Yeti vs. CX5

[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.)

[nyc863]

I drove a CX5 from a dealer and the next day I drove a Yeti.

My conclusion is at least for me the CX5 lost. I liked the style, and the diesel/istop, quiet idle, I did not like the high pressure "we're selling everything you should pick whatever it'll be gone tomorrow" situation. Also and more critically I didn't like the dark interior you sit in, car style, rather than the expected airy "command"-esque driving position you get in the yeti. Finally I found the TDI yeti surprisingly spritely, and the CX5 less so. It seems for the premium CX5 the drive away price is circa 50k but for the premium Yeti the driveaway price is less. Also I believe the Yeti has more off road credibility as the CX5 front lip can hit things.

[bluey]

Current issue of Wheels has a small SUV test which ranked 1. CX5; 2. Tiguan; 3.Yeti. Like Choice magazine, they end up comparing apples with oranges and declaring the pear the best. It's still an interesting read and one of the writers is getting a Yeti for a long-term test.

[BJ75]

Personally, I think the CX-5 is ugly as balls.

I didn't always think this way, however. When I first saw the pictures, of the sporty blue model, I thought "Uh oh!" to the fact that I had ordered and was waiting for my Yeti to arrive. Had I just made a monumental error? My assessment of Mazda at the time of decision was down to one choice: a Mazda6 Diesel wagon. But I wanted an auto and pretty much put Mazda to bed at that point. I didn't even read about what was 'soon to arrive'. So yeah ... for a while there I thought that I'd be driving my Yeti around seeing CX-5's and wishing I'd made another choice.

2 things changed that:
1: seeing my red & black Yeti in the showroom
2. seeing the CX-5 in the flesh (or metal, as it were)

Seriously unimpressed with the CX-5, compared with it's pics. Plus, they're starting to pop up everywhere, whereas I've seen a total of 5 Yeti's in Melb and 1 in Sydney. I don't care what people think of my personal appearance, let alone my car's. I reckon it looks awesome and unique (good unique, not "sure honey, that's a unique dress" unique). That body coloured B-pillar is what makes it.

[VAG newbie]

CX5 is experiencing oil leak with their diesel engine! So much for Mazda's reliability.

Backlash over Mazda CX-5 diesel oil issues

[Transporter]

Some Polo GTI owners woud be jealous

I would be interested to see the used oil analysis done on that oil, most likely will be loaded up with all the byproducts of the diesel combustion.

[bluey]

I would be interested to see the used oil analysis done on that oil, most likely will be loaded up with all the byproducts of the diesel combustion.

Yes. Surely that's the only way the oil level could rise, but how could that much diesel get into the sump without there being a serious fault??? They claim it is "normal" for a DPF vehicle. But how can a DPF result in diesel in the sump???

[Transporter]

Yes. Surely that's the only way the oil level could rise, but how could that much diesel get into the sump without there being a serious fault??? They claim it is "normal" for a DPF vehicle. But how can a DPF result in diesel in the sump???

When the ECU actvelly regenerates the DPF, it injects more fuel, so the fuel is still burning when going through the exhaust and in the DPF.
That unburned diesel washes off into the sump.

You remove the DPF and engine will use less fuel.

edit: It's not the only way the oil level could rise, the coolant can enter the sump as well.

[Rooboy]

I picked up my Yeti this week after trying most others around. The Yeti was always near the top of my list due to reviews I read about it. Similarly the CX-5 but looking at the base price for the diesel I thought it was going to be exxy. Ok it has sat nav and reversing camera as standard but the black on black dash is claustrophobic and there is really nothing in the interior that sets it apart from the rest. I'm a bit over the busy creases and big smiles on the exteriors too and I don't need sat nav coz I get it on my phone with free updates. The car drives nice enough but again it wasn't better than the Yeti. I was quoted $44k driveaway as a starting point for the CX-5 and got the feeling they weren't going to be very forthcoming on a deal due to the popularity of it. This was pretty much confirmed to me last night when I met a friend that bought a 2wd petrol for $38k. In the end, I'm very happy with the Yeti purchase as it was the better all round deal for driving, equipment and price.

[NotYet]

One thing that sold me on the Yeti was that it was nearly a foot (300mm) shorter than most others in its class (e.g. CX5 4540mm v Yeti 4220mm) and has a correspondingly much tighter turning circle. Makes a big difference in the city. With the square back and clever interior, you don't lose much on space either.