'16 Sport Mode

[KCSam]

Anybody spend enough time in Sport mode on the '16 to see how drastically different the MPG are vs. standard mode?

Outside of switching on for the first time to see how it interacts, what's the reasoning for utilizing on a sporadic basis?

Just looking to see people's opinions and reasons for use.

 

[JonW]

I've used it on occasion when passing someone on a 2 lane road, or when towing and passing a truck on a hill on a 4 lane. Seems to make a difference in those circumstances...

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I wonder if much difference in full throttle situations where the throttle switch is activated? It sounds like it is similar to the sport mode in my Infiniti where downshifts occur more rapidly if accelerator is pressed at a more rapid pace. I tend to use the manumatic in the CX-5 a lot so not sure I would benefit... don't get me wrong.. still a nice feature to have.

 

[optical_man]

I don't use sports mode much either, but it sure comes in handy when I'm driving on country side roads that have repetitive hills requiring significant pep to get up and a joy to go down the other side without having to use the brakes. This is where manual shifting can be tedious if your speed alternates between gears.

 

[KCSam]

I've never switched over to manual on mine yet. The only time I did was during the test drive on a different vehicle. It seemed alright, but I'm going from 12 years of a 6 speed RX8, so it's nice not having to shift on a regular basis.

When it comes to the sport mode, maybe I'll give it a try when I'm getting on the freeway or needing to pass someone during city driving. Other than that, don't see a huge need for it. Especially if it's going to lower my MPG.

 

[adgjqetuo]

I definitely felt a large difference on full throttle sport mode. It actually took me by a slight surprise the first time - enough that I slightly delayed shifting out of first. That being said, I don't think it's something to keep engaged full time, it leaves the transmission in a higher gear ratio causing more frequent higher RPMs thus reducing MPG and adding excess wear. Plus it just doesn't feel right normal cruising with a higher RPM.

 

[Bob-Loblaw]

If I've got pole position at a stop light I'll use it to beat the other cars off the line if I'm in a hurry. Sometimes I'll flip it on just for fun though but usually only for a few minutes.

 

[2016CX-5]

I've noticed that Sport Mode will not engage if you try to activate the switch while under hard acceleration. "Sport" will flash above the drive mode "D" on the left (RPM) dial but it will not go into Sport mode. ??? Not sure what the safety is for here but be advised it seems as though you can only go into sport below a certain rpm.

 

[DG_1234]

For the city of San Francisco's steep hills the sport mode helps a CX-5 achieve improved traction and power.

 

[adgjqetuo]

I've noticed that Sport Mode will not engage if you try to activate the switch while under hard acceleration. "Sport" will flash above the drive mode "D" on the left (RPM) dial but it will not go into Sport mode. ??? Not sure what the safety is for here but be advised it seems as though you can only go into sport below a certain rpm.

Thanks for this - mine blinked once and I couldn't figure out why or replicate it.

 

[Bob-Loblaw]

For the city of San Francisco's steep hills the sport mode helps a CX-5 achieve improved traction and power.

Indeed

 

[paris1]

For the city of San Francisco's steep hills the sport mode helps a CX-5 achieve improved traction and power.

You're gonna' have to explain that one. That's the last place I would think of to use it. My non-sport mode 2013 will hold a lower gear as long as it's necessary once it senses it's on one of those "seven hills".

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I haven't driven one but have a similar feature in another car... IMO... it may make the car feel faster but in reality it is probably the same as aggressive manual shift mode and punched to the floor acceleration is likely the same. I'm not discounting the option though and wish mine had it too.

 

[Bob-Loblaw]

You're gonna' have to explain that one. That's the last place I would think of to use it. My non-sport mode 2013 will hold a lower gear as long as it's necessary once it senses it's on one of those "seven hills".

If you're sitting at a red light with one of those hills ahead of you and want to attack it, I'll take sport mode all day. It allows the engine to achieve higher rpm before shifting thus propelling the vehicle up the vertical incline.

 

[paris1]

I haven't driven one either (and I do wish they had included this feature on earlier models, but for different reasons), but when I drive those hills in SF there's no way I'm going to get out of 2nd or third gear going up no matter what I do with the throttle and it will hold 3rd coming down. So I find it hard to understand what practical advantage sport mode could offer in these circumstances.

 

[Ricsta]

I haven't driven one either (and I do wish they had included this feature on earlier models, but for different reasons), but when I drive those hills in SF there's no way I'm going to get out of 2nd or third gear going up no matter what I do with the throttle and it will hold 3rd coming down. So I find it hard to understand what practical advantage sport mode could offer in these circumstances.

I too use sports mode when going up hills near my home. These are short steep hills, usually less than 30 seconds. In addition to holding lower gear longer, sports mode also increases the sensitivity of the gas pedal, which makes the vehicle more responsive.

 

[KCSam]

I tried it out this weekend during some city driving. Came in handy when in the fast lane attempting to pass someone in the slow lane. It's definitely a pleasant surprise to push the pedal and feel a bit of power rather than pushing the pedal in non sport mode and feeling like an old lady getting passed in the fast lane.

I'd be curious to see how much the MPG vary when going a full talk in sport mode vs standard mode while utilizing similar driving habits.

 

[123373]

I haven't driven one but have a similar feature in another car... IMO... it may make the car feel faster but in reality it is probably the same as aggressive manual shift mode and punched to the floor acceleration is likely the same. I'm not discounting the option though and wish mine had it too.

Sport mode changes the gearing allowing the car to accelerate faster and unfortunately use more gas. Unfortunately in the CX5 it only allows you to manually shift. In my BMW I can shift into sport automatic or sport manual. Not sure why Mazda only allows sport manual. I only used it once or twice in our 2014 CX5 and it didn't sound like it was going to shift on its own, but I may be wrong as I wasn't going to push it to far!

 

[inlinev]

Sport mode changes the gearing allowing the car to accelerate faster and unfortunately use more gas. Unfortunately in the CX5 it only allows you to manually shift. In my BMW I can shift into sport automatic or sport manual. Not sure why Mazda only allows sport manual. I only used it once or twice in our 2014 CX5 and it didn't sound like it was going to shift on its own, but I may be wrong as I wasn't going to push it to far!

Sports mode is only available with the 2016. You are thinking of the "manual mode" of the automatic transmission.

Sports mode doesn't change gearing. It forces the transmission to hold gears longer and causes the engine to sit between 2500-3500 rpm. Which is the general power band for the 2.5.

From car and driver

If there’s one change for 2016 that could use fine-tuning, it’s the new Sport mode setting for the drivetrain. The spread between Normal (default) and Sport drive modes is too aggressive for a family CUV, as if it were a jump from another automaker’s Eco to Sport+ settings. Using Mazda’s Sport mode results in considerably higher rpm and lower gears than expected, and it can linger way too long between 3000 and 4000 rpm at part throttle when just cruising around. On the other hand, if you’re autocrossing your CX-5 . . .

 

[adgjqetuo]

I tried it out this weekend during some city driving. Came in handy when in the fast lane attempting to pass someone in the slow lane. It's definitely a pleasant surprise to push the pedal and feel a bit of power rather than pushing the pedal in non sport mode and feeling like an old lady getting passed in the fast lane.

I'd be curious to see how much the MPG vary when going a full talk in sport mode vs standard mode while utilizing similar driving habits.

I don't think sport mode was meant to be used full-time. It feels like something you use in your case above (passing) or to have some fun on back country roads, but I think it would be annoying to keep on for an entire tank - I'd also hate to drive the vehicle with that high of RPM for that long too.

You'd also have to remember to click it on each time you start the car - I don't think it stays on once you shut off the car.