CX-5 Turbo vs Non-Turbo

[GTXT23]

Gee I didn't think the thread title was implying one is better than the other.

NA is by far the winner on lowest cost of ownership.

Turbo is the winner on performance and more fun to drive.

Folks break both NA and turbos. It is possible the turbos attract more drivers who run their cars harder. It's like comparing a Dodge Hell Cat Callenger to a Dodge V6 Challenger. Most Hell Cat owners bought them for the performance and do just that. Some don't even get very far from the dealership before the wreck them.

I'm into maintaining my vehicles. DIY oil chages is half of the oil change shops. DIY plug changes is even a bigger savings. In my case maintenance cost is a wash.

I knew going in the turbo deprciates more than NA. We keep out cars about 15 years. I'll get the difference in enjoyment out of the turbo.

The turbo has larger front brakes. It should stop quicker and the brakes last longer if both are driven the same. The trans is has upgraded clutches, same deal, it will last longer.

The turbo air filter element is larger than the NA. It has better filtration, will last longer and protect the engine better.

The turbo replaced our slug of a car, 09 Accord. I didnt want a different car. I had tuned this car and it was fun to drive. But if we were up grading, then we upgraded to a turbo I could tune. I have no regrets.

Since the OP didn't define what is better, then I say both are better for different reasons.

My plan, be happy and enjoy!

Familiar conclusion -

 

[GTXT23]

I took my NA CX-5 up Pike's Peak. It was fine. I don't remember it feeling lacking.

Thats likely because you know how to drive and understand where the power is and isn't -

Ive watched many videos of usually inexperienced drivers - who have acquired supercars with 500+ HP and a majority of the accidents occur with no other vehicles involved --just a driver who drops the pedal to the floor at some random speed and they loose control - cars are totaled and often going under 50 mph - They loose the rear end - over compensate , keep their foot in the throttle and - there goes another Lambo or McClaren

 

[GTXT23]

There is a lot of chatter about n/a and Turbo and the pros and cons. We recently bought a 2025 Turbo Premium to add to the fleet and supplement our 2020 Sport (base). Other cars in the garage are a 2018 Porsche Macan S and a 2010 911 S. The CX5s are "mostly" for our daughters but we drive them too.

I was torn going Turbo or n/a for this car. I personally like the feel and instant response of the n/a and think it punches way above its weight. Sure, it's weak in terms of highway acceleration and passing, but around town it's fun.

After a few hundred miles in the Turbo, I had a couple thoughts:
- The vibe of the turbo is confident and effortless, and not at all "high energy"
- The n/a is more playful and fun until you run out of power at higher speeds
- You just "loaf" and ride the torque in the turbo. It feels like a turbo diesel in that regard. Not a bad thing, just different
- Turbo is more confident at higher speeds. Combination of the torque, the weight, the suspension tuning (including the larger swaybars)
- Interior of the higher trims (this isn't a turbo thing) is VERY nice. That said, I still dig the cloth in our Sport
- If you need speed, you can add throttle in the Turbo and it just goes -- without fuss. n/a will be shifting down and revving a lot and gaining a lot less speed in the process

I've had several fun turbo cars in the past. My wife's Macan is a twin turbo v6. Laggy and can a be caught "dead" sometimes in a scary way. The Mazda is *never* without torque. Feels like a big lazy engine.

Also had a tuned Miata Turbo ('00). That was a "fun" turbo that built power up high. The CX5 isn't that.

Anyhow, I'm happy with the decision. It makes me appreciate the turbo but also really appreciate the authentic value of the n/a cars.

View attachment 335326

Nice color - + custom rims ?
Mazda and Toyota are collaborating on a Turbo Supra( old news for Mazda nuts ) / in which Toyota wanted an inline 6 for correct original build pedigree - and each Co will have fundamentally the same vehicle chassis/ trans / engine / - which will be the Mazda cx90 powerplant - turbo -6. - my guess they will tweak it up over 350 hp- Mazda says they will produce coupe + sedan
-will-C-

 

[N7turbo]

I believe the Mazda Toyota rumors for the next Supra have not been confirmed.

But if it is true, it would be quite challenging going up against BMW's B58 engine, arguably the best in the business. Not saying Mazda isn't up to the task.

 

[AL Cx5]

Our 24 turbo felt like Mazda had choked it down. It was fun but NOT impressive or as responsive as I was expecting.

I found the air filter box is restrictive. I made a simple extra side entry port with a back flow damper. When the engine is making boost at more then 1/2 throttle the damper modulates and opens to meet the air demand. It stays closed when not needed to maintain good low end torque and FE. I tested with a "Filter Minder" device. It confirmed my suspicion. Now we have a way to determine when to change the filter element, rather than guess. This helps what we call Turbo Lag. The engine gets the air it's demanding RIGHT NOW.

Shortly after the 500 mi mark I bought a tune from DRTuned. It WOKE up this little turbo right where I wanted. FUN factor is up and LESS turbo lag. FE is good. It's easy for us to get 32 to 33 MPG on trips and 24 to 25 in town. The tune came with an OBD device that plugs into a laptop. I'm able to log and graph changes in HP/Torque with Mazda Edit. I used this to confirm each of the bolt on mods.

I added grounds cables, 2 to the cylinder head and a third to the trans. They help throttle response and crip shifts. FE improves with this little modification.

The elbow out of the air filter box transitions on the outside radius. I added a sheet metal turning vane in the flex hose. This helps FE and adds a few ponies as well.

I've posted before and after graphs for the modifications mentioned above, on the forum.

With the above bolt on mods and tune, turbo lag is much, much less than in the stock format. It's NO HOTROD. It doesn't scare my wife to drive it like some of our previous modified cars. It's more like a sporty SUV. It's smooth and quite at light throttle. When asked for power, it responds.

 

[GTXT23]

Thats likely because you know how to drive and understand where the power is and isn't -

Ive watched many videos of usually inexperienced drivers - who have acquired supercars with 500+ HP and a majority of the accidents occur with no other vehicles involved --just a driver who drops the pedal to the floor at some random speed and they loose control - cars are totaled and often going under 50 mph - They loose the rear end - over compensate , keep their foot in the throttle and - there goes another Lambo or McClaren -

The reality of lots of wide open high speed roads that usurp lots of hp is a marketing myth - I can normally prevsail on freeway or city situations in my na because most drivers dont use the most important attribute we have which is your brain - Ive prevailed against 700hp supercars repeatedly mainly due to knowing how traffic evolves and changes in others speeds. ~ out overall speed in the USA is 2-3 mph -hp is the LEAST imortant factor in arriving at a destination first .

 

[wlong01]

I added grounds cables, 2 to the cylinder head and a third to the trans. They help throttle response and crip shifts. FE improves with this little modification.

Simple question - if this does what you say it does why wouldn't Mazda engineers do it? Cables are cheap, if it increases fuel efficiency why go through all the trouble of re-engineering the engine for CD and adding all the extras for I-Stop?

 

[AL Cx5]

I added grounds cables, 2 to the cylinder head and a third to the trans. They help throttle response and crip shifts. FE improves with this little modification.

Simple question - if this does what you say it does why wouldn't Mazda engineers do it? Cables are cheap, if it increases fuel efficiency why go through all the trouble of re-engineering the engine for CD and adding all the extras for I-Stop?

Here we go again, try searching for my grounding thread. I posted before and after dyno tests. What amuses me, one guy posted that the test was 10 years old, therfore invalid...

Race cars ground similar to the way I grounded for the simple reason it makes more power. Also a guy posted in this thread.

Why doesn't Mazda make the proper size air filter box for the turbo? Or design a proper transition on the air box. The list goes on.

I've put a ground cables over top of oem ground wires and see the same improvement.

To all keyboard experts and nay sayers, if you really own a Mazda, lumber out and learn how to twist a 10mm wrench and try it...then post...

A word of caution, you will have to bend over and might brake a finger nail...

 

[Antoine]

The topic of this thread is CX-5 Turbo Vs Non-Turbo. It is not an excuse to argue and go off topic about ground wires, supercars etc…Please remember other people read threads and are looking for useful information regarding the thread topic.

Unfortunately this thread has run its course, thread closed.

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