The CX-5 concept (the Minagi) was my favourite car at the Geneva show earlier this year and the production version is also very handsome:

From: http://www.autocar.c....aspx?AR=258485

I like it. Bet it does not have an openable sunroof nor removeable rear seats! So I won't consider buying one. But I'd LOVE to see a Yeti 170 give 120g/CO2!!!!

Looks good. Like it

Yes, will be interesting to see what options it has when it gets a UK release :yes:

Heard about this car in relation to the skyactiv engines. Looks very smart but prob too small for me and future use.

Makes the quashqai look like the geordie dog it really is

Edited 2 August, 201114 yr by 'daiking'

Looks brilliant, like a miniscule Infiniti FX

Edited 2 August, 201114 yr by My_Yeti

Looks very nice and would have taken a close look at it if it had been available when we bought the Yeti. Although one of the reasons I like the Yeti is that it's most definitely styled like a 'Jeep/Off-Roader' and not a cross between an off- roader and a car like this one and the Qashqai.

Johann looks wise even I struggle to see how our Yeti's are better looking than this thing:

Show a clean pair of heels to the Mazda IMHO. Saying all that I think the rear end of the Yeti is a market leader for looks.

Johann looks wise even I struggle to see how our Yeti's are better looking than this thing:

Show a clean pair of heels to the Mazda IMHO. Saying all that I think the rear end of the Yeti is a market leader for looks.

The Sportage is handsome yes and I do like the design, BUT they are VERY wheel sensitive and only the big models with the biggest wheels look good. Anything lower down the rung looks as if they are under-tyred. And because they only look good in the gangsta wheels they also will very soon become just that. Gangsta cars for the would-be drug dealer set that can’t quite afford a Range Rover Sport yet. In London anyway this will be case.

As stated by someone above I like the Yeti for being outdoorsy looking and square and not some mishmash between a car and an SUV. I like the design of the Cashcow and this CX-5, but for myself as a car to buy there is only one obvious choice!

While in Europe I spotted a couple of face lifted Tiguan's; much better looking than the original but it's a shame they did little to that horrendous dash layout :S

Personal taste but I'm not a fan of the new look Kia's, I liked the old rugged Sorento better. Admittedly the new Sportage is a vast improvement over the old mind.

TP

Johann looks wise even I struggle to see how our Yeti's are better looking than this thing:

Show a clean pair of heels to the Mazda IMHO. Saying all that I think the rear end of the Yeti is a market leader for looks.

The Sportage is handsome yes and I do like the design, BUT they are VERY wheel sensitive and only the big models with the biggest wheels look good. Anything lower down the rung looks as if they are under-tyred. And because they only look good in the gangsta wheels they also will very soon become just that. Gangsta cars for the would-be drug dealer set that can’t quite afford a Range Rover Sport yet. In London anyway this will be case.

As stated by someone above I like the Yeti for being outdoorsy looking and square and not some mishmash between a car and an SUV. I like the design of the Cashcow and this CX-5, but for myself as a car to buy there is only one obvious choice!

Presume this Mazda thingy is Kuga based..?

Presume this Mazda thingy is Kuga based..?

No. Mazda and Ford have parted company and don't share platforms anymore. This is a Mazda only platform.

Presume this Mazda thingy is Kuga based..?

My thoughts exactly, same basic shape.

Apparently not..... unless of course they have bought one, taken it apart and copied it..

I like the Yeti, it is unique and looks like nothing else. If we are talking about visual candy the Evoque wins hands down..

No. Mazda and Ford have parted company and don't share platforms anymore. This is a Mazda only platform.

I beg to differ. The CX7 (a larger car) is Mazda's first all new platform. The CX5 is indeed based on the Kuga. I quote below from Top Gear Phillipines' website. Whilst Mazda and Ford are untangling their relationship, the fact is that car platforms have such a long lead in time that they'll be sharing most of them for many years to come, especially as Mazda are so small and have limited resources with which to develop truly unique vehicles.

"In the last decade, we witnessed the fruits of the Ford/Mazda partnership. We saw this in the Mazda BT-50 (aka Ford Ranger) and the Mazda 2 (aka Ford Fiesta). In 2007, Mazda released a pair of stylish SUVs, the full-size CX-9 and the midsize CX-7. The CX-9 was based on the same platform as the Ford Edge--no surprises there. The CX-7, however, was largely intriguing for possessing an all-new Mazda-derived chassis. For once, a Mazda SUV didn’t come with a twin Ford model. In this regard, the CX-7 is a truly special vehicle. Even the upcoming CX-5 compact SUV--called the Minagi in concept form--is said to be based on the Ford Kuga."

http://www.topgear.com.ph/features/columns/all-will-drive/cx-7-shows-mazda-is-ready-to-go-it-alone .

And from an American website called "How Stuff Works"

"Speaking of that, a press release on the Minagi Concept indicates that the 2013 Mazda CX-5 will have a “Skyactiv-Body, which means body rigidity improved by 30 percent over current models [presumably Tribute] while being eight percent lighter.” We infer from this that Mazda either tweaked the Ford C1 platform after engineering sign-off or pushed the stronger-but-lighter mantra during its development. The same applies to the so-called “Skyactiv-Chassis, which combines a 14-percent lighter chassis with revised steering and suspension functions.” That references the new C1 unibody structure and associated chassis components borrowed from the redesigned Ford Focus."

I'm sorry, but IMHO, the trend sucks. There seems to be more and more emphasis on sculpture and crazy looks than performance and practicality.

The Yeti has just about the right amount of "quirk" to the design, but stays with a practical shoebox shape, cleverly optimized for as much slipperyness you can get and still be voluminous inside with the smallest outside. It - 170 hp Diesel version - goes like stink and handles remarkably well both at speed and in tight situations.

The Joke and the RR loookalike are just expensive penis extenders for those with some sort of image problem.

.......but I'm a nice, quietly spoken guy, really.

Edited 2 August, 201114 yr by Agerbundsen

...--is said to be based on the Ford Kuga."[/i]

"is said to be" is not exactly concrete proof. It might share a thing here or there with the soon to be defunct Kuga but it shares nothing with the next Kuga - based on the Ford Vertrek concept - and that is due next year.

The Kuga will have one of the shortest lifecycles on any car in a long long time (unless you count the Renault Avantime!). Reason is Ford needs to replace the Kuga with the same car for Europe and America.

The Yeti has just about the right amount of "quirk" to the design, but stays with a practical shoebox shape, cleverly optimized for as much slipperyness you can get and still be voluminous inside with the smallest outside. It - 170 hp Diesel version - goes like stink and handles remarkably well both at speed and in tight situations.

yup, for me it is a performance compact 4x4 SUV. Cant see anything that comes close other than the Tiguan CR170 R-Line.

"is said to be" is not exactly concrete proof. It might share a thing here or there with the soon to be defunct Kuga but it shares nothing with the next Kuga - based on the Ford Vertrek concept - and that is due next year.

I grant you "is said to be" is not conclusive, but see also the later edit to my post after a little more research. That's rather more evidence than you have quoted in support of your claim that Mazda and Ford "don't share platforms any more" ... for the time being they most certainly do (along with Volvo for what it's worth).

I rest the case for the prosecution your honour, and invite the defence to make their case.

ps, I don't like it ... the Mazda that is ... but then again I've never liked any of their cars.

I grant you "is said to be" is not conclusive, but see also the later edit to my post after a little more research. That's rather more evidence than you have quoted in support of your claim that Mazda and Ford "don't share platforms any more" ... for the time being they most certainly do (along with Volvo for what it's worth).

I rest the case for the prosecution your honour, and invite the defence to make their case.

ps, I don't like it ... the Mazda that is ... but then again I've never liked any of their cars.

I think the jury is out on this one. I thought they were developing a new mid size chassis to tie in with the skyactiv tech. I believe this will be new not a rehash of the existing C1 platform and the cx5 is the first skyactiv vehice ergo... But it is erly days for a whole new chassis.

At the moment it all seems a bit sketchy.

Edit: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/02/mazda-reveals-2012-cx-5-softroader-ahead-of-frankfurt/ press release says new chassis so I'm calling not a Kuga but unknown on amount of Ford input.

Edited 2 August, 201114 yr by 'daiking'

I think this new Mazda SUV looks pretty good, but very Qashqai like.

However my dealings with my local Mazda dealer left a bitter taste in my mouth after it took them 7, yes 7 attempts to fit headlight bulbs! This meant 7 trips for me through the Tyne tunnel, and arranging days work off etc, and a shouting match with the service manager. Also the diesel engine in the MPV, also used in the mazda 6, had serious problems which mazda knew about but wouldn't admit. I had 2 new turbo's fitted in 6 months, thank-god I had a non-mazda warranty on the car, as the turbo's alone were a grand each!

I'm not saying Mazda are a bad company, there petrol cars are pretty much bulletproof, sadly the same cannot be said for their diesels.

Hence the idea to start leasing, and the (wise) move to Skoda.

That's a seriously impressive engine - 173bhp for £35 a year road tax - and in a decent sized car!

I grant you "is said to be" is not conclusive, but see also the later edit to my post after a little more research. That's rather more evidence than you have quoted in support of your claim that Mazda and Ford "don't share platforms any more" ... for the time being they most certainly do (along with Volvo for what it's worth).

I rest the case for the prosecution your honour, and invite the defence to make their case.

ps, I don't like it ... the Mazda that is ... but then again I've never liked any of their cars.

My original point was that Ford does not own a part of Mazda anymore. Of course things that have been started before the shares were sold and indeed all platforms already in production will continue to be shared. That gows without saying I'd have thought.

No. Mazda and Ford have parted company and don't share platforms anymore. This is a Mazda only platform.

To be fair, and from an unbiased bystander's point of view, you are now starting to wriggle away from this statement

unless you count the Renault Avantime

I have one in my collection. It will be worth something soon (or later!). The name is great in Italian.