2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring AWD Long-Term Road Test

Mazda's CX-5 nabs the runner-up spot on our list of the most fuel-efficient crossovers and SUVs.

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metalmania

I've gotten to the point where I only consider what the EPA ratings are as a ballpark figure. The only results I really pay attention to are long term tests like this to see what the real world fuel economy comes out to. I don't know what the EPA test cycle actually does (do they even actually drive and measure each vehicle or is it just a computer simulation?) but it clearly doesn't seem to reflect real world conditions. Obviously "your results may vary" is true and you can't pin down a number that will apply to everyone, but I don't think it would be too hard to take an example of each vehicle in each drivetrain configuration and actually drive it for measured periods of time in accurately modeled "city" and "highway" conditions and calculate the actual mpg. My definition of a "highway" test would be steady cruising at 60 mph on a relatively flat road/track for an hour. Start with a full tank and see how much was used at the end, calculate mpg. City would be speeds up to 35 mph with frequent stops, same thing - do it for an hour and see how much gas you used for the distance travelled. Everything else falls in between those numbers with expectations that mpg will likely be less in gridlock traffic, extreme weather conditions, higher speeds, towing, etc. I'm probably oversimplifying it, but that generally sounds to me like a fairly realistic test.

quadricycle

@metalmania: Head over to fueleconomy.gov and place your cursor on "About EPA Ratings". The two that will probably be of the most interest to you are "How Vehicles Are Tested" and "Detailed Test Information", and these will c

zimtheinvader

metalmania, based on your flat road at 60 mph I can get around 36-38 mpg out of a 2wd CX5 in those conditions. If I get in behind a large truck it will jump to over 40 --- combined ratings are probably the hardest to figure as everyone drives a different amount city/highway for their combined. --- and driving style has so much of an effect on the end mpg. Especially with the ones that are designed to be more efficient. It is easy to drop 10% in mpg just by regularly jumping lanes on the freeway where you have to punch the gas to get into the open spot. The higher the mpg the more that 10% is noticeable.