The V&R Machine Ownership Diary: Surviving The Freeze
It endured snowfalls and sub-Arctic temperatures. You can think that parade of vehicles coming in for review that kept it at bay and parked.
The V&R Machine – our own 2021 Mazda CX-5 Touring – does not hate winter.
A bold statement, perhaps. But it is my way to kick off this update on our team vehicle.
As it stands, the odometer is reading over 33,600 miles. It is holding up quite nicely. No new or visible scrapes or dents, and no mechanical drama. Just a well-looked after vehicle that is holding its own.
Since before Christmas, it had been residing at my house. There is no garage to put it in, so it endured snowfalls and sub-Arctic temperatures. You can think that parade of vehicles coming in for review that kept it at bay and parked.
There were times when the CX-5 needed some attention. Rather, to get some circulation into its gas lines and engine. Activity on the CX-5 increased when an electric vehicle was in for work – the 2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz. My personal range anxiety prompted me to take the V&R Machine out and about even with concerns about the Volkswagen’s drive battery being exposed to sub-freezing temperatures.

Nonetheless, the CX-5 was able to turn over in the Arctic temperatures. The battery appeared to be aging. That may prompt a replacement down the line.
As we were recording our latest podcast, the V&R Machine received new air and cabin filters. Not sure if they were on its first replacement, but it will help in getting through January and the upcoming run to the 2025 Chicago Auto Show. As the filters were replaced, we checked the oil and air pressures on the winter tires. They were both good.
The big win for the CX-5 this winter was the set of Michelin X-Ice tires installed on the vehicle. Compared to a lot of vehicles we worked with recently, you do notice the improvement in grip and tracking on the winter tires. It is the best investment we made on the V&R Machine.

If there was one feature we wished the V&R Machine had was a heated steering wheel. The Touring and the upgraded package it came with did not include this feature. Granted, the heated front seats work well in the temperatures we experienced recently, but sometimes having very thick gloves to operate some of the CX-5’s features posed a bit of a challenge.
Among the parade of vehicles arriving for work, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 Turbo Signature poised a challenge to see how the latest one measured up with our current vehicle. One output of this storyline was the comments the website received on the review itself.
One output from that review was the number of comments we received on the website. It has been a challenge to get you to comment on here, but it appears that when you have a vehicle that is well loved by its owners, you will have you say about them.

If you commented on that review – thank you. You affirmed what we are learning about our 2021 CX-5 every day. This is a vehicle that earned all of the praise for being reliable, well put together, and providing a better driving experience than the rest of its class.
As it climbs towards 36,000 miles, the CX-5 is serving us well. With possibly two big trips ahead for 2025, it should accomplish these drives without fail. Knock on metal.
All photos by Randy Stern