Yeti vs. CX5

[Jake02]

I have to admit, I really like the CX-5. It is so classy and is easily the best looking compact SUV. My parents were considering replacing our Octavia RS with one (especially as my first car is a Mazda 323 SP20 and I really love it) but we went very cold on it when we discovered that the only manual you can get is the very, very base model (the $28k Maxx petrol FWD) and say what you will, but to us that's inexcusable. We were really hoping for a GT diesel AWD manual but I guess that won't be happening for a while (and the auto is $55k on road)!

Until then, Yeti for the win, especially the incoming 112/118TSI. I agree, the Yeti will get slaughtered, but it doesn't bother me that much because I know that every compact SUV is going to be slaughtered by the CX-5 and finally, the compact SUV class gets an interesting entry (honestly, the thought of Foresters or X-Trails puts me to sleep). Interesting times for the compact SUV class.

[team_v]

I have to admit, I really like the CX-5. It is so classy and is easily the best looking compact SUV. My parents were considering replacing our Octavia RS with one (especially as my first car is a Mazda 323 SP20 and I really love it) but we went very cold on it when we discovered that the only manual you can get is the very, very base model (the $28k Maxx petrol FWD) and say what you will, but to us that's inexcusable. We were really hoping for a GT diesel AWD manual but I guess that won't be happening for a while (and the auto is $55k on road)!

Until then, Yeti for the win, especially the incoming 112/118TSI. I agree, the Yeti will get slaughtered, but it doesn't bother me that much because I know that every compact SUV is going to be slaughtered by the CX-5 and finally, the compact SUV class gets an interesting entry (honestly, the thought of Foresters or X-Trails puts me to sleep). Interesting times for the compact SUV class.

That is a real shame about the lack of a manual.

Will be interesting to see how the Subaru XV holds up against this one too.

[BluChris]

Good looking? Really? I feel its looks are, um, challenging TBH and that the Yeti kills it in this area. Either way, the Mazda will cream the Skoda in sales. So many people have said it, but VWA really needs to start listening on price. The current situation where Skoda is (a) not especially cheap (b) priced very close to VW product is nuts.

[woofy]

Its funny all the comments about no manuals etc. Mazda are very much manual focussed and in a lot of cases quite often didn't have auto options especially in the more sporty cars. They copped tonnes of flack over it, especially here with cars like the MPS 6, and even Skoda heard complaints about the Scout being only manual. We actually struggled to sell a manual 6 in immaculate shape because everyone wanted the auto 6, even though the manual gearbox was 6 Spd and a much newer box.

So its no wonder they have just gone the auto route, would also make sense in the US market.

[VAG newbie]

I don't really care. As long as Skoda maintain enough sales here to remain viable, then I am hppy. I'd rather Skoda not be a volume seller, otherwise I will lose the uniqueness of my car.

CX5 just looks like any Mazda 3 out there. I bet in 1 year time, there will be CX5 everywhere, and you can't even recognize your own car in the shopping center.

---------- Post added at 10:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 AM ----------

Good looking? Really? I feel its looks are, um, challenging TBH and that the Yeti kills it in this area. Either way, the Mazda will cream the Skoda in sales. So many people have said it, but VWA really needs to start listening on price. The current situation where Skoda is (a) not especially cheap (b) priced very close to VW product is nuts.

Skoda never wanted to be volume sellers. Matt Wiesner said it himself. He brought in the uppermarket Octavia and Superbs before Yeti and Fabia, so that there will be a "prestige" feeling to the marque. He didn't want to go for the Korean approach, with cheap cars to steal the sales, which gave the Koreans a cheap image that still plague them until now.

Also the factory in Czech can't keep up with the demand if it becomes a mass volume seller. In we wnat it cheap, VW Aus will probably try to source the car from India or China, like what Honda did, which totally shattered its image as "BMW of Japan" and costed its sales.

[PassatB6]

In terms of sales Australia is one of the few countries where Mazdas sell well. There are no Mazdas in the top 25 cars (sales) internationally a fact that would surprise many Australians. No Skodas either for that matter though the Octavia is the biggest seller in 8 countries. Agree that Skoda should start watching its pricing though. They are substatially cheaper elsewhere in the world.

[K1W1]

Its funny all the comments about no manuals etc. Mazda are very much manual focussed and in a lot of cases quite often didn't have auto options especially in the more sporty cars.

Mazda had no auto diesel options at all until recently. Both the 6 and the CX7 diesels were manual only.

[shoutj74]

We have a Yeti TDi and a manual Mazda 3 TD Sport which similarly feels about as rare as the Yeti. The 3 is a stonkingly good car, but it did take it Mazda about 6 years to bring the NVH issues any where near Skoda, and I read the CX-5 is the same. I thought really hard about waiting for the CX-5 before plumping for the Yeti, and I am still not sure I made the right decision. The lack of Skoda dealers makes my ownership experience tricky, and the Yeti has certainly not been free from early issues, a couple of which are still not sorted. I suspect the CX-5 will be the same though for a while, with at least a couple of years passing before the product really settles. Trying to match the specifications between the Yeti and CX-5 though, the CX-5 doesn't seem like quite the bargain we might have expected it to be, the Skoda issue is that Sat Nav costs almost as much as an entire model lift in the Mazda. Those in the know will choose the Yeti in the long term though, the masses will choose the CX-5 for sure. I'm also already getting the same set of fuel returns from my Yeti as Mazda claim their 'revolutionary' sky active tech will deliver.

[bluey]

Have been looking at a small SUV to get for a few years, from when the Tiguan was not yet launched. Our outgoing vehicle was a Mazda Premacy (t-boned by a little old lady - written off). Haven't been overly impressed by Mazda engineering now or with a relative's 929 many moons ago. A few fiddly-looking fragile bits under the CX5 look suspect for off roaders.

I like the relatively clean looks of the Yeti. The packaging and turning circle is better than Tiguan. Yeti turning circle is actually better than the Polo 9N. The large black grill on the CX5 doesn't look so great. Pricing of the CX5 for equivalent 4WD specs as Yeti looked a few thousand more, but then this was comparing manual Yeti to auto (only) CX5.

As a road car, the Yeti TDI is a whole lot more car than a Golf TDI and a whole lot less money than a 4WD Golf. Wish VW brought the Golf+ out, but probably never since they would compete with the Tiguan.

I have still not driven an auto (rentals) that is more fun than a manual to drive, and it looks like the reason DSGs get better consumption than some manuals of the same model looks to be more due to limited manual gearbox ratios, since the Yeti 6-speed manual gets better consumption than the Yeti DSG. I do think the DSG autos are the best autos I have driven to date, esp in sport mode, but not without their shift glitches occasionally.

I do recall reading in a BMW magazine a few years ago about it being more efficient to turn off and restart a diesel if it has to idle for more than 30secs. So anyone wishing to get closer to SkyActive consumption benefits just needs to turn off their TDI more often!

Yeti TDI on the way hopefully by end of next week! (I do think street prices on Yeti TDI manuals are pretty good at the moment $36K.)

[Ryeman]

We have a Yeti TDi and a manual Mazda 3 TD Sport which similarly feels about as rare as the Yeti. The 3 is a stonkingly good car, but it did take it Mazda about 6 years to bring the NVH issues any where near Skoda, and I read the CX-5 is the same. I thought really hard about waiting for the CX-5 before plumping for the Yeti, and I am still not sure I made the right decision. The lack of Skoda dealers makes my ownership experience tricky, and the Yeti has certainly not been free from early issues, a couple of which are still not sorted. I suspect the CX-5 will be the same though for a while, with at least a couple of years passing before the product really settles. Trying to match the specifications between the Yeti and CX-5 though, the CX-5 doesn't seem like quite the bargain we might have expected it to be, the Skoda issue is that Sat Nav costs almost as much as an entire model lift in the Mazda. Those in the know will choose the Yeti in the long term though, the masses will choose the CX-5 for sure. I'm also already getting the same set of fuel returns from my Yeti as Mazda claim their 'revolutionary' sky active tech will deliver.

As a 'newby', I'm working my way through all post (homework), apologies for going back into the dim distant past, but
aren't VW dealerships de facto Skoda parts/servicing outlets too?.
Dave