BMW, Mazda doesn’t charge you an extra subscription fee to use them. Sound from the Bose speakers was clear, but not especially great. There was a time when people mostly bought crossovers for the utility of hauling lots of bulky stuff home from the store, however, these days are different. Now, crossovers are a fashion statement. Still, the CX-5 has 59.6 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded and 30.9 cubic feet with the seats up. That is at the high end of mid-pack in the segment with the Honda CR-V being the leader, while the Toyota RAV-4, Chevy Equinox, and Ford Escape all have less. Do you need a safe space? This may be it. The Mazda CX-5 Signature comes with a whole host of safety equipment and the center of it all is the heads-up display that keeps the driver informed. Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane-Keep Assist, and Radar Cruise Control, all have status lights in the heads-up display. I found the blind spot monitoring system to be especially helpful when I was backing out onto a busy street with limited visibility. Radar Cruise control is one of my favorite systems of all and I feel it should be standard equipment on all cars. The CX-5 can even read speed limit and stop signs as you approach, changing and updating the local regulations in the heads up display. The Signature also comes with active headlights that turn when you turn to help see around corners. They helped me spot a deer on the side of the road I normally would not have seen. The Verdict The CX-5 Signature is the top of the CX-5 line, so naturally, the price is reflected in that. With an MSRP of $36,890 before any options, the CX-5 may seem pricey, but it comes with everything you could possibly want. However, when you compare it to other small crossovers with similar equipment it actually ends up comparing favorably to others in its class. I priced out Jeep Cherokee Overland with the 2.0T and technology group and the MSRP is $41,685. A GMC Terrain Denali with all the same option boxes checked? $41,430. A Honda CR-V can’t even be equipped like the CX-5 because there is no up-level engine option, yet it still rings up to $38,147. Overall, Mazda has produced a handsome, sporty, fun to drive crossover with enough utility to remain competitive. They’ve loaded it with safety equipment and kept the price in check. It is definitely worth a look. View full article

Looked at an online calculator. $75,000 salary, filing single, deduction of $22,000 ($12K personal, $10K property tax) = taxable income of $53,000. Tax on those numbers would be $7,518. Not sure a person with a home getting taxed at at least $10K and taking home $53K should be buying a $50+K Model 3, but I know people do it.

Apparently they're looking into making the Mustang a whole sub-brand of Ford with a family of Mustangs.

I guess you dont like George Lucas' special edition Star Wars tweeks then...

Ford's engines and trannies and all wheels drive setups break down after the last payment is made, so they decided to make a car without a gas engine and complex corresponding driveline. So maybe this vehicle exists for Ford to improve their reliability ratings,

@Drew Dowdell Good luck! Hopefully, you will be able to find something better.

News Flash: No matter what Ford sells, you won't be sold on it.

I think it is an all around interesting move that their first real EV(excluding the joke of a Focus Electric) is near coupe-like and performance oriented as opposed to something basic as sht like an electric Escape or Fusion sized/shaped vehicles. I have a feeling the massive tablet is going to become more and more common as it reduces costs and people like big screens, in general. Enthusiasts notice it doesn't flow well but AverageAshley just sees something that looks highly technologically advanced because big screen and sees fancy.

GREAT review, and a favorite in this class. It oozes upmarket, well polished, comfortable, refined, "I just enjoy driving this everyday" that makes Mazda great. Favorite of friends, and referred often. Even the normal non turbo models in Touring trim level, etc. with leatherette, full & same safety, etc. with a $30k sticker...just make an Equinox/Terrain/Escape/CR-V/etc. seem that much more plebian. Nice ride & well baked.

Yes, it's definitely a marketing move. It will be interesting to see if it works or not. This has flashy styling, kind of Tesla-esque, some hints of Mustang.

Awesome Mustang!

And it’s hilarious coming from a guy that would probably have no problem with a Corvette based SUV, so long as it uses dinosaur juice. Out of date thinking is still out of date. Yeah, those pesky customers. They just keep the lights on for companies like Ford. Damn them. Damn them all.

These are really nice rides. It was between this and two Subarus for my wife but she ended up picking a Subie. Not sure where you got the cargo numbers, I've read smaller? Around 31/56 seats up and down.

The Mustang name to this EV could be a detriment to the Mustang name...but it could be a genius move. Only time will tell. The thing is, I think Ford is ready to expand the Mustang portfolio and kinda make it into some sort of brand. I do not mean that Ford will branch off Mustang into its own division, but expand the Mustang portfolio... The Mustang was always special in the Ford line-up. Immediately the year after its launch even. There were Mustangs, and then there were SHELBY Mustangs and today, Mustang is sold all over the world. A 4 door SUV EV Mustang? Why the hell not? Mustangs, from Ford or from the Shelby years are synonymous with performance. And this Mustang Mach-E has the performance to back up its Mustang branded name.... Im ready to call this a genius move.

Your review is very good here. And it is true the other competition is priced high like this. The new normal. It is also why they needed a powertrain with more gusto to justify the MSRP. Particularly since you can at a certain price point upgrade to a larger vehicle and depending on the equipment, get big power in a bigger package but maybe sacrifice a few niceties.

Im a muscle car guy through and through (and in my definition, pony cars are certainly included) and I do like the Mustang throughout its history, although there are more than a couple of generations that I cant stand. From 1971-2004 to be exact, by I digress... I do like the looks of this "Mustang" Mach E. Its performance and range is on par with Tesla products. In the looks department, it surpasses the Tesla Model X by miles... It should do well in the market place as it mimics Tesla quite well. From range and performance to interior simplicity and iPad screens. And its a better looker to boot! If it does not sell well, its because 1. The EV people really do NOT trust the status quo automakers such as Ford, GM VW and the like, and are ONLY loyal to Tesla 2. The curious folk that are intrigued by EVs are NOT ready just yet, if ever, to commit to buying an EV. And if it does not sell, it will be a damned shame as it seems like Ford, as a late comer to the 100% pure BEV market, has done it right. And done it right the FIRST timea around. Nobody can accuse the Mach E as a compliance EV as some do the Bolt... The Porsche Taycan is a good try. But it aint a Tesla Killer. The Jaguar whatever its called, is an OK try...but it fails to be in the same vicinity as a Tesla product. The Bolt is a good try too, but its far from being a Tesla product equivalent. The Mach E as Ford's first BEV, is in the same territory!!! Quite the accomplishment!!!

Good luck man! Sounds like you already had some bites recently on Indeed with your resume. I've had pretty good luck finding decent job on there in the high tech. industry as well.

Thank you. I'll find something fast I think. Plus I will get an awesome severance.

Well, after over 13 years with Direct Energy and surviving multiple rounds of layoffs, my 9 lives with the company appear to be up, the latest round of layoffs got me. I will be finishing out the year and then be on the hunt for a new position in January.

Though this might be a good addition to the US Chevy line, it looks more appealing than the Bolt.

They talked about plenty and it looks better than anything from Daimler. The C8 had years of coverage prior to it’s official release so you are not even close to comparing apples to oranges here. Again, anything to besmirch a domestic product. Agreed. Ford should be give a ton of credit for not going the route you mentioned and giving a clean slate product while carrying a familiar face (Mustang in this case).

Seems very well received by critics and the audience. Planning to go with family next weekend.

While I'm not a huge fan of throwing Mustang on the actual vehicle name I think people are missing the point in why they're doing it. Balthy can probably understand as EV sales really aren't much of anything. They're using the name to grab attention and attention they got. Chevy came out with the Bolt and hardly made a splash and it's a very adequate EV with no real downsides outside of price.. and 'looks' but those are subjective.

Not much happening with Atlas, not much happening with Passat, not much happening with ID, that's a lot of money for nothing and their chicks for free.

Crazy month, the kids are busy so taking me out for my 52nd B-day dinner early. Steak, yummmmmm ?

I generally don't like Ford truck styling since 1997, but this DDR Concepts Lightning is sweet...I like the cleaned up front end.

Good. If VW were really smart, they would stop building cars and CUVs in Germany and build them all here instead.

It’s called having an open mind which is sorely lacking for some. As long as Ford doesn’t bitch this up (i.e. the Explorer/Aviator launch), they may actually be on to something here. Still not crazy about that oversized tablet though. That is a maintenance and damage nightmare waiting to happen.

Oh I know and I told him Rovers are not reliable at all. It was that or the GLA and the Mercedes dealer sales guy screwed around too long. He's in the medical field in ATL and not a car guy.

Obviously these sort of things are a lot of fluff, but they barely talked about performance other than up to 300 mile range and an estimated 0-60 time of the GT. They didn’t talk price or trim levels, or any features outside of Sync. And this was over a half hour, iris like these people don’t know how to sell cars. And judging by recent performance that seems to be the case. When the C8 reveal happened they gave you a price, features engineering, they gave you reasons to buy it. Every reason Ford gave to buy one of these Tesla already does, and probably better than Ford does it.

Apparently, the Mustang name is now only sacred to customers, not the company that has peddled it since 1962-63.

Derangement ? wut... it is the customer who loves Mustang that is up in arms over this heresy

Too much Tesla influence, with the giant glued-on dash tablet and the otherworldly front end. One must NEVER bow to Elon Musk. And wow, they copied the 1960 Chevy Corvair with that front trunk. Whole thing is an insult to the Mustang spirit. I'd rather drive a 1974 Mustang II Mach 1 with 2.8L V6 and 3-speed automatic than this faceless cyborg. Ford is f@#king up BIG TIME with this.