Drew Dowdell

What precisely are you smoking?

It does have Android Auto and Apple Car Play. The press release doesn’t mention it but some of the photos show it on the screen.

Now in entering its third generation for Mazda, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 has grown in this latest redesign. Adding 4.5-inches in length and wheelbase, and nearly an inch in width, the new CX-5 is able to increase interior roominess significantly while adding new technology. While it maintains a mainstream price, the CX-5 has always felt closer to a luxury-class vehicle than its direct competition and that trait carries over to this new model. Externally, the CX-5 recipe is a familiar and natural evolution over its predecessor. The redesign brings the look in line with its larger cousins, the CX-70 and CX-90, and Mazda includes interesting curvaceous bodywork without looking overwrought. Across the back, Mazda is spelled out in chrome letters, replacing the more traditional Mazda logo. Interior space was one of the drawbacks of the previous model, but while exact dimensions haven't been released, Mazda claims a significant improvement in passenger and cargo capacity. Rear passengers gain legroom and ingress and egress is made easier with much larger door openings. The cargo area is two inches deeper, over an inch taller, and has a lower lift over height for loading. Rear passengers now have access to dual USB-C chargers and, if equipped, outboard heated seats. Mazda's interiors have always been minimalist and subtle in design. The new interior features materials and finishes crafted to suggest a timeless quality. The base infotainment screen has been upgraded to a 12.9-inch unit standard, replacing the prior 10.3-inch screen, while a 15.6-inch screen is also available on certain trims. The new system is powered by Google Built-In, the connected system allows access to a curated Google Play app store so drivers can customize their driving experience. While the rotary button from the prior model has been removed for a full-touch screen experience, the pictures with the 15.6-inch screen also show no physical buttons, meaning that volume and HVAC controls may be entirely touchscreen based. Removal of physical buttons has been met with backlash from consumers at other brands. Mazda does retain the standard console gear selector, no dials, buttons, or column stalks here. Powering the 2026 Mazda CX-5 is the same 2.5-liter Skyactive naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder as the prior model, but with some software tweaks to add verve. This unit produces 187-horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque and mated to a carry-over 6-speed automatic. There is no word on the previously available 256-horsepower Turbo 4-cylinder that still available in the CX-50, so assume for now that it is done. Mazda says that a new hybrid option will join the lineup the following year with an in-house hybrid design rather than the Toyota unit the CX-50 hybrid uses. For now, Mazda is a bit light on details like trims, dimensions, and pricing. Since the CX-5 will still be manufactured in Japan, the tariff situation caused by Trump could make pricing unpredictable. We expect to hear more as the on-sale date next spring approaches. View full article

Yup! That's new ADA grant funding through the Biden Bill.

OMG yes about the road construction! Between the Biden infrastructure bill and the new investments by PennDot and funding to the local municipalities to fix roads, it is sometimes impossible to get around here. It's also not just roads, utility companies, especially water and sewer, got a lot of fresh funding for projects too. I get that there is a lot to catch up on, but it's making it really hard to get about.

I think the issues in the middle east are causing some regional price fluctuations based on fear and greed. The prices here haven't budged and are actually pretty low for summertime.

Honestly, that's actually a good thing that it goes up every July. The problem with many states, and this isn't just gas taxes but all taxes, is that they don't index taxes to inflation, and then the governments are forced into drastic budget cuts and big jumps in taxes. I work with local governments in PA and time after time I see this play out. They pat themselves on the back for keeping property taxes low and not raising them for 6 years and then boom, they find themselves in a deficit which local towns are not allowed to run in PA. Then there's a big tax hike and everyone gets pissed. I'm working with one town where the population of the town is very affluent, but the town is going broke because of the tax structure. They rely on property taxes, but the county hasn't reassessed property values in 30 years. So you have parcels that are worth 6-7 figures being assessed for tax purposes at like 100k. And now everyone is stuck because if the properties get reassessed, the property taxes jump a few hundred percent. Having the gas tax go up a little bit every year is the smarter way to do it.

Unfortunately, none of the low-cost crossovers will be particularly good with that. The Maverick Tremor might do okay with it's locking diff, but at a base price of $43k, I have a hard time calling it "low-cost".

I think people settle for all black interiors. When the choice is cloudy-day gray or all black, people opt for all black.

Copilot always puts its cars on 32" wheels.

The Aurora did have an A logo.

ChatGTP-Paid did a lot better with a modern 1994 Oldsmobile Aurora

Uhh... The prompt "Imagine a 1994 Oldsmobile Aurora as a 2025 EV" The prompt "modernize a 1995 Cadillac Eldorado as a 2025"

Can we make an AI Carspotters thread instead for this stuff?

why do they make them all into rebadges of a 1977 Camaro?

Lincoln did their pushbuttons right. Acura did not. WTF is this crap? Good Idea Honda, let me spill my tea right in there. GMC managed to screw it up for a few years too.

@ccap41 The Equinox was originally suppose to be offered with a 65kw battery. The base Evalanche has a 119kw battery. The Equinox and Optiq have an 85kw battery - The extended range Evalanche has a 170 kw battery. The Lyriq and Vistiq have a 102 kw battery - The Max range EValanche has a 205 kw Battery. Any differences where the number isn't exactly double is most likely just a software configuration.

It's just some multiple of their other packs. Optiq gets 85kW, Vistiq and Lyriq get either a 95kW or 102kW. Double the 102kw pack and you get an Escalade iQ pack. Now, those are usable sizes. Because of the peculiarities of lithium ion batteries, they keep some in reserve. Because there is double the pack in the IQ, they can release more reserve power, so I think the total is more like 212kW, but the hardware is still the same.

There's a difference between styling cues and functionality though. I hated the Ford and Mini turn signals that returned to center after activation because it removes a sensory input while driving. Old folks like me have muscle memory to overcome. Same goes for most of the new dumb designs of gear selectors now because they are not intuitive. Tesla puts it in the freakin touchscreen. The new GM one on the column is quite good because it is an electronic homage to old column shifters. As someone who has two column shift vehicles today, it's a modernization I can support. The new Hyundai column shift is "meh" because it's just the Chrysler dial but on a stick.

The BIG full-sizers are the double packs. EValanche, Sierra EV, Escalade IQ, Hummer EV, etc. Vistiq and smaller all have the single layer battery. I think (I'd have to look) some of the low range EValanche work trucks might be single battery also.

I actually like it. I think it moves forward with design. We don't need to hold onto portholes and toothy grills anymore. I completely agree with you on the yoke. Just give me a normal interior please. Genesis really gets this right in the G80 EV.

So, the Ultium platform is only 300kW charging or higher when you have the really big batteries, and that's only because they are actually two regular batteries sandwiched together. The DC-Fast charger can take the 300 kW/350 kW charge and split it over two battery packs at 150kW/175kW each. The smaller EVs have a single battery pack that can take on power either at 150 kW or 190 kW. 150kW is what the base Teslas charge at. 250kW is what the higher end Teslas charge at. I don't see 190kW in the Optiq-V as being a big letdown. Most people are going to charge it at home anyway.

How did you feel about interior quality as far as creaks and rattles? My experiences in Toyotas lately have not been positive. On some vehicles, even new ones, they feel 20 years out of date.