2017~2025: CX-5 Sport Mode Driving issues?

[Pitter]

What would the downside be (if any) of driving in Sport Mode on a fairly regular basis apart from what I imagine is increased fuel consumption?

 

[Candurin]

What would the downside be (if any) of driving in Sport Mode on a fairly regular basis apart from what I imagine is increased fuel consumption?

The increase in wrinkles around your lips and the outer sides of your eyes from grinning!

 

[goodpeoples]

The increase in wrinkles around your lips and the outer sides of your eyes from grinning!

I love responses like this.

 

[erhayes]

More speeding tickets.

 

[onerpm]

Gee, thanks, OP... I had forgotten I have sport mode!

 

[johnrm]

What would the downside be (if any) of driving in Sport Mode on a fairly regular basis apart from what I imagine is increased fuel consumption?

I dont like how the shifts hang when not accelerating say 1/2 throttle of less> i find more control using M mode

 

[MyFirstMazda]

Using more gas and I suppose more long term wear since the pistons will cycle more over time. I put it in sport mode if I have to merge into busy highway traffic and want to get to speed fast, and then put it back to normal. It is fun.

 

[CarpeDiem]

One of the reasons that modern engines last well over 100,000 miles versus the ~60,000 miles of four decades ago is the lower number of revolutions the engine makes. Lower final drive gearing and early-shifting transmissions greatly reduce the average revolutions per year, so engine wear is lower. Yes, better lubes and metallurgy contribute too.

Running extensively in lower gears will accelerate engine wear, but by how much? No idea, but for city driving it does make the CX more fun, especially if you don’t use manual mode. I don’t see a major downside for most owners besides mpg, but since the Sport mode locks out 5th and 6th gears I’d refrain from using it much on highways where the speeds exceed 50/60 mph.

 

[Pitter]

That's interesting. I didn't know about the 5&6 lockout. I was using Sport Mode for passing on two lane highways.

 

[MyFirstMazda]

I didn't know two gears are lost in sport mode either.

 

[azcx5]

That's not described in the Owner's Manual. Why am I not surprised to find the owners manual isn't completely descriptive?

 

[cz5gt]

as far as I know they are not locked out in terms of being unusable, its just that much different rpms and road conditions affect the upshift in sport mode. You can drive in higher rpm range on lower gear.
which especially for the non turbo brings the car to a bit better torque range vs normal mode where it feels sluggish sometimes

 

[azcx5]

I'll have to find a back road and test this out.

 

[hal2]

If you're driving in sport mode at constant speeds, usually higher, I found it upshifts to 5th or 6th eventually.

 

[Bear1967]

Yes it does, then it's just like regular mode.

 

[erhayes]

Does the CX5 have an RPM limiter?

 

[Bear1967]

I haven't found out yet

 

[ADS-B]

I drive in manual mode almost 99.99% of the time. From time to time I've used the sport mode, again, combined with manual mode. I did not see any change in fuel consumption, based on my driving habits, of course. And if there is a change in fuel consumption, it must be really small. One thing I've noticed, though, using "sport mode" while driving in manual, the gears changes a bit faster or should I say the engine responds to my gear input faster, way faster.

 

[GFrosty]

One thing I've noticed, though, using "sport mode" while driving in manual, the gears changes a bit faster or should I say the engine responds to my gear input faster, way faster.

Same, with me. Definitely shifts faster and accelerates harder. "Sport" mode in manual (+/-) shift allows for rapid acceleration up a steep highway onramp, for example, vastly reducing the risk of not being sufficiently up to speed as I'm entering the "merge" zone. It certainly has its uses.

 

[Bear1967]

I didn't know you could do that. Now I'll have to try it