Weird thing is the CX-5 is the 2nd oldest model here, and has been very reliable in past years. Wonder what’s happening there.

From what I hear, the CX-90 is likely to bring the score down next year.

Oh well, my 6 years old Mazda3 is running strong!

Winter tires are mandatory in Quebec, so you’ll have to get them anyway. Please don’t let having the AWD justify getting cheaper tires. AWD ain’t helping you brake or turn better on iced roads. And you’re WAY more likely to get into an accident that way than because you couldn’t accelerate fast enough. Blizzak, X-Ice or Nokian ideally. Studded is best but noisy plus you can’t get into most underground or multi level parking lots.

Given good tires on both, obviously AWD is better. Easier to get going or climb a hill, however that can translate into over confidence and you end up braking too late or turning too fast. Downsides for AWD is the added cost, but also more fuel consumption, slower acceleration and added maintenance cost later down the line.

As I told my father when he was buying his FWD CX-5 (had the same, we both around Montreal): there are maybe 2-3 days per year where I miss having AWD, the remaining 362 days I enjoy the fuel economy.

This morning was pretty bad weather, and my old Mazda3 FWD never came close to feeling unsafe, because I have brand new Michelon X-Ice tires on it. FWIW I have spent time in an AWD Mazda3, it’s pretty cool how easy it gets going on ice, it also felt so darn slow.

Anyway, if I was still living IN Montreal and parking on the street, then yeah I’d want AWD so I can get in and out of parking spots more easily. But mostly I’d want more ground clearance (street parking is a douleur dans le derrière in the winter). Best winter vehicle I ever had was a Tribute, it was FWD but had really high ground clearance.

In Montreal, I’d rather drive a FWD CX-30 than an AWD Mazda3, not that it matters since the CXs are now AWD only, but just my opinion.

Anyway, make sure to spend some time trying both the AWD and FWD version. You don’t NEED AWD, but of course it is preferable in terms of winter driving. It just has some downsides.

5 of the cars I’ve owned are on there. It’s missing the 323 I learned to drive stick with though.

It has the FB I almost bought as a first car, and the MX-3 that my ex GF let me drive back in 2002.

I get you, as a musician I enjoyed how easy it was to load the CX-5.

But if I’m honest, I can carry almost as much with the Mazda3 hatch (again, 3rd gen though)… the CX-5 was much easier to load though, and I could put more in the trunk without having to fold the seats.

Same height as you, not a big fan of the new 3 and CX-30, the ceiling is really low unless I angle the seat too far back to not get back aches. But the CX-5 has that upright sitting position and tall ceiling I love. Excellent visibility too. That said, the natural resting position of my right leg had my knee against the center console which isn’t soft padded. I put 150 000km on it in 4 years and it only bothered me from time to time.

I’m happy with my 3rd gen Mazda3 though. Doesn’t feel as cramped as the new one.

I do miss the easy getting in and out of the CX-5. Just didn’t make sense for me to be carrying around 700 extra lbs of metal now that I live alone. Once I’m sat in, that older 2018 Mazda 3 is pretty comfortable