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- 2014 QX70 AWD
I do know that AC matters more than people think, though. Back when I had a, LS1 Trans Am, I ran across a Camaro that had some mods, but was an automatic. We hit it from a highway roll, and he slowly SLOWLY walked on me. I turned the AC off and we hit it again, and I believe I SLOOOWWWLLLY inched on him, if I recall. Same initial speed and noone jumped it either time. I always thought under WOT the A/C clutch kicked out and it free-wheeled, but turning AC of definitely mattered. That said, studies have been done, and for fuel economy it's not a big deal, but for acceleration, it does more than any sport mode under WOT while in gear. SO now, you turn on sport mode, turn off AC, lol!
Yeah, my gutless crappy 1995 Elantra winter beater would lose a lot of power when the AC was on. Nothing like that happens in the CX5. In fact you'll get worse gas mileage with your windows down than running the AC. But you probably knew that....