Observations Comparing My 2016 and 2019 CX-5

[Shortafoot]

Bought my daughter a 2016 Sport(96K miles) that was well maintained by an USAF pilot and a 2019 CX-5 Touring(98K miles) for my wife that was a well maintained single owner car. Both 2.5 NA's.
1. Love the way Mazda placed the oil filter near the oil drain. No oil pouring down the side of the block orfilter under the exhaust manifold. So convenient. Just place the drain pan in one spot and that is that

2. The 2016 without cylinder deactivation drives much smoother. The 2019 just seems to subtly pause or the torque converter unlocks less than smoothly during shifts. It is not real obvious but it is there. Not jerky but seems the computer is confused. I realize they are programmed to shift just above "lugging" to maximize MPG's but I just figured a 2019 would shift more seemlessly. The 2016 does not do this and my theory is that not having cylinder deactivation does this. Anyone else notice this?

3. Sport transmission mode just keeps the engine revving needlessly high when it should shift to a higher gear. I expected it to sharpen shifts a bit but all it seems to do is keep the engine in a lower gear needlessly. Would rather just shift it manumatic mode anyway.

4. Not impressed with the front seats. Not bucket enough. You sit on them and not in them. A far cry from the 2009 CX-9 seats. for sure. Maybe since the seats are so much smaller they couldn't put big bolsters on the sides?

5. Love the way they ride and handle. Still have the "Zoom Zoom" the CX-9 had!

 

[RedBaron]

2. The 2016 without cylinder deactivation drives much smoother. The 2019 just seems to subtly pause or the torque converter unlocks less than smoothly during shifts. It is not real obvious but it is there. Not jerky but seems the computer is confused. I realize they are programmed to shift just above "lugging" to maximize MPG's but I just figured a 2019 would shift more seemlessly. The 2016 does not do this and my theory is that not having cylinder deactivation does this.

Very unlikely to be the CD. That only comes into play in steady state cruising. It's more likely to be the lockup torque converter in the 2019.

 

[N7turbo]

I agree. The TC and/or shift logic could be different. It uses aggressive lockup and doesn't let go until under 10 mph.

Sport transmission mode just keeps the engine revving needlessly high when it should shift to a higher gear. I expected it to sharpen shifts a bit but all it seems to do is keep the engine in a lower gear needlessly. Would rather just shift it manumatic mode anyway.

I agree. It's really only useful if you want some of the manual shifting benefits without actually shifting yourself, but with the trade-off of the transmission never really knowing what you want so it can only do what it's programmed to do. I only use Sport these days for a specific moment, then flip back to Normal. But I'm more likely to just use M.

 

[yrwei52]

Very unlikely to be the CD. That only comes into play in steady state cruising. It's more likely to be the lockup torque converter in the 2019.

IMO it’s all because of the CD. The AT has different design on TC and several other components to fight against vibration caused by CD. See this TSB and hope whoever who has the 2.5L NA with CD that their AT won’t develop this chirp noise problem due to premature wear-out of the single clutch in TC before they unload their vehicle.

2017~2025: CX-5 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 upshift - Bulletin 05-005/23

See post #10 and #22 in above thread by @sinistriel@.

 

[N7turbo]

IMO it’s all because of the CD. The AT has different design on TC and several other components to fight against vibration caused by CD. See this TSB and hope whoever who has the 2.5L NA with CD that their AT won’t develop this chirp noise problem due to premature wear-out of the single clutch in TC before they unload their vehicle.

2017~2025: CX-5 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 upshift - Bulletin 05-005/23

See post #10 and #22 in above thread by @sinistriel@.

He is talking about lockup behavior differences during normal operation. Unless you're saying the change for CD also smoothed out the jerkiness?

 

[yrwei52]

He is talking about lockup behavior differences during normal operation. Unless you're saying the change for CD also smoothed out the jerkiness?

Huh? No, the TC change for CD changed the shift behavior. It actually makes it worse.

⋯
2. The 2016 without cylinder deactivation drives much smoother. The 2019 just seems to subtly pause or the torque converter unlocks less than smoothly during shifts.

 

[N7turbo]

Huh? No, the TC change for CD changed the shift behavior. It actually makes it worse.

The 2019 is second generation, and the second generation also got a turbo engine, which does not have CD. I have that engine/trans and it is very jerky at low speed due to the aggressive lock/unlock of the torque converter. The non-turbo (w/CD) 2020 that I had was a bit smoother than this.

 

[Lazy2.5]

Not impressed with the front seats. Not bucket enough. You sit on them and not in them. A far cry from the 2009 CX-9 seats. for sure. Maybe since the seats are so much smaller they couldn't put big bolsters on the sides?

I agree. It's because the seats are designed for small Japanese people, lol.

 

[wlong01]

The 2019 is second generation, and the second generation also got a turbo engine, which does not have CD. I have that engine/trans and it is very jerky at low speed due to the aggressive lock/unlock of the torque converter. The non-turbo (w/CD) 2020 that I had was a bit smoother than this.

I have 2019 turbo and it's not at all jerky at low speed.

 

[yrwei52]

The 2019 is second generation, and the second generation also got a turbo engine, which does not have CD. I have that engine/trans and it is very jerky at low speed due to the aggressive lock/unlock of the torque converter. The non-turbo (w/CD) 2020 that I had was a bit smoother than this.

OP was comparing a 1st-gen 2016 CX-5 with 2.5L NA and a 2nd-gen 2019 CX-5 with 2.5L NA with CD. He feels the 2016 drives much smoother. This has nothing to do with the AT used on the 2.5T. Why the difference? Because the AT has been modified for the added CD on the 2.5L NA. And the modification could impact its long-term reliability based on the released TSB and the explanation by the transmission expert @sinistriel@. See the link posted above.

 

[N7turbo]

OP was comparing a 1st-gen 2016 CX-5 with 2.5L NA and a 2nd-gen 2019 CX-5 with 2.5L NA with CD. He feels the 2016 drives much smoother. This has nothing to do with the AT used on the 2.5T. Why the difference? Because the AT has been modified for the added CD on the 2.5L NA. And the modification could impact its long-term reliability based on the released TSB and the explanation by the transmission expert @sinistriel@. See the link posted above.

I understand the difference you are citing but there are other variables at play. As mentioned, the programming between the two generations could be different.

 

[N7turbo]

I have 2019 turbo and it's not at all jerky at low speed.

We probably drive different enough roads that you don't encounter it as much. Or the programming changed throughout the years.

 

[Shortafoot]

Observation: From what I have read, cylinder deactivation is of minimal benefit at all when it comes to MPG improvements compared to the issues it causes(Honda V6 infamous #3 cylinder wear, GM V8 oil consumption due to clogged piston rings on deactivated pistons, etc). I'd give up an MPG or two for reliability and durability. Having said that, is there any way to deactivate the cylinder deactivation on my 2019 CX-5? Oh, the 2016 Sport's seats are head and shoulders better than the 2019 Touring's! Waaaaaayyyyyy better! More supportive, seat cushion gives more support, etc. WTH Mazda?