New CX-5 Owner - AWD question

[Nikyret]

This is my first full winter in my 2024 Carbon Edition, and first time with AWD. Previous car was a FWD 2006 Mazda3. Sometimes when I'm pulling out on to a snowy road, the CX5 fishtails, like it's a rear wheel drive.

Does anyone know if there's more power suppied to the rear wheels (e.g. 30 front, 70 rear)?

Can this be adjusted?

Any driving tips for this issue? It's kind of fun at times but on long curves, I'm afriad to give it gas because I don't want it to fishtail. Thank you!

 

[N7turbo]

The max torque split is 50/50 and it is automatic based on steering angle, windshield wiper use, throttle position, inclination, and other things.

It's interesting to me that you've fishtailed. Usually I just push sideways toward the edge of the road because it's so slippery that turning doesn't do anything

 

[SimpleCanuck]

Loaded question: Are you using winter tires, or 3-seasons (especially if they are the OEM's)?

 

[a69mach1377]

OP, did you try the driving mode designed for these conditions?

 

[N7turbo]

OP, did you try the driving mode designed for these conditions?

What would that be?

 

[GFrosty]

Loaded question: Are you using winter tires, or 3-seasons (especially if they are the OEM's)?

That was my first thought: tires.

"while pulling out on a snowy road ... fishtailing"

Got to have tires appropriate for the conditions. And snow/ice/crud can seriously challenge the grip of the factory-supplied tires on the CX-series vehicles. No feature of a car can easily compensate for tires that aren't up to the situation in question.

Assuming a CX-5 with AWD and the traction-control system engaged, the car ought to perform quite well on sketchy surfaces ... assuming the tires themselves are well-suited for those conditions.

My own vehicle: 2016 CX-5 AWD GT. Past 5yrs, the Nokian WR G4 all-weather tire; the past 6mos, the Nokian AW02 all-weather tire. Driven in all sorts of conditions, including down to nearly 0ºF, on ice, snow, sleet, mixed crud, rain, hot/dry up to 100ºF. With AWD + TCS, the tires are hard to break loose, unless I'm using far too much throttle for the conditions.

 

[clownshoes2]

Michelin Defender II's on my 2017 CX-5 and I can get it to cut loose. Similar to the above, you gotta hammer it a bit in order get the rear end to come out.

 

[N7turbo]

Here the snow packs down into hard ice after a couple of days and there is no tire that can get adequate traction on that.

 

[RedBaron]

there is no tire that can get adequate traction on that.

Well... there's always: What Are Studded Tires And Are They Worth Buying? - SlashGear

 

[N7turbo]

Probably not legal here, especially where you leave one uncleared area of town and you're on a main road which was cleared before it froze.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I’ve had great traction and stopping distances over the years with my Blizzaks on compact snow and ice. I travel a snowy mountain pass almost every weekend in the winter.

 

[a69mach1377]

Besides tires, does the Mi-drive mode selection for trail or 4wd help much? I thought that's why the button is there...
I guess what the mode is called can differ amongst models.

 

[N7turbo]

Nah that's for getting unstuck. Not driving normally.

 

[GFrosty]

Besides tires, does the Mi-drive mode selection for trail or 4wd help much? I thought that's why the button is there...
I guess what the mode is called can differ amongst models.

Check the Owners Manual for the 2024 CX-5 (pp 4-115 to 4-119), where the Mi-Drive and i-Active AWD is described.

Owners – Manuals, Guides, Maintenance Schedules

View vehicle resources including maintenance schedules, owner's manuals, and navigation and Bluetooth information.

www.mazdausa.com

From the manual of the 2024 model the OP has:

Off-road mode:​

​

This mode helps prevent drive-wheel spinning during off-road driving and improves driving performance. And this mode also assists in freeing tires that are stuck. Use this mode to drive the vehicle on slippery roads such as muddy, sandy, or deep-snowy roads.​

​

The section on Mi-Drive and iActiv-AWD is short and well worth reading through.

Basically, many of the CX-5 models have the "Sport" mode switch, allowing either "Sport" or "Normal" modes. In the 2024 (and others), an additional option was added called "Off-Road" mode.

On my own 2016.5 CX-5, it's got "Sport" and "Normal" modes. "Sport" loses some of the sketchy-surface control that normally, everyday driving generally handles well enough. In your model, the added "Off-Road" mode might handle slippery surfaces better than normal mode does. Myself, I find that I'm able to over-drive the car in most any condition, if I push hard enough, drive sufficiently beyond the conditions to give more power or sharper steering input than is called for. Including fish-tailing, which is particularly easy to accomplish when my tires are aging (not necessarily down on tread depth), have heat-cycled too many times and are getting harder, or the tire's compound and tread capabilities are beyond the road situation's grip called for. But, overall, if I drive a bit more gingerly when the roads are frosty, sandy, snowy or icy, the car's AWD usually copes rather well.

 

[N7turbo]

Basically, many of the CX-5 models have the "Sport" mode switch, allowing either "Sport" or "Normal" modes. In the 2024 (and others), an addition option was added called "Off-Road" mode.

2022+

But yeah, for the conditions they cited, it's to use under about 20 mph. Think, really plowing through some tough terrain. But not general driving.

 

[Tolson429]

All 4 wheel drive vehicles will fish tail if you are over aggressive with a turn. The rear is lightest part of the car.

 

[N7turbo]

The AWD CX-5 is close to 50/50 front/rear weight.

 

[asa3066]

This is my first full winter in my 2024 Carbon Edition, and first time with AWD. Previous car was a FWD 2006 Mazda3. Sometimes when I'm pulling out on to a snowy road, the CX5 fishtails, like it's a rear wheel drive.

Does anyone know if there's more power suppied to the rear wheels (e.g. 30 front, 70 rear)?

Can this be adjusted?

Any driving tips for this issue? It's kind of fun at times but on long curves, I'm afriad to give it gas because I don't want it to fishtail. Thank you!

Speed, ambient temps, speed and angles all play a part. We have a couple of CX-5's as company cars. I drove one with brand new Blizzaks during our last storm just to test them. Blizzaks are rated near top of snow tire ratings. I did get the car to slide and fishtail until I corrected. By comparison, I have Michelin CC2's on my personal 2025 CX-5 Turbo and wife's Crosstrek and they perform extremely well--but not perfectly. Fact is even the best tires, AWD system and driver can still be overcome by the weather and operator error. You should find an open parking lot during the next stint of bad weather and play with what your car and tires can handle. This is my second CX-5 and maybe my last if the redesign sucks. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Lazy2.5]

The AWD CX-5 is close to 50/50 front/rear weight.

No it is not. Dude. that is inaccurate and completely impossible.

A crossover with it's entire drivetrain suspended over the front axle, and nothing but a drive axle over the rear wheels cannot physically be 50/50. We actually discussed this before with other members here: (My Review of a 2024 CX-5 Turbo)

Until we see someone physically weigh each corner and confirm, I am going to go with approx. 55/45.

 

[cz5gt]

may be for the non-turbo base model with added hitch. But the Turbo is at least 100+ lbs more in front, the hood is super heavy as well vs rear door plus there is nothing in the rear.
I dont see how it could be 50/50. Probably more of a marketing thing.

The car road behavior feels like more heavy in front for sure.