My take on the CX-5 after 20,000 miles

[ALafya]

I'm starting to think people literally think this happens every time I drove the car when I had it. It happened enough to be annoying enough to b**** about it but I was rarely able to replicate it on demand. The Trans would get in a dead zone for lack of a better term where it didn't want to down shift without dropping multiple gears.

For me it is a minor annoyance as well. However, it is mostly when driving uphill and only in slow speeds, including 30~45 MPH. Now, I don't drive this kind of road often at all. On a flat road it is not a big deal at all and in-fact might be beneficial, assuming it saves me gas (not sure it does - the engine is more efficient at higher revs and I am trying to accelerate, not maintain speed). In slow traffic and high gear it has sufficient torque to be adequate (but just barely). However, when combined with a winding uphill road, this strategy does not work well for above speeds. The transmission still thinks <= 1500 RPM is sufficient. It is not. I had to jab the transmission after every turn, because the transmission thought I was driving leisurely on a straight & flat road.
I guess they could modify the code to consider steering wheel position and grade. When going a bit faster, it has no problem holding lower gears.
Now, in the Mazda 3 SkyActiv this does not seem to be a problem. Not sure what's different.

I sometime drive a Civic with 5AT. Now, this vehicle has much less torque in low RPM and it is very eager to ensure that when you press the pedal it will give you at least 2500 RPM or so. So, if you drive in stop-and-go traffic and lift the foot of the pedal RPM will drop. When you press it again, it will be hard to avoid 2500 RPM, unless you really make an effort. Unnecessary up-shifts might happen, but it is overall very smooth and quick and I don't see anyone would complain. The upside is that it feels responsive and will quickly accelerate if needed.

Lastly, while I don't work for the automotive industry, it is well known that if most/many people think that your product is hard to use/not pleasant to use, even if it is because they don't know how to use it to its full potential and it is all "working as intended", it is still your problem to fix. It could be that some minimal driver hints could help, but it could also be that you need to get back at the drawing board and think of how to best capture users' intent and make your users happy.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Have you decided on your first mod?

 

[sillyxone]

For me it is a minor annoyance as well. However, it is mostly when driving uphill and only in slow speeds, including 30~45 MPH. Now, I don't drive this kind of road often at all. On a flat road it is not a big deal at all and in-fact might be beneficial, assuming it saves me gas (not sure it does - the engine is more efficient at higher revs and I am trying to accelerate, not maintain speed). In slow traffic and high gear it has sufficient torque to be adequate (but just barely). However, when combined with a winding uphill road, this strategy does not work well for above speeds. The transmission still thinks <= 1500 RPM is sufficient. It is not. I had to jab the transmission after every turn, because the transmission thought I was driving leisurely on a straight & flat road.
I guess they could modify the code to consider steering wheel position and grade. When going a bit faster, it has no problem holding lower gears.
Now, in the Mazda 3 SkyActiv this does not seem to be a problem. Not sure what's different.

I've just ran an errand via my regular uphill ramp, and paid attention to the gears keeping this post in mind. The car accelerated quickly up the ramp on the first 3 gears, but the third gear was short and it shifted into 4th at around 40mph, which is not enough torque for going uphill, thus slowing the acceleration down. It was pretty obvious as I was right behind the car in front, and then suddenly the gap widened when it shifted into 4th. I had to hold the gas pedal down a bit more asking for more power (not sure exactly how much I stepped in, not really quick jab, just slowly like a normal driver would). This is the only complain I have for the trans, and only for going uphill. On a flat road, the shift point into 4th is good.

I agree that Mazda could tweak the code to consider grade and delay shifting into 4th when going uphill. They've done it for AWD on snowy hill, they should do the same for this scenario.

 

[MikeM.]

Also by that logic I should be able to go full throttle without down shift a single gear

This has already been covered. The last bit of throttle travel isn't for throttle but for maximum downshift and holding each gear to redline. You can go maximum throttle without downshifting and you don't need to floor the accelerator to achieve that. It has throttle by wire.

I never knew automatics were so mysterious to so many people. I'm just glad Mazda has solved the unintended downshift problem that autos have been saddled with since they first became available. And I'm sorry a few people don't want progress. They want it to shift just like an automatic on any car from the 1990's. Yeah, that's the ticket! Because I already know how to drive those, warts and all.

Seriously, it took me about 15 minutes on a twisty, hilly road to figure out the 6AT and it was a revelation.

 

[Lbear]

Car & Driver - April 2016 issue:


"Running quotidian chores, it purrs quietly, and the transmission is all but invisible until you push the SPORT BUTTON. Seemingly programmed by the Mazda's unemployed ex-Le Mans team, it makes the 6 hellbent for lap times, holding gears longer and executing rapid-fire downshifts under braking."

"Sport Mode brings out its inner F1 car"

 

[Lbear]

It has been reported and it's official now. Unobtanium has won the 2016 Curmudgeon of the Year Award for Mazda247. (first)

Congrats to Unobtanium! He really deserves the Curmudgeon of the Year. He worked hard for it!

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

(hand)

 

[Unobtanium]

Car & Driver - April 2016 issue:


"Running quotidian chores, it purrs quietly, and the transmission is all but invisible until you push the SPORT BUTTON. Seemingly programmed by the Mazda's unemployed ex-Le Mans team, it makes the 6 hellbent for lap times, holding gears longer and executing rapid-fire downshifts under braking."

"Sport Mode brings out its inner F1 car"

If there’s one change for 2016 that could use fine-tuning, it’s the new Sport mode setting for the drivetrain. The spread between Normal (default) and Sport drive modes is too aggressive for a family CUV, as if it were a jump from another automaker’s Eco to Sport+ settings. Using Mazda’s Sport mode results in considerably higher rpm and lower gears than expected, and it can linger way too long between 3000 and 4000 rpm at part throttle when just cruising around.

More like the above.

http://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-5

 

[StealthWyvern]

For me it is a minor annoyance as well. However, it is mostly when driving uphill and only in slow speeds, including 30~45 MPH. Now, I don't drive this kind of road often at all. On a flat road it is not a big deal at all and in-fact might be beneficial, assuming it saves me gas (not sure it does - the engine is more efficient at higher revs and I am trying to accelerate, not maintain speed). In slow traffic and high gear it has sufficient torque to be adequate (but just barely). However, when combined with a winding uphill road, this strategy does not work well for above speeds. The transmission still thinks <= 1500 RPM is sufficient. It is not. I had to jab the transmission after every turn, because the transmission thought I was driving leisurely on a straight & flat road.
I guess they could modify the code to consider steering wheel position and grade. When going a bit faster, it has no problem holding lower gears.
Now, in the Mazda 3 SkyActiv this does not seem to be a problem. Not sure what's different.

I sometime drive a Civic with 5AT. Now, this vehicle has much less torque in low RPM and it is very eager to ensure that when you press the pedal it will give you at least 2500 RPM or so. So, if you drive in stop-and-go traffic and lift the foot of the pedal RPM will drop. When you press it again, it will be hard to avoid 2500 RPM, unless you really make an effort. Unnecessary up-shifts might happen, but it is overall very smooth and quick and I don't see anyone would complain. The upside is that it feels responsive and will quickly accelerate if needed.

Lastly, while I don't work for the automotive industry, it is well known that if most/many people think that your product is hard to use/not pleasant to use, even if it is because they don't know how to use it to its full potential and it is all "working as intended", it is still your problem to fix. It could be that some minimal driver hints could help, but it could also be that you need to get back at the drawing board and think of how to best capture users' intent and make your users happy.

Now that you mention it. I would say I hit that dead spot mainly on the merge ramps for highways so that might of been apart of the eqasion to the issues I had.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Unobtanium]

Now that you mention it. I would say I hit that dead spot mainly on the merge ramps for highways so that might of been apart of the eqasion to the issues I had.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Never EVER had an on-ramp issue. Sounds like you need to press the skinny pedal with more authority is all. Maybe you could install a lighter pedal return spring or something.

 

[StealthWyvern]

Never EVER had an on-ramp issue. Sounds like you need to press the skinny pedal with more authority is all. Maybe you could install a lighter pedal return spring or something.

And run into the people in front of me I think not. I live in the old folk state where everyone just about merges 20-30 under the speed limit at peak hours.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Unobtanium]

And run into the people in front of me I think not. I live in the old folk state where everyone just about merges 20-30 under the speed limit at peak hours.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

So what you're saying is, if you went any faster, it would be bad...but you're not going fast enough?

 

[StealthWyvern]

So what you're saying is, if you went any faster, it would be bad...but you're not going fast enough?

Yes, going much faster and hitting the slow car in front of you would be considered a bad idea. When your in traffic your often times limited to the conditiins of the traffic infront of you.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Unobtanium]

Yes, going much faster and hitting the slow car in front of you would be considered a bad idea. When your in traffic your often times limited to the conditiins of the traffic infront of you.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

So what exactly are you complaining about? I am missing it.

 

[StealthWyvern]

So what exactly are you complaining about? I am missing it.

The Trans tune slightly bogs down under certain conditions.

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[Unobtanium]

The Trans tune slightly bogs down under certain conditions.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Under extremely light throttle where it thinks you're just speeding up slightly, or the street is at a very mild incline, yes. I hate junk transmissions that shift all the damn time for things like that. Let me ask for it. Don't just shuffle constantly.

 

[StealthWyvern]

Under extremely light throttle where it thinks you're just speeding up slightly, or the street is at a very mild incline, yes. I hate junk transmissions that shift all the damn time for things like that. Let me ask for it. Don't just shuffle constantly.

I've never driven an automatic car that shifts constantly. My issue is the delay or not wanting to shift down a single gear in most automatics. If it wasn't for my wife the only auto I would have is in my 8k+ lb truck.

If Mazda can find a fine balance between the sport and the regular mode it would be perfect. However with all that out of the way I think I would of still traded in my cx5 due to the size of the back seat.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[Unobtanium]

I've never driven an automatic car that shifts constantly. My issue is the delay or not wanting to shift down a single gear in most automatics. If it wasn't for my wife the only auto I would have is in my 8k+ lb truck.

If Mazda can find a fine balance between the sport and the regular mode it would be perfect. However with all that out of the way I think I would of still traded in my cx5 due to the size of the back seat.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Mine shifts wonderfully. Does exactly what I ask of it, just like my manuals have.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

That was in reference to driving around programming put in place from the factory. The Mazdaspeed protg only comes in stick shift but same point about driving around Mazda's factory programming. You can make it do things the programming wasn't originally designed to do, in this case shift where it normally wouldn't shift with its programming. I'm not saying its hard to adapt to by any means. I fully understand you can MAKE it shift. The CX5 was literally the only mazda I've driven where you had to make it shift so it didn't bog down. Now let me clear this up it bogs down but nothing way overkill like 5th gear at 10mph. My CX5 would literally go into 4th or 5th gear and bog down ever so slightly from 20mph till about 25mph and then get a steady increase of power till about 30mph. The same from 30-40mph but that wasn't as often nor as bad. It realy depended on how you took off from a light. If I had miss daisy in front I was almost certain to hit that dead zone in the transmission where the car didn't want to shift. If I was solo or first at the light I never had that issue but rush hour it was almost daily. yes, I could "make" it shift and not bog down but who wants to do that daily and often on 1 way into work. If I wanted to "make" it shift I would of just gotten a stick shift(which I would of gotten if the car was primarily for me). I don't think you will ever see my point, and obviously you think im a idiot because I don't agree with "making" it shift.

Hmm, first off, you read way too much into my first post. It wasn't a referendum on you, just my experience of going from mostly stick shifts to a highly modern automatic. I agreed with MikeM on how easy it was for me to adapt to the skyactive tranny.

And the comment about idiots was in reference to other sports car owners I knew who abused and ruined their expensive toys.

 

[CX5_Pete]

This has become such an interesting thread.