If not a BS, what?

[Foghorn]

I have a '22 BS/ OB that I plan to trade while it still has some power train warranty.
But what do I replace it with?
Rules...
Must be same price range, same features as OB
AWD or 4X4
Must be similar size.
Must not look like all the others
My first choice is naturally aspirated, but that isn't likely to happen.
No hybrids,.. I don't drive much, so MPG not important.

My '22 had lots of issues, all fixed under warranty. And wife and I really like the BS.
I am thinking another BS is the only realistic alternative. Surely I won't get a dog twice !!
I also am treated well by dealer service dept. Hate to abandon him.
Any ideas ?
Fog

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[incavulator]

I cross shopped the Honda Passport, Toyota Rav4, and Mazda CX-5/CX-50. Picked the BS BL over the others mostly due to the off-road capability (relatively speaking), knowing I was rolling the dice a bit on reliability.

So far, I'm happy with the decision but that will change if I have a catastrophic failure. And if that does happen, it won't be due to lack of maintenance so help me reference this post if I come back in a year saying my engine, transmission, or rear axle crapped the bed!

To be clear, I was looking at 2-5 year old vehicles with relatively low miles. I didn't care for the interior of the Honda. It looked very dated, especially the instrument cluster and I disliked the push button shifter. The Toyota seemed somewhat lacking in torque for anything more than mild off-road use and prices were relatively high, with most of the vehicles having higher mileage.

The Mazda was a close 2nd and I may have picked it if it weren't for the funky infotainment system that could only be controlled by the knob. There seems to be a love/hate relationship with that system. The newer models (23 or 24 as I recall) added touchscreen, but the prices were notably higher on those. It did have turbo and non-turbo engine options and several (too many?) trim levels and the AWD was rated pretty solid for a mostly on-road vehicle.

 

[wireman]

Maybe a Subaru Crosstrek. It does have a CVT which isn't on my list of features.

It's about 3 inches longer than a Sport. AWD also.

 

[Jmuns]

Just buy a BSBL this time and get away from the 1.5L

 

[Mwittke5857]

Trading my BB Friday afternoon on a new F150. Not everyone's cup of tea, but the rig will fill my need for more spirited off-road shenanigans

 

[Dangerdangle]

I cross shopped the Honda Passport, Toyota Rav4, and Mazda CX-5/CX-50. Picked the BS BL over the others mostly due to the off-road capability (relatively speaking), knowing I was rolling the dice a bit on reliability.

So far, I'm happy with the decision but that will change if I have a catastrophic failure. And if that does happen, it won't be due to lack of maintenance so help me reference this post if I come back in a year saying my engine, transmission, or rear axle crapped the bed!

To be clear, I was looking at 2-5 year old vehicles with relatively low miles. I didn't care for the interior of the Honda. It looked very dated, especially the instrument cluster and I disliked the push button shifter. The Toyota seemed somewhat lacking in torque for anything more than mild off-road use and prices were relatively high, with most of the vehicles having higher mileage.

The Mazda was a close 2nd and I may have picked it if it weren't for the funky infotainment system that could only be controlled by the knob. There seems to be a love/hate relationship with that system. The newer models (23 or 24 as I recall) added touchscreen, but the prices were notably higher on those. It did have turbo and non-turbo engine options and several (too many?) trim levels and the AWD was rated pretty solid for a mostly on-road vehicle.

That funky knob is the main reason I considered a Mazda. I rented one a while back and the car handled great but the screen interface was my favorite part.

It was very accessible and intuitive. Because of the knob you can easily drive and make adjustments without looking because your hand isn't bouncing around looking for the right button.

 

[incavulator]

That funky knob is the main reason I considered a Mazda. I rented one a while back and the car handled great but the screen interface was my favorite part.

It was very accessible and intuitive. Because of the knob you can easily drive and make adjustments without looking because your hand isn't bouncing around looking for the right button.

And THIS is what I meant about the love/hate relationship with it. If you do a search online, you will find the discussions about that system are as passionate and heated as our oil change discussions are in this forum!

I test drove a couple CX-5s and a CX-50 and even rented a CX-5 while on a work trip. The learning curve was too steep for it to be "intuitive" for me during the brief test drives. Even after the 2-3 day rental, I was still struggling to figure out how to do basic things with that knob, so it was a deal breaker for me. From memory, I was using Android Auto - listening to Spotify while using Google maps. Trying to change the song and then respond to Google Maps prompts was absolutely maddening (to me).

I know some people love it, but I'm not one of them. I'm SURE I could have figured it out over time, but I didn't want to spend the time. I've never had any issues using a touchscreen. While I do agree it would be "safer" not to have to take your eyes off the road, that is not a major concern for me. Drivers do that all the time to see basic info like vehicle speed, fuel level, coolant temperature, engine speed, change HVAC controls, etc. etc. Just manage your "eyes off" time properly.

To each their own. I think it was smart of Mazda to keep the knob and ADD the touchscreen in the later years. Now everyone should be happy. If you love the knob, keep using it. If you hate it, use the touchscreen. Best of both worlds. The only problem now is what will the CX-5 guys find to argue about?

 

[Mwittke5857]

And THIS is what I meant about the love/hate relationship with it. If you do a search online, you will find the discussions about that system are as passionate and heated as our oil change discussions are in this forum!

I test drove a couple CX-5s and a CX-50 and even rented a CX-5 while on a work trip. The learning curve was too steep for it to be "intuitive" for me during the brief test drives. Even after the 2-3 day rental, I was still struggling to figure out how to do basic things with that knob, so it was a deal breaker for me. From memory, I was using Android Auto - listening to Spotify while using Google maps. Trying to change the song and then respond to Google Maps prompts was absolutely maddening (to me).

I know some people love it, but I'm not one of them. I'm SURE I could have figured it out over time, but I didn't want to spend the time. I've never had any issues using a touchscreen. While I do agree it would be "safer" not to have to take your eyes off the road, that is not a major concern for me. Drivers do that all the time to see basic info like vehicle speed, fuel level, coolant temperature, engine speed, change HVAC controls, etc. etc. Just manage your "eyes off" time properly.

To each their own. I think it was smart of Mazda to keep the knob and ADD the touchscreen in the later years. Now everyone should be happy. If you love the knob, keep using it. If you hate it, use the touchscreen. Best of both worlds. The only problem now is what will the CX-5 guys find to argue about?

Agree 110% and then some on trying to drive & use tech. Although I raced a couple Chevys back in the day, they were trailered behind a Ford. Needless to say, it's all I would consider owning

 

[Ernest T]

Maybe a Subaru Crosstrek. It does have a CVT which isn't on my list of features.

It's about 3 inches longer than a Sport. AWD also.

Given the overall reliability of CVTs that tranny is on my avoid list.

 

[wireman]

And THIS is what I meant about the love/hate relationship with it. If you do a search online, you will find the discussions about that system are as passionate and heated as our oil change discussions are in this forum!

I test drove a couple CX-5s and a CX-50 and even rented a CX-5 while on a work trip. The learning curve was too steep for it to be "intuitive" for me during the brief test drives. Even after the 2-3 day rental, I was still struggling to figure out how to do basic things with that knob, so it was a deal breaker for me. From memory, I was using Android Auto - listening to Spotify while using Google maps. Trying to change the song and then respond to Google Maps prompts was absolutely maddening (to me).

I know some people love it, but I'm not one of them. I'm SURE I could have figured it out over time, but I didn't want to spend the time. I've never had any issues using a touchscreen. While I do agree it would be "safer" not to have to take your eyes off the road, that is not a major concern for me. Drivers do that all the time to see basic info like vehicle speed, fuel level, coolant temperature, engine speed, change HVAC controls, etc. etc. Just manage your "eyes off" time properly.

To each their own. I think it was smart of Mazda to keep the knob and ADD the touchscreen in the later years. Now everyone should be happy. If you love the knob, keep using it. If you hate it, use the touchscreen. Best of both worlds. The only problem now is what will the CX-5 guys find to argue about?

I have owned about 5 Mazda's, the last being a 2005 Mazda 3. All have been great vehicles.

Looked at a 2024 CX-50. I probably could have dealt with the knob, but I still can't figure out why the screen is 1/2 up into the dash area. Make no sense at all.

I thought the touch screen only worked with Carplay or AA.

 

[incavulator]

I thought the touch screen only worked with Carplay or AA.

That may be true. I know in some model years of CX-5s, the touchscreen only operated when the vehicle wasn't moving. I heard there was an option (maybe a hack) to get around it, but you shouldn't have to. Tesla, for example, has NO issue letting their customers use almost any on-screen feature while driving. Not sure why it's taboo for others (well, I probably do know why - it's called a lawyer, or Office of the General Counsel in corporate speak). I've never been a fan of the manufacturer playing nanny for me. I'm a big boy. I can decide when it's safe to use a feature.

AA or CP is all I care to use anymore. The convenience of having ONE system to use across all vehicles and devices, having my personal apps pause and resume, and having all my settings move with me is so convenient. Even in that rental CX-5, when I connected, the last song I was playing in my personal car when I left the airport started right up. I see no reason to use factory infotainment features on any vehicle, unless it doesn't support AA or CP and that's my only choice.

I think you'll be hard pressed to find any major reliability issues with Mazda. If my BS lets me down, that will probably be my next vehicle.

 

[bushbunnie]

Given the overall reliability of CVTs that tranny is on my avoid list.

CVT is definitely off my list also. I ended up having to get a new transmission last year for my Nissan, $11,000 Cdn. Loved the vehicle and it did have 97,000 kms on it

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Agree 110% and then some on trying to drive & use tech. Although I raced a couple Chevys back in the day, they were trailered behind a Ford. Needless to say, it's all I would consider owning

My buddies Dad may He RIP raced a Camaro but always had a Ford Truck that He towed it with. He said Chevy didn't make a good truck!!

 

[Dannyp56]

I wanted a Jeep but my wife absolutely hates them. I like the 2 speed transfer case. So far the only warranty issue I have is the trim piece above the mirror. It won't stay popped in. I really should have kept my RAM Cummins 4x4, only 37000 miles in 9 years.

 

[Unicorn]

A Subaru Crosstrek or if you want larger a Forester.

The CVT used by Subaru is not the same POS as used by Nissan. It uses a chain instead of a rubber belt. My Forester hit 178k miles, and that was with larger tires and a lot of miles off paved roads from logging roads to moderate trails.

The small Mazdas are pretty nice, and decently capable.

It's more money, but the Badlands BS has not had the issues that the lower trim levels with the 1.5l engine have had.

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