This car replaced my previous 1999 Saturn SC2 which had served me well for years. However, I now live in Buffalo, NY and the winters were a bit harder on my car so I upgraded to an AWD SUV. I must say, this handles much better in the snow and it still gets good gas mileage to work on the highways. I was worried at first about adjusting to a larger car, but it maneuvers well, has a tight turning radius, and I love the backup camera for helping back into spots. It may sound silly, but I've also really appreciated the Bluetooth connection for my phone because now I can listen to podcasts easily on my commute each day and it's helped me keep up with the content I enjoy.

I bought my Mazda CX-5 a year after my mother purchased the same vehicle (the 2013 model). At the time, I owned a Scion tC and liked it okay, but I was in the market for a larger vehicle. I had borrowed her car several times, and I loved the way it handled. Driving the CX-5 feels more like driving a car than SUV -- it handles well, accelerates smoothly and quickly, and doesn't feel bulky. Yet, it has all the space and comfort of a small SUV. I test drove several other small SUVs, but none of them were as fun to drive, and I loved the smooth body style of the CX-5. The interior is roomy and modern looking. It's hard to put into words, but some SUVs can feel ... like they should be driven by my grandmother. Both the interior and exterior styling of the CX-5 feels like it's meant for my demographic -- younger and more active.