CX-5tormtrooper
Member
- :
- CX-Triton
Can't say I see myself having to drive like this, but it's nice to see what it's capable of.
2015 CX-5 AWD Off-Road Review (Everyman Driver)
- Thread starter CX-5tormtrooper
- Start date
Thanks for the video!
This guy is pretty annoying, but the car did well.. except for what looks like some under-body panels hanging off at 6:13.
With it's ground clearance an AWD CX-5 can get very far off-pavement as long as the driver chooses the easy way to go.
Even the FWD can tackle most un-maintained dirt roads (not trails!!) in dry conditions.
This guy is pretty annoying, but the car did well.. except for what looks like some under-body panels hanging off at 6:13.
With it's ground clearance an AWD CX-5 can get very far off-pavement as long as the driver chooses the easy way to go.
Even the FWD can tackle most un-maintained dirt roads (not trails!!) in dry conditions.
I think the weight of the water and the speed probably ripped that plastic aero shield right off. Might be worth looking into an aluminum skid plate if you really wanted to do this regularly. Different tires would really improve its capabilities (like that hill climb where he lost traction quickly), but that really isn't what this vehicle is about. I was impressed watching it work through the mud and water, even on the stock 19 Yokos. Gives me a warm and fuzzy that it should handle snow/slush just fine, and I won't be getting phone calls from my wife that she's stuck again.
meteorgrey
Member
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- 2015 Mazda CX-5 Touring FWD
Even though the CX-5 wasn't exactly made for it, every time I see people in their CUV's/SUV's having fun off-road or in the snow, I always wish I would have coughed up the extra $1500 or so for the AWD...even though I live in CA and will never need it or be able to financially justify it except for the occasional trip to the mountains. Oh well, next time. You guys will have to have enough fun for me so I can live vicariously through you all lol.
Meteorgrey, I doubt you would live vicariously much through these good folks here with AWD, as the only thing most these owners will be doing with their CX-5s is surviving harsh winters, not playing around in an OHV arena. But one can dream right?!
Unfortunately, neither of off-road CX-5 tube videos has designated off road tires being used.
To have all season tires in this kind of "review" is just an absurd.
Also, how about switching to manual gear and pumpin it a little up hill instead of bitching that it is being underpowered. Really?
To have all season tires in this kind of "review" is just an absurd.
Also, how about switching to manual gear and pumpin it a little up hill instead of bitching that it is being underpowered. Really?
There is plenty of off-road fun to be had with no awd.
Meteorgray, I'm just gonna leave this here for you:
50+ miles in Anza Borrego Desert and Ocotillo Wells OHV area. FWD 6MT
your CX-5 can do it too, just don't go out there alone.. especially in the summer!!
Limiting factors:
0. Tire durability. ( Flimsy highway tires with thin sidewalls.. and only temporary spare ) I was afraid of getting a puncture.
1. Stability control ( was way too good at keeping things safe)
2. Tire traction. Needed to use momentum to make it up some hills.
3. Front overhang. Needed to approach obstacles at an angle, but my front lip remains unscratched.
4. Ground clearance ( scraped one small rock in 50 miles)
5. Lack of AWD (didn't stop in deep sand, and friends had three lifted 4x4's nearby)
Meteorgray, I'm just gonna leave this here for you:
50+ miles in Anza Borrego Desert and Ocotillo Wells OHV area. FWD 6MT
your CX-5 can do it too, just don't go out there alone.. especially in the summer!!
Limiting factors:
0. Tire durability. ( Flimsy highway tires with thin sidewalls.. and only temporary spare ) I was afraid of getting a puncture.
1. Stability control ( was way too good at keeping things safe)
2. Tire traction. Needed to use momentum to make it up some hills.
3. Front overhang. Needed to approach obstacles at an angle, but my front lip remains unscratched.
4. Ground clearance ( scraped one small rock in 50 miles)
5. Lack of AWD (didn't stop in deep sand, and friends had three lifted 4x4's nearby)
Seriously... The car has more than enough power to make it up that.
There are plenty of paved streets steeper than that hill.
Chris_Top_Her
Contributor
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- San Antonio, Texas
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- '15 CX-5 Miata AWD
Well, I guess it just depends on how you want to mod your car. I modded mine for handling (and power WiP). Although you could easily do a lift and some terrain tires, maybe a softer or sway bar delete.
meteorgrey
Member
- :
- 2015 Mazda CX-5 Touring FWD
Yeah I guess I've just taken the lack of "bad weather" for granted. When a light shower or moderate thunderstorm and the associated potentially oily roads are all you have to worry about, sometimes you just wish you could experience a real harsh winter or more demanding terrain.
Looks like he can't get all the way up the hill at ~3:48 and it is pretty clear that the front wheels are digging in while the back wheels are not moving at all.
The AWD system fails to allocate power to the back. If it did, the car might have reached the top.
It turns out this is pretty typical. I am not sure why does the AWD get confused in this case. This is what all the Subaru videos always show when claiming superiority.
On the other hand, going through the mud, it is clear both front and rear wheels spin when trying to find traction.
The AWD system fails to allocate power to the back. If it did, the car might have reached the top.
It turns out this is pretty typical. I am not sure why does the AWD get confused in this case. This is what all the Subaru videos always show when claiming superiority.
On the other hand, going through the mud, it is clear both front and rear wheels spin when trying to find traction.
The reason is simple - the reviewers get a loaner vehicle / press vehicle and test it as is. They don't have the budget to install proper tires, maybe even no permission to do so.
However, most typical owners (which drive paved roads 99.9% of the time) will not change tires too, so these tests show what owners can expect should they do it.
Moreover, road tires lose grip more easily and by doing so, reveal the characteristics of the drivetrain in a way which is more pronounced. Obviously, if traction was never lost we will not see the power transfer characteristics of the CX-5.
Also, it could be that pretty terrible 'traction control' took over.
I wish there were an option to disable it completely.
