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- 2023 CX-5 Premium; 2018 Mazda 3 GT hatch
The usual reason is snow skiing in the Sierras.
wish I had got a mazda 6
- Thread starter bhai
- Start date
Correct. On a snowstorm in the sierra, Caltrans will typically require you to chain-up unless you have 4WD/AWD (but mud+snow all-season tires are sufficient for them).
This is the first vehicle I own which powers all wheels. Unfortunately, choice is significantly reduced when you are looking for a vehicle like that.
It's been over 4 years now w/ NO SNOW!
I live at the foot of the North shore of Lake Tahoe (actually NW Reno) and I can surely vouch for that! Have lived here for over 30 years and have NEVER been able to be without AWD / 4 WD! When I got a wild hair and bought a Porsche (mid 80's) and a Mini Cooper (early 90's), I still had to own something that had 4 wheel drive! It has cost me plenty just being equipped to live here (about 800 ft above the Valley floor). I still wouldn't trade it for anything.
My last vehicle before buying the CX-5 in this April was a 2013 Subaru Outback which was great in the heavy stuff (when you could find it!!)
The Mazda CX-5 is a bit of an experiment for me, since I understand it does NOT have a very robust 4x4 system compared to some. If it gets bad (haven't seen it bad in better than 4 years), you need 4 wheel drive just to get out of the side street that I live on. If it really gets bad, I can always use the snowblower to clear out my driveway and cul de sac... LOL.
It will be interesting, if we do get a more typical winter, to see how the CX-5 handles it. It will not have to see anything really heavy, but it has not been that unusual to see a few feet piled up on the side roads!
This thread is reminding me to begin looking around at snow tires and steelies in case I need to make that decision. Winters being as they have been, it turned out to be a poor investment the past few years. Damn...19" Tires and wheels on this puppy...will probably look into 17's instead. Of course, you still can't win, since even in the worst of winters, most of the main roads are dry and snows are not needed.
I live at the foot of the North shore of Lake Tahoe (actually NW Reno) and I can surely vouch for that! Have lived here for over 30 years and have NEVER been able to be without AWD / 4 WD! When I got a wild hair and bought a Porsche (mid 80's) and a Mini Cooper (early 90's), I still had to own something that had 4 wheel drive! It has cost me plenty just being equipped to live here (about 800 ft above the Valley floor). I still wouldn't trade it for anything.
My last vehicle before buying the CX-5 in this April was a 2013 Subaru Outback which was great in the heavy stuff (when you could find it!!)
The Mazda CX-5 is a bit of an experiment for me, since I understand it does NOT have a very robust 4x4 system compared to some. If it gets bad (haven't seen it bad in better than 4 years), you need 4 wheel drive just to get out of the side street that I live on. If it really gets bad, I can always use the snowblower to clear out my driveway and cul de sac... LOL.
It will be interesting, if we do get a more typical winter, to see how the CX-5 handles it. It will not have to see anything really heavy, but it has not been that unusual to see a few feet piled up on the side roads!
This thread is reminding me to begin looking around at snow tires and steelies in case I need to make that decision. Winters being as they have been, it turned out to be a poor investment the past few years. Damn...19" Tires and wheels on this puppy...will probably look into 17's instead. Of course, you still can't win, since even in the worst of winters, most of the main roads are dry and snows are not needed.
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Friend's son lives at Walnut Creek and he bought an CX-5 GT AWD for exactly the same reason: skiing in Lake Tahoe!
Been in Lake Tahoe area skiing three times and I love the scenery there! I envy you guys live in Lake Tahoe area enjoying your excellent life! (and can get to the trails for skiing within minutes or hours in winter!)
You have a common misconception if you think severe winter conditions require AWD but not winter tires. You have it backwards. As a very experienced winter driver I can say without reservation that winter tires offer much more advantage than just AWD. Not even a close comparison. I would MUCH rather be in a FWD with winter tires than AWD without winter tires. AWD is of limited use in bad conditions with all-season radials.
Chris_Top_Her
Contributor
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- San Antonio, Texas
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- '15 CX-5 Miata AWD
Awd is nice for sporty driving too
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- Plano, Texas, USA
Nobody is denying snow tires are better for snowing or icy road conditions than AWD alone. But many areas the road condition is mostly dry during winter time. For areas with occasional snowing or icy condition in winter months, having an AWD with all-season tires makes more sense and is more convenient than changing to snow tires each winter. It's a waste of money and the performance and fuel efficiency will suffer to use snow tires on the dry road. And the AWD does have the advantage to adapt bad road conditions instantaneously even with all-weather tires. AWD helps handling too. To me, an AWD with all-weather tires is a lot more convenient and useful than changing to snow tires each winter and hope there is full of snow or ice on the ground in our area or for people live in Bay area for occasional skiing at lake Tahoe.
Not trying to pick a fight with you but in my opinion its also a waste of money and a fuel efficiency penalty to buy a vehicle with AWD that would hardly actually need it. The CX5 AWD SUV cant match the CX5 FWD in fuel economy (2 city 3 highway EPA for 2.5), weighs more by 156 lbs (2.5), cost more to insure, cost more to maintain, and costs more to buy (around $1300 for mid level Touring).
Owning a FWD CX5 Touring myself with some pretty nasty snowy winters lately I can say that even with good all season tires (snow tires are best as Mike pointed out) that its very capable still (I drive 30k miles a year). If you're not dealing with large hills or deep snow than purchasing AWD might not be a wise choice when making the dollars and cents argument. Its also worth noting that some winter tires are also very good even without snow because their softer rubber compounds grip better in the cold even with dry conditions.
For me, the AWD is primarily to satisfy Caltrans requirements and avoid chains when going on a ski-trip in the Tahoe area.
I believe 2011 was the last year, AFAIK, when there was actual snow on the road in *one* of these trips, even then, the main roads are plowed frequently and quickly and, for me, only at most ~15% of the way is in an area where some snow has accumulated, at least on the side of the road. On most trips, the roads are completely dry.
Other, less important reasons for AWD are being able to drive out of the parking lot at the ski-resort with greater ease (with FWD, this was not a problem for years) and having some fun in turns.
Of course, I am aware of the danger and have seen cars in the ditch or overturned. Most of them were pickups with 4WD. There is a short section of the road (highway 88, just before Kirkwood), which not only is an avalanche zone, but is often covered in ice in the mornings. I always cross it with extreme caution, being aware that my AWD will not help me there.
While I appreciate the utility of the CX-5, I would not buy one if not for its AWD. I drove sedans most of my life and, while I prefer wagons, we can manage just fine with a sedan 99% of the time. So, if skiing wasn't my thing, I'd probably get a sedan, e.g. a Mazda 6, and save at purchase time + at the pump and be happy with it. We already own a Mazda 3 and IMHO it is more fun to drive then the CX-5, cheaper to buy and gets better gas millage and it is a hatchback. Of course, every vehicle is a compromise and the 3 is not perfect (low to the ground backseat, with less thigh support with small door opening, a bit more difficult to get out from the back, smaller cargo volume, more road noise).
In 2012 I almost bought an Impreza, but also considered the Legacy and Forester. I waited a year when I learned the Impreza had an oil consumption issue and could not get my self to get a boring Legacy or a 4AT equipped Forester.
I believe 2011 was the last year, AFAIK, when there was actual snow on the road in *one* of these trips, even then, the main roads are plowed frequently and quickly and, for me, only at most ~15% of the way is in an area where some snow has accumulated, at least on the side of the road. On most trips, the roads are completely dry.
Other, less important reasons for AWD are being able to drive out of the parking lot at the ski-resort with greater ease (with FWD, this was not a problem for years) and having some fun in turns.
Of course, I am aware of the danger and have seen cars in the ditch or overturned. Most of them were pickups with 4WD. There is a short section of the road (highway 88, just before Kirkwood), which not only is an avalanche zone, but is often covered in ice in the mornings. I always cross it with extreme caution, being aware that my AWD will not help me there.
While I appreciate the utility of the CX-5, I would not buy one if not for its AWD. I drove sedans most of my life and, while I prefer wagons, we can manage just fine with a sedan 99% of the time. So, if skiing wasn't my thing, I'd probably get a sedan, e.g. a Mazda 6, and save at purchase time + at the pump and be happy with it. We already own a Mazda 3 and IMHO it is more fun to drive then the CX-5, cheaper to buy and gets better gas millage and it is a hatchback. Of course, every vehicle is a compromise and the 3 is not perfect (low to the ground backseat, with less thigh support with small door opening, a bit more difficult to get out from the back, smaller cargo volume, more road noise).
In 2012 I almost bought an Impreza, but also considered the Legacy and Forester. I waited a year when I learned the Impreza had an oil consumption issue and could not get my self to get a boring Legacy or a 4AT equipped Forester.
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- Mazdaspeed6
AWD is fine and good for winters...I guess. I have little experience there. But, where it really shines is on a performance platform. And if it's a decent enough system, it'll deliver enough TQ to the rear to get you sideways, but you've still got power up front to pull you out of lateral motion.
The current 6 configuration would be boring with AWD. We need another MS6. I'd be first in line for one.
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The current 6 configuration would be boring with AWD. We need another MS6. I'd be first in line for one.
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- Mazdaspeed6
Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?
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- 2021 CX-9 Sig
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- 2021 CX-5 GT
Agree 100%. I would buy that car in a heartbeat.
With that said, the 6 is a really nice car - but it can't hold my mountain bike inside.
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- Mazdaspeed6
But, it can up top!
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2016MAZDACX5
Member
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- 2016 Mazda X-5
I agree
