CX-5 AWD snow performance

We had 6-8" last night here in Chicago.
Most of the roads were not plowed clean, probably packed 1-2" of snow left.
I did fine coming into work. Tried to be the 1st car at the light so I can get ahead of everyone.
At one light the right lane wasn't plowed, prob +4" & I went through it fine. Just eased off the gas & let it plow through.
Was passing on the right lane as everyone was driving on the left, more plowed lane.
I'm satisfied with the AWD in the CX-5. It's not the most capable but it does what I need it to do.
Drive through some unplowed or unclean roads during snow storms.
Plus it gets at least 26mpg, all local driving in the summer. Not bad for an AWD CUV.
 
I've just made a week-end on the Dolomites. I didn't enjoy very much, because I went there trying to ski, but it was always snowing and the ski-slopes weren't in good condition. There was about 1,5m of snow in the village (Sesto/Sexten) and more than 2,5 on the slopes. I've never seen so much snow!
The only positive thing was my CX-5 behavior on the snowy roads. I made the only open road to reach the hotel (two other passes were closed) but I drove up and down as I was on railways...
Here are some photos:

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I was really happy how the CX-5 reacted!
 

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cjecpa said:
I was looking at the Outback but comments I have read is the car is excellent up to 100k but after that the repairs begin. In addition I was looking at the Forester XT but in their forum have read issues with hard starts, heater, some with steering, maybe oil consumption,etc and this is in the first year of ownership. Seems to be accepted I really need a reliable vehicle to handle the occasional snow storm.
Click to expand...

Mine had issues that occurred right at the warranty would expire. The rear diff went about 10K after the warranty. Same with the catalytic convertor. Same with the transmission. The actual maintenance was expensive as well (I did it at the dealer for the most part). Loved the car but it it was killing me. Started having crazy electrical issues and got ride of it.
 
Excellent! Thanks for posting photos! I love big snow and the photos remind me of a typical early season dump at my local mountain.

loximoto said:
I've just made a week-end on the Dolomites. I didn't enjoy very much, because I went there trying to ski, but it was always snowing and the ski-slopes weren't in good condition. There was about 1,5m of snow in the village (Sesto/Sexten) and more than 2,5 on the slopes. I've never seen so much snow!
Click to expand...

This makes no sense to me? Always snowing and ski slopes not in good condition?

You need appropriate clothing and good goggles with flat-light capability (I like very light green to light yellow-green lenses) and it helps to be familiar with the terrain you are on.

Those are conditions that powder hounds will purchase last minute air fare for! Priceless.

Glad the CX-5 performed superbly in the snow for you with no worries - that has been my experience every time I enter the winter wonderland.
 
MikeM. said:
Excellent! Thanks for posting photos! I love big snow and the photos remind me of a typical early season dump at my local mountain.



This makes no sense to me? Always snowing and ski slopes not in good condition?

You need appropriate clothing and good goggles with flat-light capability (I like very light green to light yellow-green lenses) and it helps to be familiar with the terrain you are on.

Those are conditions that powder hounds will purchase last minute air fare for! Priceless.

Glad the CX-5 performed superbly in the snow for you with no worries - that has been my experience every time I enter the winter wonderland.
Click to expand...

3 meters of fresh snow in one weekend, huge avalanche risks due to large changes in temperature, poor visibility closing many resorts, cancelling the world cup race and olympic training....all you need are yellow lenses, Priceless!

Good luck paying the Rega Helicopter once it gets you back to a hospital!



http://usskiteam.com/news/weather-cancels-alpine-world-cups

http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/tessin/story/25718037#showid=90409&index=1
 
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I never thought I'd ever say out loud that I agree with MikeM in front of you all, but I agree with MikeM about the snow conditions! I'd be that guy buying airfare to catch some of that powder! Crossing my fingers for good conditions in Killington here in Feb. The CX-5 handled wonderfully in at least 12 inches of snow, but the roads were mostly hard pack. Had stock 19s and Toyos on at the time. Now have aftermarket 18x8 Enkeis and Continental Purecontacts w/ EcoPlus. So far they've been excelent as well, but it's hard to really tell a major difference between them and the toyos. We don't have much worry for avalanches on the east coast though.
 
We got 12" today and I headed for work right after it ended with my FWD Touring and the stock Yokohama Geolandar G91 17" tires with over 15,000 miles on them. The streets and highways were still snow covered but plowed and I had no trouble maintaining 50-55 mph on the highway and getting around. There was one new Jeep Cherokee 4*4 that blazed by me and when it was about 500' ahead of me it almost wiped out. I watched two other vehicles blow by me and almost crash too. These all-season tires may suck for noise but they do pretty good in the snow.
 
Tires are everything, MikeM is right, it's all about tire choice. I used to venture off road quite a bit in Fort Drum N.Y. and while my HMMWV (Humvee) was ALMOST unstoppable off road it was an elephant on ice skates with just a little road ice. The heavy lugged tires were great for digging in sand , mud, or heavy snow but worthless on an slick road.
 
My take is that CX- is great in slick icy roads , on highways - Traveling in straight line. In slush and in quick ( 15 miles/hr) turns it still fish tails with my nokians . Could not figure out why . Probably it's too light.!
 
Too light! My best snow car was a fiat uno, weighed about 2000lb!

Winter tyres perform better on dry road under 7 degrees C, due to he rubber compound. That's their main purpose. They help on snow and ice too but they are not miracle tyres!
 
Not exactly a profound example of snow performance...... but there was a Corolla that couldn't get out of my buildings parking lot this morning - just couldn't get traction up the slope in the fresh snow. The CX-5 AWD powered up and out without the slightest hint of drama.
 
Beefy said:
Not exactly a profound example of snow performance...... but there was a Corolla that couldn't get out of my buildings parking lot this morning - just couldn't get traction up the slope in the fresh snow. The CX-5 AWD powered up and out without the slightest hint of drama.
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AWD definitely helps but it's the tires that really make the difference. If that Corolla had proper snow tires I bet it would have traversed that terrain just fine.
 
Ok so I am sooooo probably not someone to post in this thread but I will anyway.

First, I am a woman, pushing 40, I don't ski or snowboard anymore (thought I still love to surf in the summers), I drive my beloved CX5 from work to home mostly. Oh, and I live in NJ, which is basically flat, even though I learned to drive in New England. And I only got AWD because I wanted my car right away and in blue.

We have gotten storm after storm here at the Jersey Shore. Roads have been 2-4 inches of packed ice and snow, consistently. People literally lose their minds when we have snow on the ground here but that is for another thread. And I have the stock, tires that came with my GT (I don't even know what kind they are....the shame...).

Now all of those caveats aside, I am blissfully happy with how my CX5 has done in the snow. I have had other FWD suvs, an Audi, and a subaru outback (granted it was awhile ago) and this car does the best in the snow of all of them. I can't get the thing to slip. At first I thought it was great, than just because I wanted to know what it would feel like when it did skid, I started taking corners on empty streets a little faster. Still couldn't get it to fishtail.

I work on Sandy Hook, which is a little barrier peninsula that no one bothers to plow, and due to it being a wild life area they do not salt the road well. About a week ago it was pure ice on the road, and the park service had to escort people in. People I work with had slid all over the place and the only cars to make it into the parking lot were me, and two subaru foresters. So that is the uninformed $0.02 I have to contribute.
 
liza0714 said:
Ok so I am sooooo probably not someone to post in this thread but I will anyway.

First, I am a woman, pushing 40, I don't ski or snowboard anymore (thought I still love to surf in the summers), I drive my beloved CX5 from work to home mostly. Oh, and I live in NJ, which is basically flat, even though I learned to drive in New England. And I only got AWD because I wanted my car right away and in blue.

We have gotten storm after storm here at the Jersey Shore. Roads have been 2-4 inches of packed ice and snow, consistently. People literally lose their minds when we have snow on the ground here but that is for another thread. And I have the stock, tires that came with my GT (I don't even know what kind they are....the shame...).

Now all of those caveats aside, I am blissfully happy with how my CX5 has done in the snow. I have had other FWD suvs, an Audi, and a subaru outback (granted it was awhile ago) and this car does the best in the snow of all of them. I can't get the thing to slip. At first I thought it was great, than just because I wanted to know what it would feel like when it did skid, I started taking corners on empty streets a little faster. Still couldn't get it to fishtail.

I work on Sandy Hook, which is a little barrier peninsula that no one bothers to plow, and due to it being a wild life area they do not salt the road well. About a week ago it was pure ice on the road, and the park service had to escort people in. People I work with had slid all over the place and the only cars to make it into the parking lot were me, and two subaru foresters. So that is the uninformed $0.02 I have to contribute.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the report. Sometimes the "uninformed" reports are the best! I am also with you, in the Mid-atlantic, it has been snow storm after snow storm. I am north of Philly and am very thankful that I upgraded to the CX-5 this year (before the big storms!). So far, I have no complaints
 
I found the Stock Toyo tires terrible. It wouldn't stop on ice and the ass end of the car would keep sliding out when doing a turn. I had to get Winter Tires. I purchase the cheaper Good Year Winter Nordics ($125ea) and they are vastly superior on snow/ice than the Toyos. I’d say it went from 3/10 to a 7/10 on traction.
2014 GT AWD
Winnipeg, Manitoba
 
I have a 2013 Touring AWD and the first thing I did was get rid of the stock yokohamas and I replaced them with 235/65R17 Hankook Dynapro ATM all terrain tires. While they may not rival snow tires in outright grip they are the best solution for all around grip and durability in the summer on gravel fire roads. We have had a record winter here in SW Michigan and my little CX5 is unstoppable with these tires. It also looks a little tougher than the run of the mill CX5 with tires, the stock yokos look like they belong on a minivan...
 
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