I was watching trials of CX-5 engine startup on Japanese TV a while back (I was there during a particularly cold winter, so it was note worthy TV). The change to a higher compression required a change to the way the engine started cold and it seems as if they solved the problem, at least in laboratory conditions.
It is completely unlike any other engine on the market due to the high compression and required a re-think for cold startups.
Japanese have cold enough weather with which to test with, but although the Japanese have very high snowfalls, Japanese temperatures do not drop to the extremes found in the US and Canada.
The Japanese are also lucky in that their massive snowfalls are typically powder due to the Russian wind. It barely feels cold or wet. You could be in the middle of a Japanese snow storm, and the CX-5 would never have the start issues found in the US/Canada.
Japan in winter is far too pleasant despite metres, and metres of snow to cause too much of an issue.
If one is going to test a vehicle, the US and Canada (and possibly Siberia) are perfect for cold weather start tests.
I suspect they would have done many tests in Russia, given the proximity to Japan and Russia eventually producing domestic CX-5's there.
Unfortunately I can't comment where I am. We're getting closer to winter in Australia, but we consider freezing to be about 9C (48F). The coldest I've ever experienced in Sydney is not too far below this. Furthermore, I'll have different cold start issues having a diesel compared to the petrol.