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Anyone who switched from cx5 to Y ?

Massive-Painting-802 | 2026-02-27 04:10 | 8 views

Hey, What is something you miss from cx5 days and any experience that you could share switching to a tesla would be much appreciated. I’m still in two minds coz I love the driving dynamics of my cx5 and your personal experiences would help me make an informed decision.

Comments (49)
PrizeMeans 2026-02-27 04:17

The rotary knobs for controlling everything. Using a touchscreen to control AC will always be completely stupid to me. And I would give up Tesla UI for Apple CarPlay in an instant.

Flightwise 2026-02-27 04:24

Have you driven a Juniper Y? Re touchscreen… just set and forget while a/c is on Auto. CarPlay may be coming to a Y soon, but frankly the times I’ve been in a hire car and used CarPlay makes me grateful to be back in my Y.

PtrJung 2026-02-27 04:26

I have both a 2015 GT and a 2022 MYP. I appreciate the additional rear hatch space of the CX-5 and that I can drive almost 600km on a tank. I take it on long road trips and the Telsa is for trips less than 300km round trip. The MYP is ridiculously fast, but heavy on the corners and is harder to drive in slippery conditions. There’s no comparison when it comes to tech and being able to control the climate remotely and heat/cool the car in advance is a huge perk.

D1TAC 2026-02-27 04:27

Really? I keep the climate on auto and then just select 68-70F for the months. Yeah, I'd love Car play, but Tesla does a REALLY good job compared to automakers, imo. Didn't have a Mazda, but I left the truck world for the Y.

PrizeMeans 2026-02-27 04:38

Mazda controls are excellent they just work despite not being touchscreen at all (the last gen). I understand there is an aftermarket knob that exists if you really want some physical controls but I don’t think it’s worth paying hundreds of dollars.

Deep_Presentation725 2026-02-27 04:47

I had a 2023 CX5 Sport edition. The turbo was fun, the handling was great. I switched over to the MY for multiple reasons but has consumption was a big one. It was costing me about $250 sometimes more a month on gas. What I miss from the CX5 was Apple car play…maybe the sound of the turbo when it kicked in…the touch points felt really nice and I’m in Canada so it was nice to have just a bit more ground clearance…but honestly that’s it. The model Y is costing me about $60-70 a month charging. The power is insane in comparison, the handling is much better, it has way more cubic space in comparison to the CX5 making it much more functional…heating the car literally takes hardly anytime. In snow it’s a beast, it’s the best car I have had so far, I think after buying a Tesla it’s very..very hard to go back. I can see myself just buying teslas in the future and I hope my Y lasts 10+ years. ** Forgot to preface I have the 2026 performance model Y**

Massive-Painting-802 2026-02-27 04:50

Hey I’m in canada too. Snow driving with winter tires is better in Y based on your time with both ? Which do you feel safer with when driving in slippery conditions in winters

Deep_Presentation725 2026-02-27 04:57

Feels more solid with the Y, one of the reasons is that the Y is heavier. Theres also a traction control option that’s specifically for snow, ice and slippery roads…when that’s turned on, confidence goes through the roof. This year we had a lot of snow and I never felt uncomfortable driving it. Obviously winter tires are a must. And there is a learning curve with the regenative breaking in the highway when it’s laced with snow. Basically you just want to ride the gas peddle on and off gently. But yes I found myself more confident driving the Y is snow than the CX5

Massive-Painting-802 2026-02-27 05:12

That’s such a relief to know! One bottleneck right now is I live in a condo where I don’t have access to home charging tech. So a little concerned about the cost at superchargers. I drive around 600-700km/month , how much can I expect to pay v/s someone charging at their home in GTA ?

xwedge 2026-02-27 05:19

Went from 2016 cx5 touring with tech and bose package. What i missed about the cx5 was that it was more nimble and can go on road trips without worrying about wasting time charging the car. Model y advantages: 1. No oil changes 2. Better sound system 3. Much more power 4. Roomier 5. Autopilot on long stretches of freeway are a godsend 6. Electric os cheaper than gas (i have solar)

Deep_Presentation725 2026-02-27 05:21

Charging at home will always be cheaper, if you’re going to be constantly supercharging it maybe cheaper than an ICE vehicle but not by much. Supercharging is usually meant for trips or maybe emergencies…some uber drivers use it extensively…Tesla always have quarterly promotions and in the past they have had one with unlimited free supercharging, not a guarantee it’s gonna come back but historically it’s happened. So if you’re not in a rush that incentive could be a life saver for you.

Massive-Painting-802 2026-02-27 05:22

Hey so you feel Y is not as good in handling and fun of driving as cx5 ?

xwedge 2026-02-27 05:24

On a straightaway , model y is more fun. On twisties, cx5 wins hands down. Ever hear the term, its more fun to drive a slow car fast than drive a fast car slow?

sevargmas 2026-02-27 05:25

I had a 2019 CX5 until I bought a 2023 Model Y. I was more than happy to move away from the terrible infotainment and stupid control knob. I really only missed my ventilated seats. However, my 2023 Y was totaled a year ago and now I have a 2026 Model Y, which does have vented seats. Love it. All that said, I got my insurance check right before the tax credits ended in September last year and I felt pressured to get another EV purchase quickly. If I were in your shoes, I would be waiting until next month when the Rivian are two pricing and options are released. Rumors are that the base price will be 43,000. I’m really going to have some Rivian envy if that’s the case.

ryachow44 2026-02-27 05:26

Voice commands pretty much do everything…

PrizeMeans 2026-02-27 05:34

Ah of course talking to my car, a solution to a problem that never existed

Massive-Painting-802 2026-02-27 05:34

Hmm makes sense. One of the very reasons I love cx5 is it can feel like handling a sedan when turning or even in snowy road conditions. But I assume it wouldn’t be night and day diff with Y ?

xwedge 2026-02-27 05:35

It is night and day. ModelY feels like a boat when cornering

xwedge 2026-02-27 05:36

If cornering is at the top your list, id opt for the performance

K3jai 2026-02-27 05:37

Pumping gas. lol

Suspicious-Wall-194 2026-02-27 05:43

One of the biggest perks of Tesla over any other car is fsd. My commute time to work is about 30 mins. I barely ever touch the steering wheel. That feature makes Tesla a no brainer for me.

joedzekic 2026-02-27 06:11

not from CX5 but from a Mazda6 to 2023 MY LR. i drove the 2015 Mazda 6 and absolutely loved it. only switched because my commute got longer. if i were to do it again, i would NOT have bought the Y. other than the tech and a bit more space. Driving experience is much worse. i've had it for 2 weeks and miss my 6 dearly. There is too much cabin noise and rattle for this class of car. i feel everything on the road. absolutely everything. on rough roads, i feel like im driving a 90's car because how much bounce and rattle there is. before anyone comes for me, this is a 2023 with only 66k KMs so pretty much new.

Soft_Bluejay_4402 2026-02-27 06:33

Yes me! The things I miss are the boot (trunk) parcel shelf being attached to the hatch door on the cx5. This is design genius. In the Y, it’s an annoying thing just plonked on top. The second would be the manoeuvrability, parking and turning circle. The cx5 turns on a dime and easy as to park. The Y is wider and harder to park and requires more 3 point turns. As for dynamics, the Y is outstanding (I have the launch/performance model AUS) although to be fair my CX5 turbo diesel was no slouch but cannot be compared to the Y. All around, I love my new car and so do the kids

JackDenial 2026-02-27 06:35

I think the general car driving public (who live in climate extremes) is really sleeping on the pre cool / pre heat features of “truly” connected vehicles eg tesla , Rivian, polestar

JackDenial 2026-02-27 06:36

I also use auto and never have any issues with it being a touchscreen. I agree on CarPlay though

Deep_Presentation725 2026-02-27 07:00

I haven’t driven an older model Y but I have heard that the suspension wasn’t good. Apparently the newer versions they spend a lot more time on that and cabin noise.

Mr-Fishbine 2026-02-27 07:05

Ironically, I did... I was rear ended in my 2015 CX5 and ended up getting a 2021 Y. I have to say it's a huge step up. The handling and dynamics are incredible, and the cargo volume is superior (though somewhat shorter).

frank_nada 2026-02-27 07:12

Had a 2015 GT and then 2019 CX5 Reserve (with turbo) for a total of six years. Then a 2023 Model Y and currently in a 2025. I miss the vented seats and Apple CarPlay most of all. and for a long time, the radar cruise control was leagues better than autopilot. but autopilot has improved. I also miss being higher up. The interior was a lot more comfortable. But none of those outweigh FSD and the insane torque, speed, and “refueling” at home. We’re getting into a Rivian R2 next. Looking fwd to getting back into a compact suv style vehicle.

Altruistic-Ad-857 2026-02-27 07:48

You cannot zoom in or change the map on carplay right ?

WhaleDonation7 2026-02-27 09:32

My cx5 drove smoother than the model y, but it had no apple car play which is why I changed, I’m now in a juniper and highland and would never go back to Mazda

PrizeMeans 2026-02-27 12:52

You can

thewetbandits 2026-02-27 13:18

Yeah I don't get this climate complaint either. When I got my Y I set the climate to 70 and haven't touched it since. I had Carplay in my last car but I only ever used it for navigation and spotify, which Tesla has built in, so I don't miss that at all.

silentbutdead1y 2026-02-27 13:48

Do you at least have Level 1 charging available at your condo? Living in Toronto, winter is not going to be a good experience without home charging. It will take a long time to heat the battery up to supercharging temperature. You won’t be able to drive a cold battery 5 minutes to your local supercharger and get a fast charge since the battery will be too cold. We live in SE Michigan and are able to make it work with Level 1 charging in winter because we don’t drive much. However we are going to install a Level 2 just for convenience.

BasicBelch 2026-02-27 15:58

The handling for the model Y is absolutely, positively no where near a CX-5. Its not even close. The model Y is a numb feeling, heavy lumbering barge compared to the CX-5. The model y is a great car for many reasons, but it does not handle anything like a mazda.

BasicBelch 2026-02-27 16:03

Longtime CX-5 owner. New juniper owner. Very different vehicles. CX-5 is a drivers car, the tesla seems to want to make you feel like you arent driving at all, very numb. CX-5 handles much better in all aspects. Tesla is of course a rocketship in a straight line. Ergonomics on the Tesla is noticeably worse unfortunately, not as good seats and mounted very high. I was hoping the former head of design at mazda would bring some mazda with him when he went to Tesla but no such luck. They are so different TBH its hard to compare them. They are for people with vastly different priorities. I like having both so it works out ok. I wish Mazda made an EV with the guts and tech of a Tesla but drives like a Mazda.

BasicBelch 2026-02-27 16:05

agreed, CX-5 handles so much better. The MY is very numb.

BasicBelch 2026-02-27 16:06

stiffer shocks cant solve it

BasicBelch 2026-02-27 16:07

how is carplay working on your teslas?

WhaleDonation7 2026-02-27 16:08

They don’t have it, I just couldn’t take the media control system in the Mazda I believe it was a 2020 cx5,

Kmexe 2026-02-27 18:08

Mazda being so dumb with their EV choices makes me so sad because I love the brand, but really want to switch to an EV because now I live in a house with solar panels and hate going to the gas station.

Igotnonamebruh42 2026-02-27 21:34

Not sure why you got downvoted, the button and rotary knob on the Mazda is so good you can basically forget about using touchscreen when driving. Tesla on the other hand, I still hate the screen for adjusting everything while the car is in motion. Some people like everything automated and ready by the car, but some prefer to manually adjust the AC fan speed, temp and more.

Igotnonamebruh42 2026-02-27 21:41

Steering and driving feels good on the cx5, MY is numb but with higher ceiling/physical limit due to lower CG, more HP and wider tires and it’s also more comfy & spacious. Depends on how you are currently using CarPlay on your cx5, you might find out that you have no substitution of some apps/functions when using the Tesla infotainment.

Technical_Act3541 2026-02-28 06:13

I drove a Juniper around Madison, WI for a few hours and while the cabin was silent and the ride was excellent i did feel more body roll than my '25 model 3. Its not a m3 for sure but it still did fine. The thing is like a bank vault though. It seemed so quiet inside.

Technical_Act3541 2026-02-28 06:19

Teslas are just so god damn fast. Pretty much every car i'm faster.. 30 to 80mph its just insane. I couldn't imagine what model x plaid is like--i'd kill myself owning one.

Technical_Act3541 2026-02-28 06:21

Go to a Madza dealership. Drive that to the Tesla dealership. Compare.

snufkinswanderlust 2026-03-01 03:38

Omg exactly me. I sold my 2024 cx5 to Carmax and used the equity towards a 2026 model Y premium. Cx5 has better seats, and I loved the little screen and dial interface, very smart. CX5 What bothered me was tiny back seat and small boot. Then I got the Model Y… seats aren’t comfortable, but what a different driving experience! You feel like a you’re in a sci-fi movie. Nothing compares. No more blind spots, no more gas, very little maintenance, and the software/screen crushes anything out there. I’m still getting not using brakes ever! You won’t regret it.

Devil_Doc87 2026-03-02 11:43

I am in the same situation and trading in my CX5 for a model y and looking forward to it!

chunkskunkmunk 2026-03-06 04:48

Just traded my 2022 cx5 turbo just recently for a new model y. I am no car enthusiast but I can see now why people dislike EVs because they take away a lot of the road feel. The cx5 definitely felt better to drive even if the MY drives smoother (if that makes sense). Also, the cx5 will depreciate way less than a Tesla. I even think the cx5 genuinely looks better. But I don’t miss the small gas tank. The turbo reduces mileage but I would get less than 300 miles on a full tank. I also hate driving so FSD was more than enough reason for me to switch.

chunkskunkmunk 2026-03-06 04:49

The little turbo whistle? I actually disliked that 😆

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