My theory is it's just the McDonalds McMansion thing but with cars. People buy larger homes with rooms they rarely ever use. Same with a SUV, most seats are never used but "just in case". We have had cars only, we have had SUVs only, we now have a mix and the flexibility of having a SUV is unbeatable. I get it now. In my 20s the thought of having a SUV made me puke unless it was a really cool one. Today as a father, I totally get the popularity.

Also 30/20 years ago, SUVs were still pretty rough and were mostly not luxurious and rode harsh and handled poor. Today they drive just as good/better than many cars. The manufacturers were brilliant moving in this direction to make people happy, increase profits and make shareholders happy.

 

Not like the kinds of vehicles we're talking about, we're talking about mainstream/premium transverse FWD style crossovers, not prestige driven RWD based performance SUVs like a GLS or X7.

 

This is so obvious, anyone pretending not to understand it is just playing dumb. A lot of X7/GLS drivers just want a big status SUV, they don't even use the third row.

 

Its pretty hilarious...

I was watching Dutton Ranch last night, the woman Anette Benning plays was being chauffer driven in a black X7. When they choose a TX or an MDX or an Infiniti QX60 to show a rich business tycoon being driven I will admit I was wrong.

 

One question and sorry for OT--- do you have to know the show Yellowstone to follow this Dutton Ranch that EVERYONE is talking about?

I never saw Yellowstone.

 

Yeah, you should watch Yellowstone. You just won't know anybody's backstory or anything like that.

The Pacifica is in the shop having the OTHER side airbag recall done, and that HVAC actuator replaced and we have a CX-90 rental. RENTAL, since this dealer doesn't have loaners. Anyways this is surpisingly terrible. Uncomfortable, rides hard, not very refined. It has the Inline 6 but if you told me it was a 4 I would believe you, the steering is very heavy and the rack is one of the slowest steering racks I have ever driven, makes parking a real chore. Really surprised, we both totally hate it.

 

Mazdas, in general, have a reputation for crisp handling and steering....one reason the auto press likes them. The down side is that it usually takes suspension-firmness and/or tire-firmness to get that response.....hence, a bumpier ride.

 

I've driven several Mazdas and always quite liked them, but not this. The ride isn't even the big issue its just very unrefined and the steering is really bothersome at low speeds.

 

That program is the RWD, take the fight to BMW/German brands type thing?

 

Lacks any sort of German RWD vehicle refinement

 

The hybrids break as well.

 

Yes indeed, but they misunderstood the fight and brought a knife to a gunfight

 

And the PHEV only has like 24 miles of range.

All the paint is peeling off the front end too. Does look good in the garage...

 

A friend of ours had a Mazda CX9, last generation. She got into an accident a few years ago, I was helping her handle it to make sure it gets fixed right. I was surprised how unrefined it felt, and the build quality just wasn't there. Considering that i was somewhat based on the Mazda 6, I was very surprised, because Mazda 6 was awesome. Shame it has been discontinued.

 

Wow whats the story on the CX90? Like did someone sandblast the front end while going doing the highway?

Mazda impresses these days with its heart beat turn signals. Very classy imo.