You pay £1500 more for SE-L but you get Heated Seats, Auto lights, Auto Wipers, Parking sensors (which are needed), Cruise Control, Speed Limiter, Xenon self level hights, LED running lights, Privacy Glass, Dual Climate Control (instead of manual Aircon), front fog lights. What you get for 1.5K is a lot hence dont bother with SE spec. UK spec stereo etc is the same in SE/SEL with 6 speakers Front and Rear and its RDS. You also can access AHA internet radio if you've an unlimited download on your mobile. DAB isnt an option. I dont have SATNAV but its an SD card upgrade since the screen and buttons are there already so if I sell to someone who needs it, they can easily get it via dealer.

Dealer reckoned 1.5SE is priced to get you through the door and then work you to the 2.0 and then rest is no brainer. I was looking at the SEL and thinking about saving some money with the SE and decided it was false economy.

A Golf (Mk5 1.4 i thnk it was) seemed quieter on motorway so the Mazda would probably be noisier than the latest VW - the Toyo's on my Mazda were made for smooth tarmac not broken UK roads so would love to trial Michelins to see the difference.

Edited by derv321 on 05/02/2014 at 23:33

Its the tyre that determines the ride, with the same suspension, my Cx-5 has 55 profile tyres which suits me, but if you want comfort with the CX-5 go for the 65 profile.

You don't mention the profile, but i wouldn't drop below 55, once had 45 on a Audi and the ride was horrendous.

The same will apply to a Mazda 3.