Mazda Banking On Addicted Diesel Aficionados To Scoop Up CX-5 Oil Burners

I am eagerly awaiting the diesel CX-5 for evaluation. It might not get me out of the new Tiguan coming, but the diesel is a huge draw for me.

Just as an FYI, shortly after VW's Dieselgate exploded onto the scene in September 2015, the U.K. government conducted their own real-world emissions tests, and discovered all other diesels, regardless of brand and model, emitted many times lab-legal emissions when operating on the streets, though they did not assert this was due to a "cheat device," like VW employed. GM, Mercedes, BMW, and Mazda were specifically named as offenders.

We have recently been reading that Mercedes is under investigation for their diesel emissions (and "irregularities" have been found), their 2017 diesels are failing US certification, and MB has withdrawn *ALL* their diesels from sale in US and Canada, likely to preempt a government-issued "Stop Sales" order. Last time I checked, BMW has withdrawn all but one diesel engine from their 2017 lineup.

The diesel dominos are falling. We'll see how Mazda's offerings stack up.

A hybrid is advantageous as I see it.

While a Hybrid COULD have an advantage - most of them simply do not drive anything like a diesel can - and still get the MPG. THe advantage a diesel has is the torque - something the Hybrid does not take advantage of. Add in regen brakes that feel weird - and insufferable CVTs in many of them -and you really have to want them - because they simply are not fun to drive at all. And the Batteries in the Trunk generally mean leaving out the spare set of clubs.

I like the diesel Rams we have for haulers, but driving a diesel (normal) vehicle is like driving an American car from the 70s i.e. gobs of torque but then huff and puff later on.

Just as a data point, I drive a 2015 Audi Q5 3.0 diesel (Dieselgate Edition), and I love that engine. As TomM accurately points out, it gets very respectable fuel economy (real-world 36.6 MPG US over-all, and a best tank ever of 51.8 MPG!), as well as brisk acceleration when called upon (0 to 60 MPH of 6.4 seconds, which is muscle-car territory).

I don't agree with MDarringer's statement "but then [diesels] huff and puff later on" statement because my Q5 accelerates briskly from 60+ MPH to pass, even when passing uphill. And it continues to pull strongly to beyond-legal speeds, although I have only had it up to 120 MPH (and still accelerating), which is plenty fast for me. Admittedly, my SUV does not have the top-end of a Porsche 911 (200+ MPH), but I believe that's okay for an SUV.

As you can tell, I'm a big diesel fan. I'm still pissed at VW for its emissions scam, though.

The irony of diesel is that diesel vehicles are expensive and their owners can afford to pay the price of entry, but because they can pay the price of entry, they can afford gasoline.

Audis with gas engines are simply better than Audis with diesel engines.

MDarringer re "Audis with gas engines are simply better than Audis with diesel engines" -- In case you don't belong to any Audi forums, Audi's 2.0L gasoline 4, which is found aplenty in many Audis, has a reputation for drinking oil to the tune of about 1/2 quart per tank of gas. Yeah, folks will tell you that's been cured ages ago and never happens anymore -- just don't visit Audi forums if you want to continue believing that. Outside of the USA (e.g., in Canada, the UK, other part of Europe, etc.) Audi's diesels are wildly popular (or WERE before Dieselgate stopped sales in North America).

As for "diesel vehicles are expensive", yes, there is a premium at purchase for a diesel engine. Until Dieselgate blew chunks, the owner of such vehicle would recuperate part of that cost (proportionally) when selling the vehicle. As for TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), I keep meticulous records of:
- Actual diesel consumed
- Price of each diesel purchase
- Actual MPG
- Comparable MPG with a 2.0L gasoline equivalent of my car (2015 Audi Q5)
- Cost of premium fuel I would be consuming if I had got a gasoline counterpart
- Maintenance and repairs (none so far)

According to my calculations, so far, I have saved between 36.3% to 39.8% in fuel cost per mile as compared to running the 2.0L gasoline engine. This takes into account (1) better MPG of my 3.0L diesel over the 2.0L gasoline engine, and (2) lower price of diesel as compared to premium unleaded required by the gasoline engines.

My calculations say that over the lifetime of my vehicle, I'm likely to save around $10,000 in fuel costs. Mind you, my actual savings will only be known when actual numbers are tallied up at the end (due to fluctuations in diesel and gasoline prices, and the difference between the two).

Also, in my 2 years and 28,000 miles of ownership, routine maintenance costs (including DEF) for my diesel have been very similar to those for a gasoline equivalent.

I am SUPER happy that I got what I got (even though I'm pissed at VW for Dieselgate!). The latest news as at May 11/17 says the judge has approved the settlement for the 3.0L diesel engines (mine, which requires just a software change), and that clears the way for a check between $7,000 and $16,000 from Audi. Nice! Mind you, I'll be seriously pissed if the "fix" messes something up for me. Love my car. Love my 3.0L diesel V6!

@TheSteve Poor cow. Someone needs to be right at all cost, doesn't he?

We know you're an Audi fanboy. Go ahead and chug along in your diesel and be happy. The point is that you're wealthy enough that MPG is not a financial concern for you in any way. So acting like you've accomplished some miracle is disingenuous bordering on hypocritical. Yes, your fascist Liberal heart needs to pretend to be earth friendly. I get that.

^^^
MDarringer: You present yet another example of your "externalization" pathology. You reveal how deeply it hurts you that someone posts information, which (some) readers might interpret as you being incorrect. You take this personally, and you unknowingly receive it as a challenge to your deepest sense of self. You interpret this disagreement as an attack on you personally, your character, on your integrity, on your knowledge. Then, you project your own pain and emotional injury onto others, claiming *they* "need to be right at all cost."

Your automatic reaction to disagreement with others is typically hateful. You attack the person who delivers the message that triggered your pain response, rather than debating the views they express in an emotionally-detached, factual manner, or by simply choosing to walk away. Your reaction -- you conducting a personal attack in a forum -- is known as a fallacy of argument called "Argumentum Ad Hominem" (Google it for more details).

Sadly, there is no peace for you, Matt. You cannot change the world to accommodate you (nobody can), you choose not to avoid scenarios in which you are triggered, and you are unwilling to look inwards to become more self-aware, and then choose to change your patterned thinking and behavior. Unwittingly, you perpetuate your cycle of emotional self-injury, externalization / projection, and attacking others.

From what I have observed, I conclude you are not seeking peace. You are stuck, blaming others for the pain you feel, believing they are responsible for your emotional injuries. And so, you lash out at them in the hope that you can "make them stop hurting you" as you present a persona of toughness in an attempt to hide your hurt and pain.

Yes, my Q5 has the 2.0, and I am adding a quart every 800 miles. And mine is a 2012, which supposedly was supposed to have been fixed. I miss my Passat TDI tremendously, and if VW announced a diesel Tiguan in the new version coming out this fall, I'd be first in line.

The issue with US emissions regulations is that they've way passed the point of diminishing returns, and the benefits derived from them are not worth the cost it adds. The NOx limit (the only emission VW exceeded) of Tier 2 BIN 5 (the latest the diesels had to meet) is so astonishing low that even in the worst case scenario (early model 2.0L without AdBlue) of 40x (and that 40x was not constant, just the max. Average was more like 10x) is still a huge fraction of a percent. My Passat (with AdBlue) was a claimed 15x (going from memory) and more like 6-7x during normal driving. The difference is tough to measure, even in a lab.

Matt, I too make more than enough money that MPG isn't a significant concern. But does that mean I don't care how much I burn? Absolutely not. MPG was only one reason I bought a TDI. Driving enjoyment under the typical conditions I encounter is much greater with the low end power and acceleration my diesel offered. Yes, an EV will likely offer the same, and I look forward to sampling some in the not too distant future. I can afford a Tesla, but I just don't want to spend that kind of money. Same reason I don't drive a BMW or MB. The cost value isn't there for me.