'16 Sport Mode

[Unobtanium]

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.

I really don't think it does anything to that end. The 2015 and 2016 CX-5 post identical acceleration numbers.

 

[rickypicky]

I'm pretty sure it's not meant to be used full-time. I think your gas mileage would go down significantly if you did. I use it when I need short, sustained acceleration for just a few seconds. IMHO, it works great.

 

[KCSam]

I agree, I definitely don't think it's meant to be used full-time, but I was just thinking out loud with the MPG in that mode vs. standard non-sport mode. I think I'll just stick to using it periodically when needing to get up and around someone quickly.

 

[finch204]

The biggest benefit to Sport mode is the increased throttle response and sensitivity. With Sport mode on, you don't have to press the pedal as hard to get the car moving. I think the best way to use Sport mode is to use it while also using manual shift mode. Sport mode with the auto sucks, especially in city driving because the transmission will stay at 3k rpm when cruising at 45-50 mph. (If you are doing canyon runs however, I can see it being beneficial to those who don't like to use manual shift mode.) However if you are driving in manual shift mode, you can simply up-shift to 5th or 6th for cruising. I always felt the throttle mapping/sensitivity on the CX-5 was a bit lacking, but Sport mode and manual shift mode changes that. I actually enjoyed driving the CX-5 today in Sport mode and manual shift mode. The first 4 gears are quite similar to the MS3 so I can use the same shift points, which is a bonus. Accelerating off a stop light with Sport mode on is now much more fun, at least for me that is.

I have a question on it though that I'm hoping someone can answer. If you are driving in Sport mode with manual shift mode, is there still any benefit to kicking up the "go fast" switch on the accelerator pedal? I mean in this setup, the car won't downshift since you are in manual shift mode. And you are already in Sport mode, so I don't know if there is still any performance to be gained by fully stepping on the accelerator pedal.

 

[Rarebit]

If there were any benefit, it would have to affect the ECU settings, not just the transmission shift points. I don't think it does. If you are shifting manually, you're "sport mode".

 

[CX-5um]

Can anyone confirm if sport mode actually improves 0-30 let alone 0-60 times?

 

[finch204]

Can anyone confirm if sport mode actually improves 0-30 let alone 0-60 times?

I'll try to see if I can test that, the 0-30 at least.

 

[CX-5um]

I'll try to see if I can test that, the 0-30 at least.

cool, I think that would be interesting to see.

 

[Rarebit]

Can anyone confirm if sport mode actually improves 0-30 let alone 0-60 times?

Interesting test. The result will depend on whether sport mode has different shift points than the normal setting when the accelerator is floored.

 

[reshp1]

The only practical purpose for sport mode for me is to tell the transmission to downshift, without having to put in "manual" mode. A quick tap of the button before I know I need a little boost, or if I feel the car start to bog down on a hill, and the transmission grabs a lower gear and off I go. After the acceleration event, the switch gets flipped right back immediately. It's not just that it probably wastes gas, I just don't like how the car feels too twitchy in sport mode, especially when you let off the gas and the engine braking kicks in immediately because of the lower gear.

 

[Mondo]

When I was on the freeway, doing about 70, I put it in sport mode and it automatically cancels. Like stated before, I think it's just for city/hilly areas where it's best to stay in a gear longer or in the higher rpm range. Not for cruising.

 

[Unobtanium]

Sport mode offers no advantages I can think of. Flooring the earlier versions produces identical performance. It just feels zippier around town and burns a little more fuel because it uses less economical shift algorithms probably.

 

[Unobtanium]

Interesting test. The result will depend on whether sport mode has different shift points than the normal setting when the accelerator is floored.

It doesn't. They all shift at redline on the tach, and the '14 is the same speed as the '16 in every test I've seen 0-anything.

 

[gazelle]

I wonder if it's possible to go in the red zone...
Sport mode shifts at ~57mph, if it went into the red zone just a little it would've improved 0-60 time

 

[Srad600]

When I was on the freeway, doing about 70, I put it in sport mode and it automatically cancels. Like stated before, I think it's just for city/hilly areas where it's best to stay in a gear longer or in the higher rpm range. Not for cruising.

Interesting, mine does not respond like this at all. Actually every time I've used the sport button, it goes into sport mode right away.

Also (now this is hearsay) I was told by my dealer (yeah...I know) that the VVT in the car uses multiple cams. One for low RPM, and the other for high RPM/Sport. Personally never heard of this but I'll believe him (Ahh, check that, I looked at the spec sheet and it calls for dual overhead cams, so (1) intake, (1) exhaust - or at least one each per bank - like any other motor).This combined with the raised shift points of the tranny combine to give the sportier feel/performance. Despite some other peoples impressions, I can easily feel the difference in performance between the two modes. There is a huge difference in lag time between stabbing the throttle in each mode.

In my impression the driving modes work best:
Sport+D is great for accelerating/passing, or having some low-mid speed fun. Definitely not for cruising.
Sport+M is great everywhere. Although I dislike when the computer shifts for me in this mode. Takes away from the manual feeling.
D is good at saving gas/commuting...that's pretty much it.

 

[GAXIBM]

The VVT in controlled by an electric advance/retard device on one cam and a hydraulic device on the other, no dual cam but the electric is quick and state of the art.

 

[Unobtanium]

The VVT in controlled by an electric advance/retard device on one cam and a hydraulic device on the other, no dual cam but the electric is quick and state of the art.

I am curious why they did not use similar tech to my 370Z. Each valve was controlled. Had no cams. That said, the CX-5 has an amazing motor, and the torque curve is unreal in the 2.5L.

 

[ekcooper]

I haven't used sport mode. I went from a 2013 to a 2016...the whole thing is sport mode for me!!!

 

[MikeM.]

I am curious why they did not use similar tech to my 370Z. Each valve was controlled. Had no cams.

Maybe because Mazda believes the heads should be serviceable when they need freshening up while Nissan thinks it's acceptable to design a valve train that is unserviceable and the only repair that can be undertaken is to replace the entire (very expensive) head.

CX-5 might be designed to be fun to drive but, first and foremost, it is designed to be practical, reliable and economical in the long run.

 

[Unobtanium]

Maybe because Mazda believes the heads should be serviceable when they need freshening up while Nissan thinks it's acceptable to design a valve train that is unserviceable and the only repair that can be undertaken is to replace the entire (very expensive) head.

CX-5 might be designed to be fun to drive but, first and foremost, it is designed to be practical, reliable and economical in the long run.

Interesting. I wish the viewed the transmission as serviceable, though, as well. I never thought of that. It has some merit, but I've not really heard of heads needing freshening, either, in modern times.