Mazda, the Japanese car company that goes its own way making drivers oriented cars plans on debuting an updated and new for 2017 CX-5 compact cross over. Details are slim in advance of the Press Days debut but the teaser pic reveals more sculpting to the body, longer lower roof line and a much longer hood with less slope than the prior model More SUV like than ultra-minivan in appearance. Should help boost its sales considerably. If they keep its drivers orientation, offers up a manual tranny this could be a really viable option over the Honda HRV.
Those who know me know I'm a car guy at heart, but its hard to turn your back on a well engineered machine regardless of the form it takes. This pretty much describes the Titan XD and new for 2017 Titan trucks from Nissan. I've already reviewed the Titan in detail HERE. Its really a well built, terrific handling and quiet truck. Worth your time to look at if you're in the market for a new truck.
The 5 year/100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty can't be beat in the industry for a truck either.
Since that last review I had the chance to really run the truck through its paces on a closed circuit slalom course. It will do a decent burn out. The ABS performs flawlessly, and repeatedly...and it has the best pedal feel of any ABS system in a truck I've ever driven.
Through emergency lane changes and slaloms the Titan is smooth and easy to transition from right to left with nominal lean and nose dive. Confidence inspiring is the words that come to mind.
On an off-road course the acoustic glass and sound insulation present is really noticeable. Over a log trail or rocks the noise is signficantly subdued inside the cabin while you float along in hushed quiet on the "zero gravity seats".
The automatic hill descent control is a trip. Simply activated on the dash, release the brake and the system will control gas and ABS brakes to take you slowly and safely down a steep grade with no drama at all. Add in the side cameras to prevent going off trail and damaging your rims and the front camera aimed low at the road when you can't see it and you have quite the safety suite of technology to add to your off-roading fun.
Now for the fun stuff. The Nissan Titan Driving Adventure is open to the public this weekend 10/1-2 at the StubHub Center in Carson.
