Mazda CX-5 too big to learn in?

[Nextyear]

Hi, as the title says really. I have a Mazda CX5, DH has an old Land Rover. We can’t really afford to change cars at the moment and teen DS will be learning to drive soon. I think he’ll be fine to drive the Mazda (in between proper lessons) because you get used to what you drive. DH and DS think it’s too big. Does anyone have any experience? Thanks

It depends what you want from the practice outside lessons.

Do you want him to be able to practice everything, including manoeuvres? Does your test area involve lots of small terraces with terrible parking? If so, I think it's too big. Or does he just want to practice road sense, judging roundabouts and junctions, controlling his speed etc?

I practiced driving in my husband's BMW 3 series which is essentially the same size as your car. I never practiced manoeuvres or anywhere very tight with it, I only did that in my instructors car. But the extra hours of just getting better at driving in general was invaluable and the size of the car didn't really make any impact there. I switched to a smaller car when I passed my test and didn't find the act of driving it was really any different, just parking was a thousand times easier.

What will he be driving if/when he passes his test? Will it be the Mazda or a car of his own?

Thanks. He’d probably be driving the Mazda when he passes if we don’t manage to make it work financially and get a smaller car. He’s planning on going to a city university so wouldn’t have a car there so we don’t feel it’s worth him getting one of his own. His weekend job doesn’t pay well enough to afford a car for himself at the moment. Road sense and roundabouts/dual carriageway is what I was thinking about really, and parking in marked spaces.

I wouldn't want my DC learning to drive in the cx5 because it does too much of the thinking for you!
Recommends what gear to be in, bleeps when there's something in your blind spot or you're drifting lane etc.

I find it makes me a lazy driver when I get out of it and back in my own car - unless he'll always have that sort of tech on his car?

I did this. I did a few lessons on the instructor car before going out in the bigger car, so I got used to it before switching to the other one. Like a pp said I didn’t do manoeuvres in the small terraced streets in my test area but once I’d passed my instructor came out and he taught me the manoeuvres in my car in less tight spaces. So that could be an option for him.

I learnt in an old Volvo estate and the driving school was a micra. He will be fine, it is better to learn in something he is likely to drive.

It will serve him well to be moving between two. If it makes him more cautious so be it, practice will sort nerves.

I learnt to drive in an E Class Mercedes. Not bragging, as it had about 600k on the clock. I think driving in a bigger car is better.

The visibility round the cx3 is awful, I assume the cx5 is the same? Cannot see any of the bonnet at all, really wide windscreen pillars and the mirrors which I find obscure the view at junctions if the angle is slightly wrong. It's also crap visibility out the back for reversing/parking etc. I love my cx3 but it would not be an easy car to learn in at all, especially if he's going to be trying to practice parking and reversing.

Agree with @DecayedStrumpet that all the things it does for you / tells you to do may well be a hindrance to him learning. Especially if his instructor's car doesn't have the same.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Some food for thought definitely!

DS has just bought himself a Skoda to learn in.