BMW X1 vs Mazda CX-5 | TestDrive Spotlight

We did it again! After the smash-hit success we had reviewing the BMW X3 and Mazda CX-5 last year, we knew we needed to make a follow up. Now with better vehicle comparisons!
We've grown a lot since September 2017 when we published our Showdown episode on the 2015 BMW X3 xDrive28d and 2017 Mazda CX-5 GT. We knew at the time that the two vehicles we're the best pairing we could get, but as a small channel we don't get access to a lot of vehicles, so we took the one and only X3 we had parked in our driveway and made an episode out of it.
Fast-forward about 7 months and we have significantly better access to vehicles, including this 2018 BMW X1 xDrive28i, a vehicle that a lot of commenters on our X3 Showdown said was a better fit for the Mazda CX-5. Now we are still using our 2017 Mazda CX-5 GT with Tech Package, but we've noted in the video that the 2018 model year only changes some interior buttons and adds cylinder deactivation for the engine, a feature we can't accurately compare on a short road test anyway. So while the Mazda is a year older, both cars have similar milage, and the 2018 CX-5 is almost identical.
In this episode of TestDrive Showdown we compare these two compact crossover SUVs against each other to see if the $15,000 price difference with the BMW gives you more tech and features, or if the Mazda gets a lot of the options you need for a fraction of the cost. We always seem to need to mention that both cars are Canadian models, so pricing and features are specific to this country. We also must note again that the Mazda CX-5 is our own personal car that we've purchased, but we also own a BMW, so we feel we have an equal amount of bias, and we don't tap into it for either car.
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[@JeremiahBelocura]

Love the Rosary hanging from the rear view mirror!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good catch on that!

[@francoisvola3611]

Excellent review, thank you!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad it was helpful! We had a lot of requests for this one after our Showdown comparing the X3 to the CX-5.

[@seff5677]

definitely any car you put against your CX-5 with similar features will give it a run for its money. The Mazda has proven in your videos to have great value at its price point.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed! But, Mazda is going to have to work pretty hard to keep itself up there. While we love the CX-5, other manufacturer are starting to add more features and improve their vehicles significantly.

[@vladimirproksch2894]

CX-5 is a great car but it deserves a more powerful petrol engine.

[@britishentertainment7610]

@@vladimirproksch2894 your wish has been granted, 2.5 250hp turbo is available

[@QuirosErick]

CX-5 looks amazing!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think it's a hard design to beat in this segment, Mazda has seriously upped their game.

[@TheAutoInformant]

Love your channel. You're well spoken, not cheesy and I love the non vlog style shooting. I'm trying to do something similar on my channel (not car reviews, but just trying not to do vlog videos) and appreciate the production value of your channel. Keep it up! I am subscribed.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We really appreciate that, thanks! We're always experimenting with different methods for our production, but we do like going for the more professional look over just your regular grab-and-go style videos.

[@TheAutoInformant]

Yes. Love it. I'm honestly surprised you don't have more subscribers. Looks like you're putting in the work.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're hoping it will come. Automotive channels are slower at growing than most of the mainstream stuff here, but we're pretty impressed with how far we've come in the past 12 months.

[@inamullahnaveed8778]

wonderful advice thanks man

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it, thanks!

[@josephprisilyanandkatta4028]

Out of the box comparison. Good on you

[@PRNTestDrive]

We had quite a lot of success two years back with the Mazda CX-5 vs BMW X3 but the episode was filmed based on what we had access to. We wanted to re-do it with a better pairing.

[@alexf4894]

I had a feeling this review was coming. 😎 I see a ton of CX-5s on the road. Not hard to see why

[@PRNTestDrive]

As soon as we had the X1 booked we knew we wanted to make this episode happen, fix the issues we had with the X3 Showdown given our limited access from before.

[@guyr7351]

Just getting rid of my CX5 as ride is awful, and fuel economy poor. It’s fine if driving it hard but trying to drive steady it bounces over every road imperfection unless on super smooth roads. Really disappointed as there is so much to like and Mazdas reputation for build quality. Changing it for an X1 diesel

[@michaelmarino3144]

"So, I'm sorry, we're in Canada" --- classic Canadian. 🇨🇦

[@PRNTestDrive]

You know it 😂

[@itannoysme3348]

Drove both, the Mazda is slow and jerky, revving too high at the wrong times. The BMW is more powerful and smooth. It feels much more solid.

[@ZORANSKORIN]

that is very right and this guy is tottaly wrong

[@muehli02]

Thanks for the review! How are the lane keep assists working?Wiith light, sound or does the car interfere? Adaptive criuse control can ve very different by each car. Would be nice to have it compared too. How is it to park with the cars?

[@PRNTestDrive]

The BMW has neither of those features as configured. It only has lane departure warning, so it will only alert the driver, not do anything about it. Same goes for cruise control, the BMW at this price point doesn’t get adaptive cruise control. As for parking, both are relatively small so it’s not a problem for either.

[@realbeetlejuice]

Another great review! I would just recommend adding vehicle weight as well on the spec sheet comparison

[@PRNTestDrive]

It's something we'll certainly look at down the road when we re-work our graphics. Unfortunately we had these made up for us a couple years back and there isn't space to add more.

[@larryg6865]

Leasing a base model X1 love it so much I may buy it at the end of the lease.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Fair enough, enjoy it!

[@MauiTheBengalCat]

X1 is a very nice car❤

[@DivineOwnageEVE]

On the used car market, the X1 and CX-5 sell at around the same price.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That sounds about right, even the original Showdown we did on the CX-5 and BMW X3 have similar resale prices after a few years.

[@brett2396]

And it'll cost twice as much to maintain and repair

[@shayan2_794]

@@brett2396 if you have warranty why would u need to repair it BMW has free scheduled maintenance on all of their cars with warranty.

[@brett2396]

@@shayan2_794 on new BMWs, what about used?

[@shayan2_794]

@@brett2396 no one said to buy a 5 year old one because i bought a 2018 x1 in 2021 and it had warranty on it,but i do agree that no one should ever buy a bmw or merc or audi that has more than 70k miles

[@xKETISHx]

Thank you for your reviews! I got my CX-5 in Deep Crystal Blue 2 months ago and its an amazing car. Your review was very useful for me especially you helped me with the color choice. This blue color looks beautiful! Btw my car has parking sensors as its European version, I won’t say they make a big difference actually, so absence of those isn’t a real lack. And yes, people on the streets asked me about my car) Got lots of compliments how beautiful it is.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Congrats! We're glad to hear you're enjoying your CX-5. The parking sensors aren't a must for everyone, but we think they should be offered over here. We're really not sure why Mazda isn't adding it, but they're going to have to if they want to stay competitive. A lot of the other manufacturers are investing heavily in their compact offerings.

[@xKETISHx]

Perpetual Radio Networks, yes it’s a weird decision to offer such thing as parking sensors for one market and not to do that for another. They definitely must to do something with that.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Has to be to do with price, but even then they could still offer it as an option just like the tech package. We're not necessarily expecting it for the 2019 model year, but maybe by 2020 they'll add it for us.

[@xKETISHx]

Perpetual Radio Networks, here, in Russia, radar cruise control isn’t available even as an option. But it has something to do with the radio (or some another kind of) wave it uses, its kinda the same as military use. So yeah, we are in the same board) Oh, and many owners got problems with vibration in winter, when the temperature was under 20 degrees Celsius. I hope Mazda will fix this as well.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We've heard a few complaints about that issue here too, but we haven't personally experienced anything. I'm thinking it might have something to do with the motor mounts, but we do hope Mazda has a fix in mind for it.

[@Rainan-hi8ds]

BMW X1 25d M Packet Mineral White Xdrive Full loaded New 65000€ 2 years old either 14000km...like new for 42000€ I love it, the head up display, panorama ruftop, the look and the performance

[@PRNTestDrive]

CPO is always a great option for a luxury car, still get a great warranty with a slightly used vehicle.

[@thekwamster4970]

Thanks for your excellent video.. I have been mulling over the two for a while... I'm leaning towards the CX5 just because I hate high maintenance costs that come with the luxury brands. Keep up the great reviews 👍👍

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'd definitely take the CX-5 again if we could. The 2018 model doesn't add much new to the mix, but its a solid crossover all around.

[@thekwamster4970]

Perpetual Radio Networks Have you checked out the 2019 Acura RDX yet? I just saw some reviews and wondering if I should get that instead of the CX5... What do you think? And will you do a comparison soon? Thanks

[@MrMazda-ih8cw]

An illustration of how far Mazda have come when the CX-5 is compared to a BMW. Great video - thanks for sharing!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it, thanks for checking it out! We really do love the CX-5, but we think Mazda is going to have to continue improving it. While no compact crossover is perfect, the competition is certainly adding more features each model year.

[@MrMazda-ih8cw]

Agreed!

[@johnsmith-ds8yv]

After deeply researching and test driving just about everything in the compact SUV crossover segment, I went with a fully loaded 2019 X1 xDrive28i. Sticker was 42k but due to an error they made on their website, it was priced at 37k and they were forced to honor it. Honestly, for the money I can't imagine what other vehicle in it's class can really compare. The 2019 Mazda CX-5 Signature with a new turbo motor has more HP/TQ than the BMW, yet it's not nearly as quick nor does it handle like the BMW does. I love the look and feel of the X1, it handles like a high-riding sports car and honestly feels a lot like my Mk7 GTI. Interior fit and finish is superb and the steering can only be described as 'telepathic' in my opinion. The icing on the BMW cake is that they pay for all servicing for 3yrs/36k and the full warranty is 4hr/50k which is WAAAAY better than the Mazda and on-par with Hyundai/Kia, but neither of those offer free maintenance. In my opinion the X1 is a win-win if you're looking for something in this segment. This the 10th vehicle I've owned and it is by far the most bang for my buck I've ever gotten.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're glad to hear you got something that works for you! Can't argue with a $5k discount due to an error either.

[@johnedieter739]

the current Mazda warrantee is 5 yr/100K Km. Which is pretty good I think. Also, a loaded GT trim level CX-5 is about 38k, for the non turbo model, but still a 2.5 l engine, and when I tested it, it had a great deal of pep and response not even using the sport mode. the 2021.5 model year has improved the infotainment centre (larger, faster) but still does not have the nice pano roof, or wireless apple or android phone. The sales guy told me that Mazda wont do panoramic rooves for safety reasons. Not sure I buy that.

[@DK-wr9nd]

I'm seriously considering CX-5 as my first car in the US, and it definitely looks to be the best value compact SUV considering its price.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We don’t think you can go wrong wit it! We’ve had 0 issues since buying it. We’re planning to do a 1 year update video on it come August, but it definitely offers a lot for it’s price.

[@theonlyrobot]

I've owned a US-spec 2017 CX-5 GT for a year, and wouldn't consider another SUV that's under $50k USD. You must go drive one. The interior material quality and steering feel are amazing for the price.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Well said!

[@hemi5.7awdpursuit5]

Robert Newby I’m getting 2018 cx5 on 21st of November

[@pbproductions31]

What did you end up buying?

[@joelsoto1849]

Mazda is quite handsome. But the wheel options are unattractive. BMW much better options. The performance is a lop sided win for the BMW. Acceleration, passing power, merging....so easy. Idrive is more faster and intuitive than mazdas infotainment system. Graphics also better on X1 screen and bigger screen. Interior ambiance, X1 hands down. If those things don’t matter, get a CX5.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Mazda definitely needs to work on their infotainment system. The 2019 CX-5 Signature uses a slightly updated screen but I imagine the software isn't any different. The CX-5 getting the optional 2.5L turbo engine is a big step in the right direction also.

[@darmanto1963]

try to get mazda signature, lets compare with the power and price

[@adam1abe]

Great car from Mazda, but i'd definetly wait for the Skyactive X model next year, here in europe the fuel is really expenssive and taxes are high depending on CO2 release!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We definitely hear that a lot from viewers! Fuel prices are going up here also, yesterday I believe it was around $1.43/L Canadian for regular, up from the very low $1.20s last year, and even lower back in Ontario.

[@msiahpush]

Hi. Thanks for the review. A question: is CX-5 a bit small for a person who is 6 feet?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I don't think it would be too small, I'm 6 feet tall and fit in it without issue.

[@Shamus71]

I’ve driven both of these vehicles as loaners recently and I’ll say that the fully loaded CX-5 drove nicer and I actually liked it better than the X1. I’m a 328i xDrive owner and I love BMW’s but the X1 is kind of cheesy compared to the X3. I actually at consider the CX-5 next time.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're glad to hear that! A lot of people thought we were nuts comparing these, saying that no BMW owner on earth would ever look at a CX-5.

[@aquaboy1650]

Please do comparison Mazda CX5 Turbo vs Lexus NX 300. Also CX9 vs RX350, I'm curious, how good Mazda is compared to Lexus.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I’d love to! We tried to speak with someone at Toyota Canada’s PR at the Montreal Auto Show about getting access to their press fleet but we haven’t heard back. I’m going to try again with the Toronto Show in a couple weeks, but we’ll see if we can make it happen one way or another this spring!

[@gerardopietrantoni6452]

Good video. I bought the 2018 CX5 GT in deep crystal blue with white leather parchment. Both cars (BMW and CX5) are nice, but just didn’t make sense to spend the extra cash for the badge. Also BMW’s maintenance and repairs are more costly. The CX5 has good acceleration when needed or you can drive it less aggressively for maximum fuel economy. I cannot tell if the cylinder de-activation is on or off because there’s no difference when cruising. I just assume that when driving in a flat road with minimum acceleration on the pedal at low rpm’s it’s turned on. And if I’m driving aggressively it’s off. It’s unnoticeable. So far, so good.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That was one thing we noticed during our short drive on the 2018 CX-5, I don't believe they have anything to say when the vehicle is running on CD. Cadillac has been good with that, if you're on the right screen on the cluster.

[@benhaze1010]

Good comparison review! On the safety features topic, there is no blind spot/side assist or rear cross alert option available at all on the X1 in Canada and these are the ones most useful. You just can't get these two features on the X1 even if you would want to pay for them.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good to know, and very interesting! We browsed through the features not available on our X1 test model and must have missed the specifics of the enhanced driver assist package. I'm quite surprised they don't offer blind spot monitoring on this vehicle.

[@benhaze1010]

Oh it is not just this BMW vehicle. The 2-series is the same. The 3 & 4 series don't offer rear cross alert or passive blind spot either; you can however choose the option for active blind spot on the latter two. Also still on this topic, I believe the 2018 CX-5 upgraded blind spot to side assist; there is a big difference between the two that no one ever mentions; you have to experience it to realize how better side assistance is over blind spot.

[@radeksvoboda7629]

For me the comparison of X1 vs CX5 ended when I found out the X1 has no autohold feature. Many people mention the CX5 is slow. I do not share that feeling, driving the GT 2.5 194PS on high octane fuel. In CX5, you really need to tell the auto transmission what you are up to. If you hammer the gas, the acceleration is very good an I have no problem with 60-80 mph acceleration on highway. I believe the folks are not used to hammer the pedal properly which results in poor acceleration. This is naturally aspirated engine, so it must downshift to jump forward.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree, we've had no issues with power deliver with the CX-5 over the past 10,000km. A lot of people like to complain just for the sake of it, or because they have a bias against Mazda.

[@maximusDMR]

Thank you so much today as 2022 I'm standing ahead of the big choice Mazda CX-5 vs BMW X1 and other SUV's like Ford Kuga or Peugeot 3008 and this video just helps me out to finally decide. BMQ X1 Looks cheap to me, other SUV's like ford or peugeot are so plasticky there is plastic literally everywhere so I can only imagine the noise after a few years of driving. Anyway interesting comparison and I think one of the best I ever seen. I'm getting CX-5 from late 2018 with Sport Nav+ configuration. Did you test CX-5 with diesel engine and auto gearbox? Was it slow as other people say? Many thanks!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hey there, I did have the chance to drive the CX-5 diesel, the video should be from around the start of 2019 or so. Hope you enjoy yours! Overall I liked the diesel and I’d have gone for it if the price for diesel wasn’t insane here, yesterday it was $0.60/L more than regular fuel.

[@vince7349]

Apparently there's a diesel engine coming for cx5 . Mazda also needs to add turbo to cx5 as they did with mazda6 if they want to stay competitive.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The diesel rumour has been around for quite some time now, and I'm not going to believe it until we're driving around for a week with a diesel Mazda. As for the turbo, I agree completely, they are going to need to work quickly to stay competitive, as other manufacturers are getting really serious with their compact crossovers.

[@GooseVan]

Even better if mazda can have 8at with turbo. Bring the diesel to canada.

[@mazdaman0075]

The diesel was just approved by California (CARB). Can’t see them going to that expense not to bring it to North America. Now they need EPA’s blessing before it can be offered nationally. www.tflcar.com/2018/04/mazda-cx-5-diesel-coming-soon/

[@AvantuPL]

Here in Europe u can buy 2.2 Diesel CX-5 in 150 or 175 power config, but it isn't really faster than 2.5 gasoline one, although it has a lot of more torque.

[@hemi5.7awdpursuit5]

Vince tested 2019 has turbo option I’ll swap after 6 months with my 2018 cx5

[@bowlrice5986]

I totally agree with you the Mazda wins I had a BMW X one in that thing had squeaks and rattles drove me nuts

[@PRNTestDrive]

That would definitely annoy me too!

[@MrRdb1963]

With a late model example of both brands in my stable, I can say I'm a solid fan of both. But a direct comparison ignores the fine details and execution that create a luxury car like BMW.

[@PRNTestDrive]

There is nothing luxurious about the X1. The infotainment system is the only feature we’d really consider to be a luxury over the CX-5’s bland navigation system.

[@evoz18]

Fine details you seemed to ignore: - Ambient lighting inside and outside (door handles outside, courtesy lamps under door and foot area front and rear, accent lighting in doors and dashboard/console) - Hoods struts vs hood props - Sensor door handles vs button handles - LED interior lamp modules (not bulbs) - Headliner material and carpeting - Glove box damping with felt inside and a lock - Soft touch material differences between front and rear doors - Same seat adjustments for driver and passenger (BMW sport seats have inflating side boasters and thigh extension. 4 way lumber for both seats instead of 2 way driver only in mainstream cars) - Real time traffic info/apps/connected services - Backup camera clarity - Self parking - Infotainment screen size/resolution - Driver profiling - Attention assist Need me to continue? There are a lot more. The X1 is an entry level BMW and you can step up to a X3 for $15k and a X5 for another $15k. No need for that attitude. True "badge snobs" will get a CPO or lease return BMW or better yet, an old E65 7 series to cruise around in (before it breaks). Lol.

[@kevinrobinson8474]

Yes that is true - but is it 15K + better NO and then lets compare the maintenance cost over the life of the vehicle - there is a reason why people dump BMW and the like they cost a fortune to maintain.

[@favyan16]

@@evoz18 i was on the fence about a luxury for this kind of reviews when i was cross shopping fully loaded accord vs 3 series. When I read the reviews everyone is that accord way better . But there are a lot of attention to detail and just the feeling of the car that the accord cant match

[@bmoreinvestor5900]

@Kevin Robinson for those who don't deserve it. You take care a German car and it will take care of you. For 200,000,3000000 and even 30000000 miles. If you and they can't afford to purchase it in the first place,just say that.

[@Sean-me4fv]

Look at the huge grille (on the Mazda)

[@Clove_Parma]

Is your seating position just for camera benefit? It looks really unsafe for steering control

[@PRNTestDrive]

how so

[@reynossa3187]

You are right, the X1 is clearly a smaller class vehicle. Maybe people we’re talking about price when they said the X1 is a better match than the X3

[@pobchokechinsuwan3589]

I just wonder, why most of US/Canada cars doesn’t come with power mirror folding ? But in Euro or Asia this feature is quite standard even entry level price car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Our only thought is cost, perhaps it's how Mazda is able to keep the prices lower when importing them across the ocean. Keep a few of the low-level features off to reduce their cost, and overall keep the vehicle's MSRP within reason.

[@ct1904]

My guess is that the roads in the America’s are much bigger so car companies get rid of mirror folding as a cost cutting measure

[@zenjok88]

Pobchoke Chinsuwan is absolutely wrong, new bmw x1 folding mirrors and front parking are for extra cost

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

My tiny village of St-Theodore-d'Acton on a satnav screen in a KZbin video!? lol I never thought I'd see that!

[@PRNTestDrive]

You might see some of the town in our videos too! We've been looking at other areas to film, been creeping our way further north!

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Pretty cool! I'm picking up a mint E32 92 735iL Saturday, it's laser blue. Wave if you see me in Acton Vale :)

[@mauritus1949]

How can do a review like this the x1 equivalent to a Mazda 3 not a 5 u are taking the piss very biased your review I give it 2 out of ten very poor not like your American Buddies they give a fare review

[@PRNTestDrive]

Hey MiniCactuar, I’m sorry I didn’t see your reply until now! I did see an E32 in Acton on the 24th of Sept in the afternoon, I was driving the Mercedes-AMG E 53 that week. Was that you? I thought the back said 750iL but I could be wrong.

[@MCompeticione]

X1 M sport package

[@pacotaco4859]

Did you sell the x3

[@PRNTestDrive]

The 2015 X3 we featured on our last Showdown with the CX-5? Was a friend of the channel who owns it, still has it!

[@mieczyslawgrudzien9380]

Mazda beste Auto Nummer eins und zuverlässig 👍👍👍

[@hemi5.7awdpursuit5]

With high maintenance vehicle you have to get it check frequently like money ain’t a thing. That’s something I definitely don’t need absorbing my money for other things

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's certainly true, you've got to have the budget for added costs associated with the luxury cars.

[@hemi5.7awdpursuit5]

Perpetual Radio Networks getting Mazda CX-5 sport tomorrow jet black

[@normt5463]

Get a stripper X1 and ecu tune it!...comparison over. Or do I did and pick a Envision 2.0T for $33K torque vectoring rear differential and with Active Twin Clutch AWD and make 350 lb-ft of torque.

[@rintintin0207]

What is the result? Which one is better ? Sorry for bad English.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Depends on what you want out of a vehicle, but we still feel the Mazda CX-5 provides better value overall.

[@stevenhunter9614]

Great review. Been driving the CX5 for 3 years and have always thought it was hight end for a 'consumer' car... My BMW driving friends wouldn't have it... Came here because I'm looking to lease a new car....still not sure what though. Shame the cx9 is not available in the UK.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear you’re enjoying yours! I think Mazda will have to reintroduce a CX-7 at some point, as mid-size two-row crossovers are popular these days.

[@ninjaninja9954]

It's still a mazda. Even the rx8 no one thought you were high class but a bmw is known as luxury

[@pointerpins4437]

You cant compare the built quality and engine performance leave alone the idrive of the X1 with the CX-5. The panoramic sun roof ..

[@FelixMartono]

Well built quality are the same....

[@suk1938]

If I give a 8/10 to X1 for driving dynamics, I give a 5/10 to Mazda cx5, I have used both of them for long term.

[@joshs3905]

mazda actually looks damn sexy. it's that damn mazda brand though. They should make a sporty trim of their cars called the mazdaratti's LOL I'd definitely buy

[@PRNTestDrive]

They've been trying to get themselves up to the premium segment for a little while now, not sure if they'll ever be accepted as that though.

[@ponta65]

one more vote for CX-5 :D

[@issaissa]

Thanks for this review! I've been deciding between getting these 2 cars for a month now and here's some things I'm learning: 1) About the X1 seats: I agree that the sport ones are a little firm for me, but the standard X1 seats are actually much more comfortable and cushiony vs the sport seats you tested, so I would go with that. They actually just updated the standard seats in May 2018 to be even better quality. 2) I read multiple places that the distance recognition collision prevention system in the Mazda is oversensitive and frustrating. Did you get a chance to test this? 3) The Mazda definitely felt underpowered to me. the X1 getting from 0 to 60 almost 2 seconds faster is not something to be overlooked. Those extra Mazda ponies are def lacking. 4) There is no option to get a panoramic roof in the Mazda. If they added just a few more ponies and a panoramic sunroof to the CX-5, it would have already been in my garage. The roof just really makes the cabin feel more so much more open. 5) If you are leasing these two--the prices aren't actually much of a difference. 6) the Harman Kardon system of the BMW is better than the Mazda's Bose system. Good to know for audiophiles. 7) There are no paddle shifters on the Mazda which is surprising considering the brand is known for being sport-oriented. 8) There is no option to get parking sensors on the Mazda. HOW?? WHY? This might be the dealbreaker for me.. San Francisco parking spaces are super tiny and that option is very beloved

[@PRNTestDrive]

We haven't noticed any issues with the distance recognition on the Mazda, in the sense that we haven't had any false brake alerts due to a car turning and the system reacting too early. Our only small issue with that forward sensor is it can get disabled under very specific sun conditions, if the sun is setting at a specific angle when the car is driving towards it, it can cause the system to deactivate until the light changes. We do hope that Mazda plans to add more to this vehicle, a carryover year like the 2018 was expected, but if they don't add more features for 2019 they may have a problem.

[@saheel1850]

Fr, get the BMW, my parents have both and I can say that the X1 is far more enjoyable, cx 5 lacks power big time and the interior is bland

[@vcastag]

Love the CX5, and that what I was going to buy, before I drove the X1 2.8 Xdrive M Sport. We are Mazda owners, and we still have a creampuff Mazda 3. But, the BMW X1 won me over. Lots to love here. From the driving miss daisy ECO mode, to the transformative Sport mode that will get you grinning when the kids are not in the car!

[@trysmthing4951]

What about the 16000 dollar?? And realibaty bmw is well know in europe. No 1 worse ranking

[@issaissa]

The difference in price to lease the two vehicles here in California ranges from 40-75 dollars a month more for the BMW from what I priced--depending on how many options were on the vehicle. I owned a BMW from 2015-18 and had no issues at all. As of 2018, JD Power has rated BMW's reliability higher than Mazda: www.jdpower.com/press-releases/jd-power-2018-us-vehicle-dependability-study And also when you're leasing, it's not a huge concern on both brands because it's covered under warranty. Can't go wrong with either car!

[@almeladze]

How does this car fare against Audi Q3 and MB GLA?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Haven't driven the Audi Q3, but the Mercedes GLA 250 is a vehicle we featured briefly last year. The GLA has a much smaller interior feel, as it's a subcompact over the BMW X1 which is still considered a compact crossover.

[@almeladze]

Thank you. GLA is literally a yanked up hatch. It doesnt even look like an SUV/SAV IMHO. Compact vs. subcompact I must disagree - their dimensions are within a couple of inches of each other. If GLA feels tighter on the inside, it must be due to MB more inefficient use of space.

[@robertdevoy3119]

Too bad he wasn't able to compare the Mazda with the turbo motor. This takes the CX-5 to an even higher level. In addition to more power, you also get higher performance low profile tires along with sportier suspension tuning. While the ride is firmer it is still compliant and comfortable. On the Signature edition you get every option available as standard equipment, plus higher quality leather. With all that, you still save many thousands of dollars over the BMW. The X1 is for those who are more concerned with the nameplate than performance.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Mazda has been improving their vehicles every year with updates, they're one of the few manufacturers that adapt customer feedback on a yearly basis to make their offerings better. The 2021 CX-5 Signature compared to either this BMW X1 or the X3 we did previously is an even stronger contender against these.

[@d1agram4]

Just like I mentioned on the car-advice KZbin channel, DO NOT BUY BMW/AUDI/MERC BRAND NEW.. wait one year and look for used X1s with less than 20k miles on them. The price drops 55% in that time. Shop on the last day of the month prepared to purchase and set that month towards the end of the year when the new models start arriving. Look for a dealer that is not a BMW dealer, that carries one or two German cars. Mine was fully loaded MSPORT, leather seats, HK sound, 11inch screen, huge sunroof, everything... with 18k miles on it. It originally sold a year and 2 months ago for $47,070 I picked it up for $22,300 after dealing and $8k offered on a $4k car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's certainly the smart move for any car purchase, we often talk about the better deals you can get in the pre-owned market when we feature the classic luxury cars on here.

[@timingenkamp3973]

Another channel did a long term review of the x3 vs the cx-5. Maintenance costs after 5 years cost over $11,000 on the BMW, and just under $3,000 for the CX-5.

[@user-ec9nr9nu8v]

Most of time, what you pay is what you get.... I do not like Marketing of Mazda, they change too much too soon. I will change to X3M40d

[@peteg4328]

Some BMW fans getting their feelings hurt here..lol. They can't accept the fact that Mazda has up their built quality significantly to be premium like at cheaper price. I find it a very objective review, only BMW fans can't seems to accept cuz their extra money spent on BMW doesn't really get them a much better product. Trying to find every useless little thing to justify it.

[@PRNTestDrive]

When we filmed the X3 Showdown, knowing the two examples we had at our disposal weren't ideal, we noted that the BMW had more option for buyers, so if you wanted different engines, either size or fuel, along with more paint and interior colour choice, then BMW had it all and made sense. But now that we've seen what the X1 has to offer, and it's not much, we think our reasoning is pretty solid in fact, not bias. Glad you liked the episode, and we definitely agree that a lot of BMW enthusiasts are unhappy with our findings, but a lot of them might forget that we also own a BMW.

[@ponytrekker5679]

Try telling people on a BMW board that you're leaving the brand because you can get more for a lot less and damn, it's like you called their baby ugly.

[@alanr.spector8197]

I am a BMW owner (230i) and if I wanted to buy an SUV, I would consider another BMW but also Mazda and others. I am not sold yet on the idea of premium SUVs. My 230i is a very unique driving experience and there isn't much like it on the road. To me it was worth the price and potential higher maintaince costs since I got it for the amazing driving experience. But an SUV? Maybe better to buy a Mazda, save money, enjoy the great interior styling, and have better overall long term reliability

[@africanandproud6792]

They really are hurt 🤣🤣🤣You'd never compare a Merc with a Madza.

[@QueenBashi]

Mazda has an extra you can just walk away and it locks itself! You just have to go into settings! The second you walk away it locks same when you get close with the key you can just open it. So that’s completely wrong what you said right there

[@kirilgiify]

I had brand new Mazda, now I have X1. Nothing in common when you driving these cars, nether the engines, nor gearbox, body roll, cornering etc. I don't want to comment on reliability, may be mine Mazda was bad (I had to change gearbox and the rear brakes under 5 000 km). Also watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3WofKWhnMumbrs

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's unfortunate that you had transmission and brake issues so quickly into ownership. We're around 11,000km on the CX-5 now without any problems.

[@Alumnikiid]

They need the new 2.5 turbo engine in the mazda.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed! I think it would help significantly. While we don't find any performance issues with the CX-5 as it is, we feel it would be a benefit to Mazda to offer more engine options in North America.

[@s3313228]

2019 cx-5 comes with turbo

[@aquaboy1650]

They do it now.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We’ve featured it too! We’re also picking up the 2019 CX-5 Signature in a couple weeks to do some more testing with.

[@zachi70]

You're a beautiful man ❤️

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thank you!

[@lamontisabigdummy]

Do you ever compare sister cars?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Such as different trims for the same model, or something like the X1 vs X3? The only time we've compared two of the same models but different trims was the 2018 Mazda3 with a base model hatchback and a fully loaded sedan.

[@lamontisabigdummy]

Perpetual Radio Networks I meant a GMC vs Chevy etc. Similar models like the half ton trucks or similar sized sedans.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Ah, well we had pretty poor interest in the two F-150s we've featured to date, so we aren't planning to do any more pickup trucks. As for comparing between something like a Tahoe and Escalade, it's certainly something we'd like to do if we have the chance to.

[@omgitsme435]

52k and it's got halogen lights up front mismatched with the main headlights.. that looks terrible

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed! It's small details like that that the average X1 buyer won't be too bothered by, since they still get to drive a BMW.

[@inox1ck]

Hard to tell where the price difference comes from but still the x1 looks overpriced. For example it may be that many components, details you don't see, on the x1 is harder to manufacture. For example: brakes could be better, better air conditioning, better frame, better electrical cables, more rugged electronics, the engine may be more expensive to manufacture, the wheels may be done with better tolerances and better forged, better fuel tank. I mean it could be many things we don't see. Hard to tell.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Those are certainly valid points!

[@mbarahona429]

You said “most people don’t need that much power” sitting in the Mazda CX 5 and said that the BMW X1 has more power, lol Mazda needs more power. And your review sounds bias in my opinion.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Most people don't need that much power. Who buys the X1 and CX-5? Not enthusiasts, that's for sure. Most people are buying these to drive back and forth to work or school, not street racing it. 184 horsepower for the Mazda is more than enough for daily use, and the 224 in the BMW isn't enough of an incentive for the $15,000 price tag. Don't confuse bias for opinion, I own a BMW also.

[@chrisfree6372]

Wow the BMW nickel & dimes you for every little thing....

[@PRNTestDrive]

To be fair though all the luxury manufacturers do that. We were looking at pricing for an episode we’re working on, the Mercedes GLE 400 with a starting MSRP of $66,000 CAD doesn’t even come with navigation, that’s a $5,000 option which also includes a few other goodies like a panoramic sunroof and 360° camera.

[@darkmatter6714]

It’s odd to compare these two products. They’re not even in the same buying category. People on the market for a luxury SUV are not going to consider a mainstream product which retails $17k less and vice-versa. It would be like comparing a Costco pair of sneakers with a Gucci pair. They may perform the same but they say completely different things about the wearer.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Considering over 80,000 people have watched this episode I'd say you're wrong. We've even had a number of people comment to say they considered both of these vehicles before buying one or the other. Things can get boring comparing apples to apples, it's a lot more interesting when we mix things up and in this case the BMW X1 isn't a very luxurious vehicle when you look at the plethora of plastic trim on the inside, while Mazda is going with leather(ette) and suede on something like the 2019 Signature.

[@darkmatter6714]

PRN_TestDrive I think that 80,000 has to be put in context: If you search for “BMW X1 vs Mazda CX 5” and display the results by order of view count, you will see the vast majority of them don’t break 300K views. If you search “BMW X1 vs Audi”, and order the results by view count again, you will see there are far more videos running in the several million views. And the cars the X1 is pitched against are mostly Audis, Mercedes and Volvos. What that says is that far more people are pitching this car against contemporary luxury brands because those are the cars they feel would be in the same category and natural competitors to each other in terms of pricing, premium badge and what it says to others (rightly or wrongly) in terms of one’s social status. I came here because I was curious to see such an odd pairing. The reason I think the pairing is odd is because I don’t think most people would be pitching an economy brand against a luxury brand when considering what to buy - one luxury VS another or one economy VS another, yes...but not economy vs luxury. And the view counts mentioned above kind of prove that....people who want to be seen in a Mercedes or BMW aren’t interested in being seen in a Mazda

[@PRNTestDrive]

Well, that’s your opinion. I think we did a good job showing the differences between these cars and why the Mazda is a better value, and ultimately offers more than just a badge.

[@MesseJesse2]

I've been learning that luxury cars can be quite the scam...more bang for your buck with the Japanese brands. I'll get the killer beamer when I can drop 70k on it...

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's always been the way to be honest, the luxury brands have in the past had more features and tech over consumer cars, but now that everyone's able to reverse-engineer everything so quickly, the 'need' to go up to the premium or luxury market is quickly being reduced to the status those cars bring.

[@MesseJesse2]

Excellent point. You can get cars for less than 20k now a days with touch screen infotainment centers... something that was once the top of the line is pretty standard now.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We feel the luxury makers are going to have to start looking at more than just the features in order to differentiate themselves from the consumer market. Companies that have a luxury and consumer brand, like Chevy/Cadillac, Hyundai/Genesis can easily hold back features for their luxury brands, but consumers will likely find they'll be looking for more in the very near future.

[@soullaaristotelous4376]

Mazda looks more more nice !!!!!!

[@PRNTestDrive]

They continuously improve their vehicles which is a huge plus, we talked about that with the 2019 models we featured over the last few months.

[@malhotraroger9106]

The cx5 is the best by far , especially in 6 speed manual . There’s little to even compare when you consider reliability , depreciation and running costs .

[@PRNTestDrive]

There's a lot to like about the CX-5! Mazda keeps improving it with every model year too.

[@krzysztofskiba5543]

Mazda is not galvanized. Therefore, it disqualifies this purchase for me, especially if the car is to be used for a long time.

[@Frank71]

Does the cx5 take premium gas?....

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nope! You could certainly use it if you wanted to, but regular gas is the recommended fuel for the CX-5, over the X1's premium requirement.

[@MiroslavJahelka]

why u compare uncomparable , why u dont compare mazda cx 5 with bmw x3 or x5 ..

[@PRNTestDrive]

Did you even watch the video? We literally addressed that at the start, we chose the X1 because we had requests to do so when we filmed our Showdown on the Mazda CX-5 vs BMW X3 in September. Also, the BMW X5 is a midsize SUV and would not compete with the Mazda CX-5.

[@africanandproud6792]

You accuse him of comparing the incomparable and then you suggest that he should compare the incomparable (Mazda CX5 vx BMW X5)

[@diw9046]

Mazda infotainment is horrible. The camera is also horrible. Does the mazda have ambient lighting?

[@PRNTestDrive]

No ambient lighting on the Mazda. They do need to figure out a better implementation for their infotainment, it’s very basic in comparison to almost everything else on the market now.

[@evoz18]

Quite a (very) biased review. I understand the CX-5 is your own vehicle but no car journalist should disrespect another car and scratch, knock and play around with the shifter like children. Check out his previous video on the X1. Very unprofessional. As a "car enthusiast", you mention nothing about the paddle shifters, rev matching, body roll, torque vectoring (BMW speak, Performance Control), steering precision and steering feel or lack thereof. Instead you brush off the 44 horsepower and more importantly 73 lb ft of torque at lower rpms as nothing. Well, a G30 regular 5 series and a Mazda 6 would be the same according to your logic since every car maybe excluding the Mirage can get up to city or highway speeds. Any car can "commute" fine. But wait, they also have the same features such as ventilated seats, nappa leather, and hud! Why get a 5 series right? I hope you will be more objective in the future. It's your channel so take it for what it is. Best of luck Nile. P.S. Any German manufacturer has much higher residuals than consumer brands. If you are into leasing or can write some amount off when you lease, you can find for example a X1 and CX-5 around the same price monthly. And the price is negotiable by a larger margin. Not to mention, BMW includes maintenance for 4 years and ConnectedDrive (traffic and online search powered by Google) for 3 years.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think we’re very objective with our episodes and make sure we present the important aspects for car buyers while keeping the content entertaining for viewers. Also, no one is rev matching a BMW X1, no one. We’re quite happy with this episode and comparison, and stand by it.

[@evoz18]

Perpetual Radio Networks Good. :)

[@ramaturaga8418]

My BMW dealer service associate said, if you want realiabily go and buy Lexus or Toyota or Chevy. Is that true?. I bought BMW X1. Day after the free service is over at 40K mileage dealer said there is oil leakage from the engine. Very disappointed with BMW X1. Very unreliable vehicle as per BMW service associate.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I wouldn't necessarily add Chevrolet to that list, but Lexus and Toyota are widely considered to be some of the most reliable vehicles, especially Lexus for the luxury side of things. We've featured some of the older Lexus models on this show and reliability is consistently one of the things we discuss.

[@brett2396]

The X1 will be twice as expensive to maintain and repair. That's a huge factor. I'd rather have a top end CX-5

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's definitely true!

[@ZORANSKORIN]

You think it is smaller inside but you dont know that is not ,it is bigger.

[@telliesmith9825]

I'll take the Mazda on looks along the BMW looks like a BMW haha its handsom but the Mazda just stands out and looks fresh very pleasing to the eye to me

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think so too! It's nice to have a BMW, but the design language Mazda has currently is pretty fantastic.

[@rashiksharar]

The Mazda looks better here imo.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think so too! Easily our favourite looking crossover in this segment.

[@royaltylw5347]

Just spend that entry price of an X1 on a top trim cx5 or mid trim cx9 and keep the change for gas.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Agreed!

[@TheMosswalker]

At the end of the day, people buy BMW for different reasons. I just got mine yesterday from Pfaff after trading in my 2011 328 .. I test drove 13 cuv vehicles. The BMW was superior to all of them.

[@PRNTestDrive]

It always comes down to what you personally want to drive, and that's what matters most! Also, congrats! Pfaff is easily the best BMW dealer and overall auto group in the GTA, we have never heard anything negative about them, so you'll definitely have a good experience anytime you go in for service.

[@d1agram4]

I tried the cx5, rav4, Audi Q3, Subaru Outback, and X1. The MSPORT suspension and accurate steering, and sound system felt the best to me. Like I said earlier.. don’t buy bmw new. Wait a year for it to drop 50% in price and then hold its value at that point for 5 years.

[@YOCOSMINMAX16]

I`d choose the Mazda..t looks better

[@PRNTestDrive]

So would we! As much as we like the CX-5 though, Mazda is going to have to continue improving it to keep it competitive, things are really heating up in the consumer segment.

[@robertbabic80]

They both need turbo diesel engines. Euro spec tds

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're surprised the X1 doesn't come with a diesel, since the X3 diesels seem to be relatively popular here.

[@albtmp1949]

@@PRNTestDrive You're wrong. There are three diesel engine configuration for X1: 18d with 150 hp, 20d with 190 hp and 25d with 231 hp

[@PRNTestDrive]

Yeah, obviously it comes with a diesel in other markets, this show is based in Canada where we don’t get them, and I only speak of the market I live in. So while you’re technically correct that BMW sells the X1 with a diesel in places like Europe, my comment is also correct, as the original poster implied the lack of options for the North American market, which again this show is based.

[@ramenstylee]

The mazda looks really nice, thats for sure. But it drives like total shit. Its so slow you can barely pass a car on the highway and the brakes are squishy with zero stopping power. The bmw on the otherhand is a bmw, the turbo is quick and responsive and the brakes respond to a slight tap as they should. Lookswise these cars are very similar, but driving them is night and day. This guy is super bias towards the mazda for some reason

[@PRNTestDrive]

We will agree that the brakes on the Mazda feel lighter, but we also had the car parked for a while and the brakes should be serviced. The engine on the other hand doesn't feel under-powered too us, but we have a lot of enthusiasts who watch and feel anything is slow under 250 hp.

[@cehegin2575]

Brakes on my CX5 are very good. Can't comment on performance as I have the diesel which is fine but I doubt it's as bad as you say.

[@nikytamayo]

Having driven both generations of CX-5 (and the X1) on the track, I find the zero stopping power comment amusing. The X1 does have more aggressive tip in on the brakes, but that's all in how the pedal geometry is arranged.

[@boxlad7583]

Think you’re super biased towards bmw

[@clbernier2]

This is so pathetic! You’re obviously bias to the Mazda CX-5. If I wanted a premium small SUV it would only include VW, Mini, Cadillac, Audi,Volvo, Mercedes, Lincoln and BMW. To get any of those optioned the way they need to be would be 50 plus. The Mazda is more attractive it’s Asian mates, but Chevy, Ford, Jeep and Buick have SUVs it’s size that would be tough competition. It’s like Butter or Margarine...if don’t know why there’s a difference and you can’t taste it...you never will.

[@Redbeastik]

Only blind idiot can say that mazda looks better, but its really cheaper. For the same price u can get 4wd/150hp mazda instead 140hp/2wd BMW x1, complete fail. Anyway BMW its BMW, they are not for those, who looking for cheaper car))

[@somethinghere1000]

I feel this is clearly a biased review. You haven't touched upon driving dynamics , Performance on highway or anything BMW is famous for... :)

[@PRNTestDrive]

Yeah, because those aren’t present on this vehicle. This isn’t The Ultimate Driving Machine. This is a vehicle designed specifically to sell in volume to boost sales.

[@theonlyrobot]

As mentioned in the video. CX-5 GT + E46 M3 > BMW X1. To paraphrase the old debate line "I know BMWs. I've driven BMWs. And you sir, X1, are no BMW."

[@imtheonehero9305]

Even if x3 is a little bigger, it competes with the cx 5.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's why we filmed that, and it's one of the most popular episodes we've ever produced.

[@AC-ri3qz]

BMW is only for the rich man the most beautiful car in the world more respect with a bmw

[@cehegin2575]

BMW don't do very well in reliability surveys here in the UK. European cars generally don't either. Japanese cars are usually the most reliable. I would only buy Japanese cars and right now I have an almost 5 year old CX5 diesel 175 bhp auto. So far so good! Drives really well and I've driven a lot of cars of all types when I worked in the car trade. Having said all that there aren't really any bad cars now unless you happen to get a bad example of one. Believe me there really were some bad cars out there years ago.

[@PRNTestDrive]

There definitely have been some pretty bad cars over the years, but it's true that for the most part you can't go wrong with anything today. We really like the ride and feel the Mazda offers, I think a lot of people write them off without actually considering them.

[@eamonnmcdermott1939]

The Mazda is far better and definitely will be far more reliable!

[@PRNTestDrive]

We think so too! We haven't had any issues with our CX-5 so far at 10,000km.

[@ferni0]

Eamonn McDermott Mazda batteries are shit tho, mine failed 2 times in 1 year

[@mikem2253]

AusDaes really? I’m 8 years into my original battery.

[@inox1ck]

160k km with my bmw z4 3.0l and no issues so far. Some engine are reliable others not. The skyactive technology is new, 14:1 compression ratio and a some systems to reduce engine knocks. The bmw is a classical turbocharged 4l. Unless something unexpected happens wihth the mazda engine, it could be a more reliable, I have no idea.

[@MegaZaki2000]

Perpetual Radio Networks how is it lasting now we just bought one 2018.

[@ryuken7999]

Compare a mazda and a bmw ? Are you serious ?

[@PRNTestDrive]

There’s nothing luxurious about the BMW X1, it’s a badge.

[@ZORANSKORIN]

@@PRNTestDrive your answers are very funny so you are saying that bmw is not bmw and it is what maybe fiat hehhe

[@bekabeka71]

BMW is simply the best, most reliable cars I've owned

[@Tonyx.yt.]

Beka Machurishvili lmao that's a joke? With Audi, BMW is the less realiable car brand in Europe.

[@bekabeka71]

Tony x listen bud, I own a 22 year old e34 bimmer, it's been never serviced and never done any mods to It, 140k miles on it and the car is still in a immaculate shape

[@Tonyx.yt.]

Beka Machurishvili is a different story for old bmw, with a modern one is totaly different. The reliability list was based on new cars, not car from 80's early 90's

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree, the older BMWs are absolutely phenomenal, especially something like the E34. Newer ones not so much, especially something like the X1 which is designed to be leased and cost the least to manufacturer for maximum profit.

[@GooseVan]

Sorry no, I have/had 6 BMWs, none of them are reliable, most of them have no big issues but minor electrical components fail all the times. Between x1 and cx-5, I'd take cx-5, it has better interior than x1, x1 is no luxury at all. If I want a bmw, it'll be at lease the new x3.

[@amarhafizi216]

Even the cx5 looks more modern then the X1

[@PRNTestDrive]

We agree! We really like the CX-5 both inside and out, Mazda has done a great job with this crossover.

[@hejiranyc]

Denial... not just a river in Egypt. Go ahead and gaslight yourself into thinking that you would take a Mazda CX5 over a BMW X1 even at the same price. Whatever gets you through the night.

[@PRNTestDrive]

If both we’re the same price I’d take the Mazda every single time over an X1. It’s not an enjoyable vehicle, and feels very plastic.

[@issaissa]

lol o c'mon guys.. i was down with your comparison before and taking it seriously--as I am deciding between the two SUVs myself. but that statement reveals bias. The only things the BMW has going for it over the Mazda that could justify the price are the enjoyable driving dynamics and the great quality. I would agree though that the matte wood you got on this BMW tester is not the best option. But the rest of the car is superbly built. Guess i'll just have to wait shortly for the '19s to come out here. Apparently they're putting more power in the CX-5 because of all the underpowered complaints.And they're giving the X1 a facelift so we'll see what that brings..

[@ClaireYunFarronXIII]

I see "subjective" isn't in your vocabulary.

[@coolvideo28]

Let’s be honest no one considering buying the BMW is even considering the Maaazda lol.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Go through some of the comments here and you'll see that you're wrong.

[@coolvideo28]

PRN_TestDrive No I am right. I didn’t say there is no Mazda fans here or no one would buy a Mazda. I am just saying that no one going to buy a luxury vehicle goes to a BMW dealership then says hey let’s go test drive a Mazda. Well except you I guess lol

[@PRNTestDrive]

Yeah, but again check the comments, we had people say they cross shopped both of these cars. Just because you can’t see yourself doing it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

[@coolvideo28]

PRN_TestDrive well nothing is impossible so you could be right I could be wrong.

[@tonyandrews7956]

Actually I did just that. I decided on a fully loaded 2018 cx5 GT over the X1. One thing the review left off is that the Mazda corners like it is a much more expensive hot hatch. It’s really not slow at all either in sport mode. I am happy with my choice. I got my wife a bmw.

[@805NAVE]

Mazda is very nice, but as you probably know by now I’m loyal to Lexus and I’d take the RX over both.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The RX is a bit bigger than these guys, but we do like the look of it too. We're really hoping to get our hands on some more Lexus models.

[@michaelsundarev5818]

Doesn't Lexus RX cost like 2 mazdas ?

[@peteg4328]

DIAMLER I don't doubt Lexus is nicer but you are comparing apple to orange RX is mid size while CX5 is compact. If you want to compare NX is the more comparable one for its size.

[@H0LDENSUX]

No spare tyre? Ripoff

[@PRNTestDrive]

I believe the X1 could have a small spare for $125, but BMW hasn’t really offered spares for over a decade now, ever since runflats became their signature unwanted feature.

[@willswomble7274]

@@PRNTestDrive Just have had drivers side rear run flat Goodyear changed on my four and a half year old M1.5 X1 2.0D MSport. The screen warned of the reduced pressure and, on investigation, a long tack was found right inside the tyre. This could not be seen externally. The excellent mobile tyre dealer had great difficulty removing the bolts and I certainly could not have put on a spare even if there was one but the run flat kept me safe!

[@takuan650]

It's true what has been said here. Both cars are no head turners, or anything special. The 'Bimmer' is just a lot more expensive.

[@PRNTestDrive]

A lot of journalists would probably agree, but would never actually say it publicly.

[@cehegin2575]

Whether a car is good looking or not is personal opinion, surely.

[@takuan650]

That is true. I just would not turn my head at either of them. My personal opinion.

[@xavifran948]

I drove the X1, CX5 GT with Premium Package, and the X3... Build quality wise, I actually don't think the X1 is even comparable. The X3 is on par with the CX5 GT and in some things better than the CX5 but it's also in a higher category. The X1 shouldnt even be called a BMW.. engine is loud and actually rough, it sounded like caca. The doors creaked when i grabbed them to shut them (you know that plasticky creaking you hear on cheap plastic stuff..?) . the "Wood" inserts are laughable.. you could actually see the edges of the plastic. It really looked like fake wood from a 1999 Chevy Lumina. I mean seriously BMW has dunked their brand by labeling this a BMW, it really saddened me because I also own a BMW (E30 Cabrio). The X3 however was a different story but significantly more money. The one I drove was 51k and only things it had were leather and pano sunroof, it didn't even have blind spot monitoring, let alone other things like a premium sound system or level 2 autonomy. If I equipped it as well as the CX5, the X3 came in at 58k USD. Pricewise the CX5 really can't be beat in terms of value, and long term for maintenance... forget about it. The new BMWs will drain your wallet, the only way to have those cars nowdays is to lease them. BTW I found the same issues with Mercedes Benz.. Their GLA felt cheap cheap cheapo. The GLC was meh.. I wasn't impressed, at least not impressed enough to dump another 25k on the car. Heck you can't even get leather on a GLC unless you go AMG! That gap between mainstream brands and lux brands has REALLY become almost null, save the fancy badges. At the end of the day you just have to see it as a depreciating asset and have to ask yourself if you can take not only the purchase price but the depreciation these cars take. I ended up buying a CX5 GT with Premium Package. Couldn't be happier.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The X1 really is a rough vehicle, and I know BMW isn't overly happy with negativity towards it, and neither have the diehard enthusiasts. But it serves a very important purpose for BMW, and that's volume selling. It helps to boost revenue in order to (theoretically) let them toy with the M line and R&D. The X1 isn't for us, even fully loaded and in the pre-owned market wouldn't be worth it for us.

[@md.ruhulislam5791]

Mazda cx5 is very fast

[@PRNTestDrive]

And it gets even better for 2019 with the turbo 2.5L engine!

[@ericshutter5305]

Jump DOWN to the “luxury” BMW X1 ... just a name means nothing.

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's our takeaway from this episode, the X1 is meant to sell in volume for people who want to drive 'a luxury' vehicle.