CX-5 approach angles

[Unobtanium]

Well, I am learning more and more that the CX-5 is just a big car. Not an SUV, in the classic sense. First, I flooded and destroyed the rear diff crossing a stream less than a foot deep (for reference, the Grand Jeep Cherokee I used to have was rated to fjord water 23" deep, I believe, and the Honda Pilot is rated at either 19, or 21 inches, I cannot recall. The speed of the vehicle through the water for those vehicles is rated at something like 5mph, and water speeds something like 2-3mph.)

Anyway, cue my second disappointment. Approach angles. The vehicle was clearly not designed with them in mind, and I tried very cautiously to make it work, but failed. Cautious kept me from actually hurting anything, but it took a LOT of thinking and angling and getting out and moving terrain around for a rather mild obstacle to get to and from my camp site yesterday and this morning.

So...


...approach angles. Just be aware of them. 99% of you probably would be fine with a car, and will never actually use your CX-5 for anything like camping, etc. that doesn't involve a paved road up to the tent, but for that 1%, just be aware that the CX-5 is not as outdoorsy as maybe a Subaru or similar.

 

[davesxx01]

I take mine on forest service trails all the time. Some of them are very un-traveled. Couple of scrapes from branches and the like but never tried to climb up a wall.
Read you other post about your rear diff. Was also thinking about extending the breather tube!!
Looking to get some 17" wheels and taller tires for that extra 1/2" clearance!

Interesting chart!

8.5" of ground clearance but lousy approach/depart angles!

This would be,,, um,,,, interesting!

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

What are these angles you are referring to?

 

[Timothy1_17]

Thanks for the info on the water & approach angles. Sorry to hear about your rear diff.

The high majority of my driving is on pavement, but I do go backpacking in PA & WV about 1-3 times per year. I will take the back roads cautiously my first trip.

Wonder if Everyman Driver gave the 2015 CX-5 problems? Mud puddle @ 1:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_uFKYsAmI&nohtml5=False
The 2016 review shows some different approach angles, but this is just a quick review and real world scenarios can obviously differ greatly.

 

[piotrek91]

What are these angles you are referring to?

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=approach angle

 

[piotrek91]

Wonder if Everyman Driver gave the 2015 CX-5 problems? Mud puddle @ 1:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0_uFKYsAmI&nohtml5=False

Everyman driver was just reviewing a press car.. so he probably returned it to mazda long before it would have had problems.
In theory, as long as the rear diff fluid is replaced after crossing water there shouldn't be too many problems.

I agree with unobtanium, the approach angle is pretty bad and even in the FWD model it is the #1 limiting factor for how far the CX-5 can go offroad.

Having said that, the only mainstream CUV's that'll do better is the forester or cherokee. The XV/outback both have crappy approach just like the CX-5.
The rav4/cr-v/rouge all have bad ground clearance and that'll stop them before the CX-5's approach angle will.

 

[Srad600]

Personally I find the approach angle a bit tight, but when offroad I do pay particular attention to where I am putting things as well as my approach angles (never had a departure angle problem with this car). I agree it's not as "carefree" as my old jeep ZJ offroad, but it has taken me places that a "street car" just couldn't go. Especially considering I'm still running the stock 19" wheels and all season radials.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=approach angle

Lol yea i was joking... I'm very aware of approach and departure angles

 

[ALafya]

Yes, especially the front is designed for fuel-economy.
15 Forester has 23/25 approach/departure, which is only marginally better or same as other crossovers in this category.

I knew this full well before buying, and I actually prefer this over lower MPG. Coming from a car, I don't see the downside

 

[piotrek91]

Lol yea i was joking... I'm very aware of approach and departure angles

lol. I should have known better.
Once you get sick of scraping your cx-5's front lip on every driveway, you should mod your CX-5 like this:
much better approach angle than stock.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Lol. Nah im not much lower if not the same height as a mz 6. That s*** is just poor taste, and legitimately useless.

 

[craigo]

For a CUV, cx-5 is actually pretty good. http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2...zda-cx-5-awd-measuring-ramp-travel-index.html

 

[Unobtanium]

What are these angles you are referring to?

The angles posted above, mainly for approach. As you can see, it's far shallower than anything else in the CUV market except the EX35, which is also obviously a "car".

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

The angles posted above, mainly for approach. As you can see, it's far shallower than anything else in the CUV market except the EX35, which is also obviously a "car".

I was jokin lol

 

[fdew]

My CX-5 was in mud and in a open field 2 mts after I bought it. Once snow arrived the sliding begun. Just part of owning a car for me. Come to think of it, I haven't been stuck yet. (Stuck is when you can't get it moving again yourself.) An hour of digging and making ramps so you can get a running start and get back up on the crusted snow isn't stuck. During that one I was about a mile from pavement when I sunk through the crust. As I was digging I remember praying Lord if you will get me out of here I..... Well, you and I both know I will do it again, but please help me.

BTW I have never owned a jeep or truck or similar. Always preferred good handling over off road.

 

[CX5_Pete]

Haven't scraped the front lip yet, but it does kind of stick out like a body kit. The RAV4 I got to drive for a week has a really nice approach angle though. I think it might have been better than my truck.

 

[ramius]

Coming from a lowered NC MX-5, the CX-5's angles and GC are great!

 

[purplengold]

If I wanted an off road champion I would go for something different than the CX5. I'm on the road 99.9999999% of the time so it's perfect for me.