Thinking of purchasing but I need to tow this (pictures)......Help!!!

[boeschbuilt]

Hi All,
My name is Matt,
My wife and I went test driving today, she really fell in love with the CX-5 Touring FWD.
The thing is we race a Polaris Side by Side and we will be using our new vehicle to tow it long distance to races. The Side by side weighs about 1,200 lbs, the trailer weighs about 700 lbs, I am going to have the combination weighed just to make sure. My question is....will the 2014 CX-5 tow this comfortably? By comfortably I mean 60 miles per hour on the freeway without struggling to much.
Currently I tow it with my 2003 Sonoma (180 horsepower 250 ft lb torque) just fine but I was still wanting to ask just to make sure.

 

[paris1]

If it were me and I planned on towing this very often, I'd find something else to do it with (for obvious reasons).

 

[NinjaNoises]

If it were me and I planned on towing this very often, I'd find something else to do it with (for obvious reasons).

Agree. Buy something else.

 

[nizzy1115]

You are pretty much at the max tow rating of the cx5 with that load. Its not really meant for this sort of thing. If you really want the cx5 and cant wait a bit longer, the diesel version should be out pretty soon and that will have the power you need to tow your load.

 

[2SLO4U]

Matt,

Like others have said above, its going to be darn close to the max. recommended rating of the vehicle. I'm sure any gear and persons that travel with you back and forth to the races will push the overall weight past the limit. You can check out the owner's manual of the CX-5 on mazda's website: https://www.mymazda.com/MusaWeb/pdf/manuals/2014_CX5_OM.pdf

See attached picture for reference as well.


Hope this helps your decision. I can't speak on behalf of towing, but my '14 AWD Grand Touring has plenty of gusto for day to day driving task.

 

[NinjaNoises]

You are pretty much at the max tow rating of the cx5 with that load. Its not really meant for this sort of thing. If you really want the cx5 and cant wait a bit longer, the diesel version should be out pretty soon and that will have the power you need to tow your load.

Diesel version will have the torque, but probably not the brakes...

 

[CX-SV]

Diesel version will have the torque, but probably not the brakes...

I'm not expecting tow rating to be much higher for diesel. Maybe one of the UK or Australian owners can let us know...

 

[stromdriver]

a lil OT, but, why the polaris? is it a specific race league for them? rather than using a tomcar?

 

[MikeM.]

I'm not expecting tow rating to be much higher for diesel. Maybe one of the UK or Australian owners can let us know...

I'd bet dollars to donuts the diesel version will have the same tow rating (and I don't even eat donuts).

Bigger brakes won't increase the tow rating either - otherwise there would be a higher rating for trailers with their own brakes.

The CX-5 was engineered to be light, efficient and fun to drive - not to be a heavy tractor.

 

[V8toilet]

Tow ratings are limited by the strength of the frame that the hitch attaches to more than the power of the engine. The Sonoma may have 250 lb ft of torque but it only has a 4- speed automatic. The 2.5 liter CX5 only has 185 lb ft of torque but has a 6 speed automatic transmission. If you are only driving on level roads at 60 mph than you might be alright.

 

[CX-SV]

I'd bet dollars to donuts the diesel version will have the same tow rating (and I don't even eat donuts).

Bigger brakes won't increase the tow rating either - otherwise there would be a higher rating for trailers with their own brakes.

The CX-5 was engineered to be light, efficient and fun to drive - not to be a heavy tractor.

That's why I mentioned it, I wouldn't bet a sprinkle off a doughnut against you on that. In the US we already know the significantly more powerful 2.5L gasser has same tow rating as 2.0L gasser.

 

[jcarroll07]

I'm not expecting tow rating to be much higher for diesel. Maybe one of the UK or Australian owners can let us know...

Tow ratings are actually slightly lower in Australia for our typical unbraked style of towing, 750kg (~1600lbs). Braked trailer tow rating is 1800kg (~4000lbs), well above what your combo weighs. Same ratings for all combinations of 2.0G, 2.5G, and 2.2D, FWD and AWD. Tongue weight is the other major issue, CX-5 is only rated for 200lbs. And while I'm no physicist, that trailer+ATV combo looks like it puts more weight than that on the hitch.

With a different trailer, even if its heavier, I'm sure a 2.5L CX-5 would be able to tow the ATV without any issues. But unless you're willing to upgrade to a braked trailer that can maintain a low enough tongue weight (probably want something with 2-axles for that purpose), you'd be better off with a heavier duty vehicle.

 

[cow vet]

I've ordered a awd sport diesel 175bhp and have been told it will tow 2 tonnes (british) (trailer and a small angus bull). Will let you know when I try it out...

 

[boeschbuilt]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the opinions, we are still on the fence.

What I was really hoping for is some feedback from people who tow. Does anyone tow more than 1000 LBS? How does it do???

 

[goodhands]

This link will probably help you... New to the forum. I own a Mazda5 2012 and looking forward to buy the CX-5 this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5BdETcgSHE

 

[nXt]

This link will probably help you... New to the forum. I own a Mazda5 2012 and looking forward to buy the CX-5 this summer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5BdETcgSHE

Unfortunately that's a European Diesel version. OP is in the USA, 2.5L gas engine only.

 

[goodhands]

Unfortunately that's a European Diesel version. OP is in the USA, 2.5L gas engine only.

agree...probably doing a math should give you an idea but you US owners can say more.