FWD or AWD?

[MATR6]

I agree, we can discuss that Subaru's, BMW's, Audi's AWD system is better blah blah blah but it comes down to the driver & the car. Even my wife days the CX-5 handles snow with no problems, coming from our '06 Mazda 3 hatch (of course, no comparison)
I know the capabilities of the CX-5's AWD system, although not tested to its limits, I feel confident driving it in snowy conditions. Of course safe driving habits of braking early & not abrupt, etc apply.

 

[vroom]

So I get you guy are saying that your AWD CX-5 handles better than your FWD CX-5 in difficult conditions?

 

[MikeM.]

So I get you guy are saying that your AWD CX-5 handles better than your FWD CX-5 in difficult conditions?

I wasn't speaking to "handling' per say, just that the AWD in the CX-5 kicks in quickly and effectively (like when I need to climb my steep driveway with 12" of wet snow on it).

Handling wise, I would expect the FWD CX-5 to hold the corners with just as much confidence (given equal tires) as the AWD version. What makes the CX-5 handle so well in treacherous conditions is not the AWD but the balanced handling. When pushed hard in the corners it does not have a strong over or understeer and the suspension geometry is tuned such that there is not a lot of toe-in or camber. I've driven a number of cars that WANTED to break traction on ice, even on a level surface in a straight line, just due to the way the suspension geometry would fight with the traction of each tire. Modern cars have come a long ways in this department. Also, the brakes on the CX-5 are particularly good on slippery surfaces. Stability control is also very good but on some cars it needs to kick in more often because the braking is inherently slightly un-balanced. The CX-5 would be competent without stability control and the added capabilities of stability control adds confidence and a huge margin of safety.

One thing I've noticed on especially slippery ice (and yes, ice does vary tremendously with how much traction it offers any given car/tire setup) is that every car has an ideal weight loading that settles it's suspension to the optimum degree for maximum ice traction. It's not so much the weight that matters (in terms of psi of contact patch) but how much weight it takes to settle the suspension to the ride height that allows the tire to present a flat tread to the ice surface. My CX-5 appears to get maximum traction with a total load of about 4-500 lbs. (passengers and luggage and partial tank of fuel).

 

[chuyler1]

I would take FWD with winter/snow tires over AWD without. If you're counting your pennies, invest in a second set of wheels with mounted snows. The only situation this will not get you out of is driving through 4+ inches of unplowed, untracked snow.

However, with that said AWD AND winter/snow tires is the ideal combo for anyone living in the snow belt. It gives you the power to plow through untracked snow AND you can stop faster than anyone else on the road.

Snow tires are not a gimmick. They really work, and not just in the snow. All winter long their softer compound grips the road better than any all-season tire. Speaking of all season, that's the big joke. Anything marked all season is just a 3 season tire that will leave you miserable in winter and wanting for something that handles better in the snow. Surprise surprise, handling in the snow has nothing to do with your vehicle and everything to do with your tires!

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I was looking through the Service Manual (PDF's available in the How-To-Section) for information about the motor mounts, and I cam across some pretty descriptive information about the AWD system, in pretty layman terms too. It can be found in the "Service Highlights" file, under Driveline/Axle (cntrl+f to search that string). Just by scrolling through it you can look for the chart type description boxes that describe the parts (or the computer code) and their function and in effect how the AWD works.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123825111-Full-Service-Manuals-PDF

 

[ALafya]

Good find!
This shows the AWD system in the CX-5 is a true torque vectoring system.

Of interest here:
"
Also, when a coupling torque request signal is received from the DSC HU/CM, the module controls the torque transmitted to
the rear wheels to match the amount of requested torque.
"

Sounds to me like a system which improves stability with aid of torque on the rear wheels, when appropriate (hopefully).

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Good find!
This shows the AWD system in the CX-5 is a true torque vectoring system.

Of interest here:
"
Also, when a coupling torque request signal is received from the DSC HU/CM, the module controls the torque transmitted to
the rear wheels to match the amount of requested torque.
"

Sounds to me like a system which improves stability with aid of torque on the rear wheels, when appropriate (hopefully).

I am interested to see how the RSB I ordered will workout with this. Also I couldn't find anything about any mounts, oh well

 

[V8toilet]

Perfect example of how AWD can get you in trouble because it gets you going in a hurry but doesnt offer better stopping. You can see the girlfriend standing on one side probably thinking why am I with this idiot and the driver on the other side holding his bloody nose. This happened in my neighborhood a few weeks ago. I finally got the chance to post it now. I swear every time I see a vehicle on its roof around here especially after a snow storm its an AWD vehicle.

 

[Beefy]

AWD doesn't kill people. People kill people.

 

[dougal]

Perfect example of how AWD can get you in trouble because it gets you going in a hurry but doesn’t offer better stopping. You can see the girlfriend standing on one side probably thinking “why am I with this idiot” and the driver on the other side holding his bloody nose. This happened in my neighborhood a few weeks ago. I finally got the chance to post it now. I swear every time I see a vehicle on its roof around here especially after a snow storm it’s an AWD vehicle.

There is no snow on the road or anything. What caused his crash? I assume it is stupidity...

 

[V8toilet]

Pure stupidity!

 

[TreyP]

AWD doesn't kill people. People kill people.

Word.

 

[Rob Ciniello]

Fwd with a GOOD set of snow tires to me is better than awd with all seasons. I would rather the fwd period

 

[gk26]

Perfect example of how AWD can get you in trouble because it gets you going in a hurry but doesnt offer better stopping. You can see the girlfriend standing on one side probably thinking why am I with this idiot and the driver on the other side holding his bloody nose. This happened in my neighborhood a few weeks ago. I finally got the chance to post it now. I swear every time I see a vehicle on its roof around here especially after a snow storm its an AWD vehicle.

Where in Ma is that. I lived in Wilmington for 33 years - just curious

 

[V8toilet]

Worcester Ma on Clark Street near Clark Street School.

 

[Beefy]

Fwd with a GOOD set of snow tires to me is better than awd with all seasons. I would rather the fwd period

AWD with a GOOD set of snow tires is better again.

Seriously, why do so many muppets think that AWD's will never get snow tires?

 

[CX-SV]

Agreed ^. We have people here running snow tires on AWD CX-5's in winter.

 

[halfast3]

Agreed ^. We have people here running snow tires on AWD CX-5's in winter.

We run studless winter tires on both of our vehicles for 5-6 months of the year. One of them is AWD. Part of the negotiation on the purchase of our 2015 CX-5 is a set of 16" alloy take-offs from a M3 or 6 and a set of Michelin xi 2 or 3 winter tires.

 

[MONeli]

I'm a Subaru fanatic, and this is the main reason our CX-5 is AWD.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Yea your gonna lose some hp with auto + awd but I love being able to power thru curves and stuff.