5 Reasons To Fall In Love With The 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Car #DriveMazda

From the moment you step in and get behind the wheel of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring automobile, you know that you’re in for a ride that is truly something special, but it is not until you return to driving your own car that you truly begin to appreciate just what a sweet ride it is.

Gone are the seats that feel like they were designed just for you. Gone is the rear-view camera, the blind spot warning detection system and the seat warmers.

No more push of a button engine start or all the extra storage space that every person should have and bye-bye USB chargers and cup-holders throughout the vehicle and the moon roof that brings the beauty of the outdoors in.

On a recent trip to Florida I Mazda and DriveShop once again made sure I was able to get around in style by providing me with the use of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring and I can say it was very difficult to say “good bye” to this sleek and sporty car at the end of the week.

We’ve always been a huge fan of any car from the Mazda Nation but this one in particular just seemed to have my name all over it. The 5-passenger sporty crossover vehicle was the perfect car for getting me everywhere I needed to be in comfort and style and it’s easy to see why CX-5’s capable performance, efficiency and boldness have made it a favorite in its class. Equipped with all the latest that technology has to offer, with ample cargo room and designed with comfort as a top priority, here’s just a few of the things we came to love about the Mazda CX-5:

SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY FIRST, SAFETY FIRST

Whether you’re trying to get out of the busy Orlando International Airport or navigating from resort to resort and trying to get out of the Magic Kingdom parking lot at the end of Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the same time as other park goers try to make their way to their own cars, while possibly not aware that cars may be backing out of parking spaces at that precise moment in time. 

Thanks to all of the built in safety features of the not just the CX-5 but all of the Mazdas we have been lucky enough to test out thanks to Drive Shop, the engineers at Mazda go the extra mile when it comes to making me feel completely safe when I’m behind the wheel of one of their cars.

The Active Safety Technology is the best when it comes to helping prevent accidents by supporting my ability to predict and avoid hazards through visual and auditory alerts. As I’ve said before, backing up is not one of my strong suits but the Mazda CX-5 backup camera allows me to see different angles as I back up and then even warns me when cars or people are in my blind spot or even close to the rear of the car.

The I-ACTIVSENSE Safety System Includes:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control w/ Close Proximity Warning
• Smart Brake Support w/Collision Warning
• Lane Departure Warning
• High Beam Control
• Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
• Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Rearview Camera

And just in case Advanced dual front airbags PLUS the car received 5 stars from the government for side crash test on the front seat and the rear seat, and 4 stars for rollovers.

TECHNOLOGY AT ITS BEST

As well as I know the Orlando area, when you make the decision to try out 3 different resorts over 4 days, sometimes you just need a little extra help in getting you to where you need to be especially when you want to find the nearest 24 hour Starbucks at 1:00 am and thanks to the Mazda’s The Grand Touring Tech package included in the vehicle we drove had the navigation systems right at my fingertips-just type in a location and go and I always got to exactly where I needed to be in the shortest amount of time.

The touchscreen display comes equipped with Navigation, Bluetooth, Rear View Camera and Sirius XM Radio, which can be controlled, on the touchscreen panel or by a navigational knob that sits behind the gear-shift and allows you to easily switch from entertainment mode to GPS mode without ever taking your eyes off the road.

Even better, the steering wheel has all the controls you need right at your fingertips to enable you to use you Bluetooth enabled phone which pairs with the car or your music and of course the cruise control.

SO COMFORTABLE YOU’LL FORGET YOU’RE IN A CAR

Just like the other Mazdas we have tested over the last year, the Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring is tops when it comes to comfort. The leather seats give you the feel of a luxurious ride, with plenty of room in the front seat as well as the back seats, even when your son happens to be 6’4” with legs that go on forever.

Also in the back there was a convenient pull down armrest between the seats with built-in drink holders and perfect if the littles happen to be with you and are in need of their own personal space. Because we can never seem to settle on one temperature that works for us both, the dual climate control means neither one of us are ever too hot or too cold allowing both the driver and passenger to ride comfortably.

And yes, there are some mornings that even in Florida that first thing in the morning or late at night, there is nothing better than a heated seat. 

Room, Room and Room To Spare

It is a well known fact that I do not travel lightly but thanks to the easy to access hatchback of that opens with the push of a button, I had plenty of room for all of my luggage, and then some.

When it came to helping my son transport some newly acquired pieces of furniture, again all with the touch of a button, I could easily convert the that backseats into several different configurations,

and not once did I need a Master’s Degree in engineering to figure out just how to fold down the backseat.  Did I mention this all happened with a mere push of a button? Need extra power for camping? There’s a conveniently located 12 volt outlet right there in the back.

It’s Just Plain Old Fun To Drive

It’s not often that you can find that a car that is sleek, safe, sporty and comfortable equipped with all the latest in technology all in one model and yet the 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring Car is all of that and more.

The Mazda CX-5 is a crossover vehicle, meaning it’s between a car and an SUV, but the way it drives is definitely more like a car.

It has the looks of a sleek and smooth sports car, with alloy wheels and details that give you the feel that you’re behind the wheel as a high-priced luxury vehicle but the reality it’s price tag makes if affordable whether you are a young family needed something for the everyday rigors of daily life, or your like we are with the last child having left the nest and the world is ours-but sometimes the grandkids are along for the ride.

But at no time did I ever feel as though I was driving a “grandma-mobile” as my kids used to call my own mom’s car. And the icing on the cake-the sunroof was perfect to let in all of that sweet Florida sunshine.

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Disclosure: We were given a Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD automobile to test drive for one week through our partnership with DriveShop however the thoughts and opinions expressed here are 100% our own.