Hey Scotty watch a lot of you content. You’re rough on VW. I have a 2018 Tiguan 60,000 miles runs great almost traded for atlas cross sport they didn’t have the v6 model and I felt it was over priced. I’m tossed between 2022 VW Tiguan and Mazda CX-5. Personal opinion on a crossover. I’ve owned almost all brands and KIA has been my least favorite.
Get the Mazda.
Go with the Mazda.
The interior of Mazda is way better with VW. Mazda is making their interior more luxurious while VW is just full of hard plastic, the seats are just hard. Also, depends on the trim of CX-5, you could get a NA without turbo meaning no carbon buildup, but VW has TSI with turbo, known to have carbon build up.
You still get carbon build-up since it's a GDI engine, but super easy to maintain.
I just did it recently, knowing next to nothing about cars/engines.
Just some CRC cleaner, duct tape, and a brake/vinyl hose over one of the many brake hoses available.
Go Mazda
The interior is way nicer and would consider it to be on par with a lower-end BMW or an Audi if not better. 2022 Tiguans are nice looking with the refresh, but the interior is a bit plain and kinda boring. Also, realize the Mazda is made in Japan and the VW is made in Mexico (it's nothing like the first-gen Tiguan that was made in Germany but at the same time it had the infamous oil-burning 2.0 T). The Mazda is higher quality overall, but do consider you are gonna give up some cargo space compared to the VW, so if you don't mind having less space, go ahead, otherwise I would look elsewhere.
Go with the Mazda CX-5. Since it’s a 2022, the 2.5L naturally aspirated engine will have cylinder deactivation; not sure how long you plan to keep the vehicle, but if it’s long term avoid that engine.
Still 2021 in the market for Cx-5. It seems like Turbo CX-5 doesn't have cylinder deactivation, I don't see it on their website.
https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/2021-cx-5/compare-vehicle-specs-and-trims
Yeah, only choices in US are Turbo with no CD, or non-turbo with CD.
In Canada, we only have 3 trims, with the base GX/Sport being NA, with no CD.
I always say friends don’t let friends buy VW. EVERYONE I have ever known to have one has had endless problems with that junk. I think I’d rather have a bicycle for my daily driver.
Check out the post by bbartlemann to see how Volkswagen treats you.
It's a crying shame what VW has become.
Let me also share my story. Every single time, I went to a VW dealership. They were rude, if not, they are trying to sell me something.
VW1 One VW told me my Jetta was having a misfire because they heard some tick tick tick sound. I ignored it because that's TSI/GDI.
VW2 The VW I took the Jetta for recall, changed the blown daytime headlight without my consent. They then sent me emails saying a replacement of that light is required due to safety issues.
VW3 The VW I took for oil change and tranny fluid change. They never did it right. Oil leaking after that.
Mazda CX-5 obviously.
If you want a manual transmission like I do and have, if in the US, you'll have to search for a used 2017 model (or earlier), as they discontinued MT for that region starting in 2018 I believe (2019 for Canada), slim pickings.
All CX-5's are currently made in Japan, and all MT's are 2.0L, naturally aspirated, non-turbo, with no cylinder deactivation, all signs pointing to a long-lasting, reliable/durable vehicle, but they'll be weaker on the HP.
Maintenance is easy and very DIY if you want, even cleaning the carbon build-up due to GDI is super easy.
I'm no mechanic, and with some help from Scotty and YT, I just did it recently, way easier than I imagined.
Since 2016.5 I think, all automatic transmissions on CX-5's are 2.5L, with NA/non-turbo options/trims, but definitely the recent model years starting 2017 or so have cylinder deactivation, which Scotty has stated in numerous videos he is not a fan of.
Good luck.
At least in Canada, the 2021 GX (aka Sport, or lowest trim model) still doesn't have CD. Yay.