In a rare move for the industry, Mazda actually removed black cladding from a crossover

[KngT]

They refreshed the CX5 and the top "Signature" trim has body colored panels

If you still prefer the cladding, the model one rung below gets gloss black cladding-

Deets on the changes here
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a37544650/2022-mazda-cx-5-updates/

The next gen RWD inline six based new CX-50(?) is expected to be launched later this year

[CarsOfFortLangley]

@kingt I can't put my finger on why, but this kinda looks like shit?

I think I'm so used to black cladding, that to see a crossover without it looks weird and strangly cheap?

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@carsoffortlangley If it didn't have the vertical smooth face above what was supposed to be black cladding, it would look better. It clearly wasn't designed to be that way so as a consequence it just looks kinda lumpy.

[CarsOfFortLangley]

@whoistheleader yeah, I think that's it

[davesaddiction]

@kingt

Looks bad.

Obvious it was supposed to have plastic wheel surrounds, so obvious painted surrounds are obvious.

Works if they're fender flares (like on trucks) but not here.

I don't really like 'em on the Challenger widebody, either (I might be in the minority here).

[Exage03040]

@carsoffortlangley

Some one said it in another previous post but it makes the greenhouse look tiny.

[Milky]

@kingt I thought this was a normal thing?

[MUSASHI66]

@carsoffortlangley The black on the bottom edges of the vehicle does wonders to change the profile and greeenhouse to metal ratio. Body colored wheel arches and side skirt don’t have that effect, and you get a huge chunk of body with tiny windows.

[Hike]

@milky Jeep's been doing it for years with the top trim levels. Started with the Summit Grand Cherokee and eventually the top trim Cherokee got painted bits as well.

[Chariotoflove]

@kingt

Thank goodness. The only other maker that I know to do this is GMC on their Denali trim.

[phenotyp]

@KingT

I honestly can't decide whether this is an improvement.

[Chariotoflove]

@carsoffortlangley Its because they didn't just leave a normal fender like they should have. They put in body colored cladding.

[Someoneatacura]

Prepare for rock chips galore! There is a reason it's not painted, it gets pelted with all sorts of road garbage.

[Mazda616]

@someoneatacura said in In a rare move for the industry, Mazda actually removed black cladding from a crossover:

Prepare for rock chips galore! There is a reason it's not painted, it gets pelted with all sorts of road garbage.

This. And as a Mazda fanboy and three-time owner, I can say this: Mazdas have TERRIBLY weak paint and are extremely susceptible to rock chips.

[Milky]

@mazda616 cries in ND mx5

[Jordan]

This looks even worse. My hate only grows stronger.

[Mazda616]

@milky My 6 is full of them, too. The hood is nothing but a scattered arrangement of rock chips.

[CobraJoe]

@phenotyp said in In a rare move for the industry, Mazda actually removed black cladding from a crossover:

I honestly can't decide whether this is an improvement.

I think it's the additional body lines that are now very visible that ruin the look. I don't mind the extra visual weight from the extra color, but the body seams are terrible.

[phenotyp]

@cobrajoe 100% this.