Mazda CX-5 Advice

What is the most popular car in Australia?

What is the average width of a car?The average width of a car is 1.94 metres.That figure comes from averaging the width of popular vehicle types spanning the Australian new car market.The average width of a small/compact SUV is about 1800mm, the average width of a medium SUV is about 1840mm, the average width of a large SUV is about 1860mm, the average width of an upper large SUV is about 1980mm, the average width of a ute is about 1870mm, and the average width of a US pick-up is about 2300mm.One of the most crucial factors you must take into account when buying a car is whether it will fit in the allocated place in which you plan to park it when it’s not being used – whether that be a resident-only car park, your driveway, garage, car port, etc. And, of course, a vehicle’s width is part of this.So, how wide are cars? Whether you’re buying a hatchback, a sedan, a wagon or a full-size US pick-up, you must know the dimensions of your potential purchase in order to ensure you’re able to safely house it at your home.Car widths differ depending on the vehicle type, for instance a Hyundai i30 (1795mm) is not anywhere near as wide as a Ram 1500 pick-up (2465mm).Note: for the purposes of this yarn, we’re focussing on commercially available mainstream passenger vehicles.So, what is the average width of a car? As the old saying goes: how long’s a piece of string?Read on.The width of different vehicle models within the same realm – hatchbacks, sedans, wagons, SUVs, utes, pick-ups, etc – does not vary as greatly as length may. By its very nature, a motor car has to accommodate at least two seated people across its width.How much do vehicles differ? Not a whole lot, really. Models that occupy the same section of the market will be within 150mm of each other in terms of width.A small urban car, perhaps well suited to a couple or a couple and their labradoodle, will need less people- and cargo-space than a gargantuan, bush-based, horse-trailer-towing US pick-up that regularly carries five people (and two dogs in the tub).So, it’s logical the city runabout vehicle will take up less physical space – and so offer less room – than something like an outback load-lugger.But generally speaking, cars within the same realm – hatchbacks, sedans, wagons, SUVs, utes, pick-ups – will have similar measurements.And remember, a carmaker’s listed vehicle specifications will often include two width measurements: without the wing mirrors extended (which we will use throughout this yarn), and with the wing mirrors extended.Of course there is, and which one you prefer – wider or narrower – mostly boils down to your lifestyle and specific vehicular needs.The main advantage of having a narrow(er) car (hatchback, etc) is its ease of parking in urban areas. For your reference, the minimum dimensions of a small car parking space in Australia (as per the Australian Standard AS 2890) is listed as 2.3 metres wide by 5.0m long. So, there’s that…The main advantage of having a wider car (wagon, van, ute) is the fact that its extra width translates into more interior room and cargo space, meaning (hopefully) more comfort and greater people- and/or cargo-carrying ability.How much do car widths differ by within the same category? Well, I reckon there’s about a maximum 150mm difference between the narrowest and widest in each vehicle type. Reckon I’m incorrect? Good for you. Feel free to push back in the comments section.In Australia we use the metric system of measurement. In this feature, we’ll refer to a car width in millimetres, which is a standard specification measurement in the vehicular world, rather than listing a car width in metres or an average car width in cm or, god forbid, feet.The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) defines selected vehicle types on their footprint (defined as length - mm x width - mm, rounded).This is a more considered way of calculating how much space a vehicle occupies, rather than merely thinking about only its width or length.First up, micro, light or small cars* – we’re talking about vehicles such as Kia Picanto, Suzuki Ignis, Toyota Yaris, Hyundai Kona and the like.(* Micro: “Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint < 6300mm”; Light: “Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint range 6301-7500mm”; or Small: “Hatch, sedan or wagon with a footprint range 7501-8300mm”, according to the FCAI.)The narrow Picanto is listed as “from 1595mm” across, according to our dimension experts here at carsguide.com.au. The wide-for-a-small-car VW Polo is listed as having a width “from 1751mm”, by the CG mob.CarsGuide has listed the Subaru Impreza width as “from 1775mm” wide, and the Ford Focus is listed as “from 1825mm" wide.The average width of a small SUV (with a length - mm x width - mm less than 8100mm) in this part of the vehicular market, according to CarsGuide measurement experts, falls somewhere between 1760mm wide (Kia Stonic) and 1819mm wide (Volkswagen T-Roc).Let’s jump to medium SUVs – (with a FCAI-defined footprint of 8101mm-8800mm) – which includes vehicles such as Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, Volkswagen Tiguan, etc. These vehicles are referred to as “medium” or “mid-size” and may have five or seven seats.The average width of a medium SUV falls somewhere between 1800mm (Mitsubishi Outlander, as listed by CarsGuide) and 1883mm wide (Ford Escape, as listed by CarsGuide).Large SUVs can carry up to seven people; upper large SUVs are able to carry up to eight passengers.The average width of a large SUV (with an FCAI-listed footprint of between 8801mm and 9800mm) such as Toyota Prado, Land Rover Discovery and their ilk, falls somewhere between 1815mm (Mitsubishi Pajero Sport, as noted by CarsGuide) and 2008mm (Land Rover Defender, as noted by CarsGuide).Upper large SUVs have a FCAI-defined footprint bigger than 9801mm. Think 300 Series LandCruiser (“from 1970mm wide”), Hyundai Palisade (“from 1975mm wide”), and Nissan Patrol (“from 1995mm” wide).Utes are classified as light trucks, which are “vehicles designed principally for commercial but may include designs intended for non-commercial applications."They’re available as two-wheel drive (4x2) or four-wheel drive (4x4) vehicles, and as a cab chassis or with a tub at the rear.These vehicles can legally carry up to five people in the cabin, depending on the body type, and have a FCAI-defined footprint of between 9001mm and 9501mm.The average width of a ute available in Australia falls somewhere between 1815mm (Mitsubishi Triton, as listed by CarsGuide) and 1954mm (VW Amarok, as listed by CarsGuide).Pick-ups are like utes on steroids and the availability of these US 'trucks' is no longer restricted to Australia's grey imports market.Pick-ups – we’re talking about the likes of the Ram 1500, the Ram 2500, the Chevrolet Silverado, the Ford F-150, etc – are now available via mainstream distributors. The average width of these vehicles falls somewhere between 2063mm wide (Chevrolet Silverado, as listed by CarsGuide) and 2630mm wide (Ram 3500, as listed by CarsGuide).If you’re reading this yarn on the CarsGuide website – and not on some dodgy website that’s pilfered our content and is pretending it’s their own – then look up at the menu bar at the top of the page and tap ‘Pricing and Specs’. That will take you, yes, to the ‘Pricing and Specs’ section. Also, feel free to visit the appropriate car-maker’s website and download any specification sheets that are relevant to your particular choice of vehicle. Make sure you look at the correct make-model-variant details.

When you’re buying a car there are numerous factors to take into account but perhaps the most important question you have to ask yourself before buying your new or second-hand vehicle is: how long is it?

Q: What is braked towing capacity, and what does braked towing capacity mean in the real world?A: Braked towing capacity is the upper limit that your vehicle can tow without breaching safety, mechanical, legal or insurance boundaries.As the name suggests, it relies on the towed load (trailer, caravan, boat-trailer) having its own brakes so that the combination is not reliant solely on the tow-vehicle’s brakes to slow or stop.This figure is the absolute upper limit of what a particular make and model can legally tow.Braked vs unbraked towing is an important distinction as the limits for either are very different. Unbraked towing capacity which – again as the name suggests – is how heavy a load you can tow on a trailer without its own brakes (therefore relying on the towing vehicle for all slowing and stopping duties). It’s nearly always a lot lower than the braked limit.It’s important to understand braked towing capacity and not exceed it, for a variety of reasons, starting with staying within the law.If you exceed the towing vehicle’s braked towing limit, you’ll be unroadworthy and you could be fined even if there’s no incident.This also has insurance ramifications, and your insurer might walk away from you in the case of a crash involving a car that was towing too heavy a load.You’ll also void your car’s warranty by exceeding this limit as well as placing stresses and strains on the vehicle it was never designed to cope with. Brakes, clutches, tyres, transmissions and engines can all suffer from too much load on them.The crucial measurement in any assessment of braked towing limit is the mass of the trailer and whatever is loaded on it. This mass is what the police will measure if they think you’re over the limit. You can measure this mass yourself with a public weighbridge.Many councils now have weighbridges at recycling stations and, for a small fee, you can weigh your trailer either empty or loaded. By weighing the trailer empty, you’ll then have a reference number for how much you can load on to it before it exceeds the car’s towing limit.The other option is to use a set of towball scales that measure the amount of weight you’re putting on the car’s towbar, and there are now wireless, Bluetooth trailer scales that are placed under the wheels and the total mass added up for you.There are also plenty of online caravan weight calculator pages where you input all your known data and the website works out if your car is big enough for the job or whether you’re overloaded in any department.Just be sure to search for something like 'vehicle towing capacity calculator Australia' to ensure you find one that’s relevant to our local laws and limits.Terms you’ll find handy to know for this are Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) which is the total mass of the trailer when carrying the maximum load that the manufacturer recommends for that trailer or caravan.This is measured with the trailer disconnected from the towing vehicle and resting on its jockey wheel. This figure is determined by the trailer’s manufacturer and should never be exceeded.The other term you need to know is Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) which is the mass of the trailer when it’s hitched to your tow vehicle (and some of the mass is distributed through the tow-ball into the tow-car).Both these numbers are calculated by the trailer maker and are non-negotiable. There’s also a big difference between the allowable gross trailer weight braked and unbraked. That’s true of the tow-car, too, manufacturers have very different limits on towing not braked and with brakes.The empty trailer’s mass is what’s known as its tare mass. The difference between this number and the ATM for your trailer is the trailer’s payload capacity.At the moment in most Australian states and territories, there’s no simple, legal method of increasing a car’s towing capacity or a trailer’s loaded capacity.The trailer manufacturer will have their own method of how to measure capacity, just as carmakers have their own formulas for calculating maximum towing capacity.The towing vehicle’s braked towing limit, then, is not something you need to measure or calculate yourself. The number has already been determined by the vehicle’s manufacturer based on engineering and is not negotiable.You’ll find this info in the owner’s handbook. Neither is there an aftermarket package that can lift your braked towing limit. If you need to tow heavier loads, you need a bigger, heavier car that can do so. What is towing capacity in the handbook is the only number the authorities will be concerned with.Trailer brakes themselves come in two main forms. The simplest is the mechanical brake which uses the weight of the trailer to actuate the brakes via a mechanical or hydraulic link.As the tow-vehicle slows, the trailer tries to maintain its speed (basic physics at work) and the mechanical linkages are brought into play by the resulting force.Electric brakes are more complex but a more refined, sophisticated and efficient solution. The tow car is fitted with a sensor that, when it detects the brake pedal is pushed, sends an electrical signal back to the trailer which then applies the trailer’s brakes. You can fine-tune the amount of braking the trailer contributes on the run, making this a better system.To help put all this into context, here’s a quick run down of the typical braked and unbraked towing limits of popular types of vehicle:Dual-cab ute (Toyota HiLux 4X4): 3500kg braked, 750kg unbraked.4X4 wagon (Nissan Patrol): 3500kg braked, 750kg unbraked.Large SUV (Hyundai Palisade): 2200kg braked, 750kg unbrakedMedium SUV (Mazda CX5): 1800kg braked, 750kg unbrakedBe aware, however, that even within specific model ranges, details such as whether a vehicle is two- or four-wheel drive, and whether it’s petrol or diesel powered can also have an effect on those mandatory limits.Electric and hybrid cars often have much lower towing limits, too. So check each car out individually before making any decisions.

Mazda offers a capped-price servicing program for all of its current models, and it falls under the company’s ownership program known as Mazda Service Select.

It’s generally agreed that, when it comes to towing, the bigger, heavier the car doing that job, the better. 

The Mazda CX-5 is one of Australia’s most popular medium SUVs, and for good reason. Even the base Maxx variant comes fairly well-equipped, and options for personalisation are plentiful with five equipment grades, three engine possibilities and the choice of front- or all-wheel drive.Buyers can further customise their CX-5 with genuine Mazda Accessories, as well as a number of offerings from aftermarket suppliers.For those looking to trick their SUV, CarsGuide has rounded up some of the best Mazda CX-5 accessories that are currently on the market. Overview: Fitting a new set of wheels is one of the best ways to enhance your car’s presence, and can even improve performance. Opting for larger wheels can result in a greater contact patch on the road, and in turn, greater handling and grip levels. Pair with good tyres for the ultimate upgrade.Mazda does not offer wheel size upgrades, however, buyers can improve the look of their CX-5 with unique 17-inch alloys for Maxx, Maxx Sport and Touring variants, while Akera and GT owners have the option of 19-inch alloys in Gloss Black.Where to buy: Mazda Australia offers wheel options with the purchase of the vehicle, or they can be swapped out down the track. A number of wheel and tyre shops also offer a range of Mazda CX-5 aftermarket wheels.Cost: Wheels are generally priced per wheel, with genuine Mazda options priced from $404-$413 for the 17-inch options, and $526.88 for the Akera/GT-exclusive 19-inch alloys. Meanwhile, aftermarket products can range from anywhere upwards of around $200.Overview: If you need a little more luggage space, a set of roof racks are a great way to carry extra gear, with most options able to carry up to around 75 kilograms.Mazda sells a roof rack kit, however, there are less expensive options from a number of aftermarket companies. For particular uses, roof racks can be combined with things like bike racks, kayak holders and more universal systems for things like skis and snowboards.Where to buy: There are many aftermarket roof racks available from companies like Prorack and Whispbar, and Mazda Australia offers a number of products.Cost: Aftermarket roof racks are generally priced from upwards of $400, while the genuine Mazda Roof Rack Kit is available from $600.58. Mazda Australia also sells a Universal Carrier ($341.84), Bike Rack ($326.08) and Kayak Holder ($476.79).Overview: The Mazda CX-5 boasts 442-litres of storage, or up to 1342 litres with with the rear seats down. You can make the most of this rear cargo space with a number of accessories.Mazda Australia sells a cargo net, organiser box and cargo tray specifically for the CX-5, while a Cargo Illumination option lights up the boot space with LED lights for added convenience. Another bang-for-buck accessory is the boot lip protector, which protects from bodywork dings and scratches as you load and unload the CX-5’s boot.Where to buy: Get in touch with your local Mazda dealer to install the aforementioned CX-5 extras. Cost: The Mazda Boot Lip Protector is priced from $83.95, while other rear cargo accessories include the Cargo Net ($110.59), Organiser Box ($168.79), Cargo Tray ($197.90) and Cargo Illumination ($224.13).Overview: A towbar is a fairly simple modification that allows you to do a lot more with your SUV, like pulling a caravan or boat, or even just attaching a trailer for a tip run.Mazda’s Tow Bar Kit is designed to integrate with the CX-5’s chassis, and can happily carry loads of up to 1800 kilograms with 150kg download capacity.The kit includes a new quick release mechanism, allowing owners to hide the bar from sight when not in use.This pack includes the towbar, trailer wiring harness, a chrome tow ball and tow ball cover.There are also many aftermarket tow bar packages for the Mazda CX-5, from companies such as BTA Towing Equipment and Trailboss Towbars.Where to buy: Aftermarket Mazda CX-5 towbars can be purchased directly from their manufacturers, or from automotive stores like Supercheap Auto. As with all genuine Mazda Accessories, they can be purchased through Mazda Australia or your local Mazda dealer.Cost: A good aftermarket Mazda CX-5 towbar can be purchased from around $535, while the all-inclusive genuine Mazda Tow Bar Kit is priced from $1379.39.Overview: To give your CX-5 an edgier look, Mazda’s Kuroi Sports Pack is an easy way to go.The pack includes side under spoilers, front-and-rear under spoilers, as well as black door mirror caps.Where to buy: Get in touch with your local Mazda dealer to install the Mazda CX-5 Kuroi Sports Pack.Cost: The Mazda CX-5 Kuroi Sports Pack has a recommended retail value of $2487.Overview: There are a number of low-price extras that can be added to keep your car in good condition, for longer. Some of these include plastic bonnet and headlight protectors, front-and-rear mud flaps, as well as weathershields, which allow you to leave your windows open slightly even when it’s raining.If you don’t have access to undercover parking, a good car cover is also a great way of keeping your Mazda CX-5 in top nick.Where to buy: Accessories can be purchased through Mazda Australia, while there are a plethora of companies which sell car covers for the Mazda CX-5. A quick Google search should lead you in the right direction.Cost: Mazda’s plastic bonnet protector is priced from $195.42, while other exterior protection accessories include headlight protectors ($170.59), mud flaps ($227-$229), slimline weathershields ($231.53). A high-quality car cover can be purchased from around $200.Overview: Equipping a nudge bar is a great way to protect the most vulnerable parts of your Mazda CX-5 in the event of a minor collision like an animal strike.For those looking to explore in their CX-5, a nudge bar also has the added benefit of allowing you to fit multiple lighting options.Where to buy: Mazda CX-5 nudge bars can be purchased from a handful of Australian distributors, like Opposite Lock and Tuff Bullbars Australia. Cost: Standard 76mm alloy Mazda CX-5 nudge bars are priced from around $820, and are often sold with a warranty. 

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