From what I can tell, most of the last run of 2021 CE turbo’s were awd. I was able to locate some non turbo CE fwd in July, but only awd in turbo model. One thing I noticed also is that the red seats were not as available, mostly black/red stitching options at that point.
Also, to anyone considering turbo fwd, I wouldn’t worry too much about putting the power down. I could understand that concern with a track purposed vehicle, but for this application and normal driving the 250 hp/320 torque figures shouldn’t pose any issues unless you’re constantly driving like an asshat and/or on other than dry surfaces primarily. Lots of fwd turbo cars in that power range have been on the market from many different manufacturers for some time now, like the MS3 for example. IMO, the turbo engine should have been the power plant this whole timeat on the CX-5 as it’s always felt a bit underpowered to me.
Well, CX-5's are not all turbos because they want to offer competitive options at a lower price point. They probably sell more non-turbos than turbos. Even with AWD exclusively in 2022, you can get a base Sport at around $28,000 on the sticker. In this day and age where the average new car / light truck sticker has hit $38,000, a CX-5 sport qualifies as an entry level vehicle for a young person making a half decent salary. There's not much money to be made in base models, but that's where brand loyalty gets its start.
Is the current 187 hp 2.5L underpowered for a daily driver? Not in my experience. 0-60 is an indicator but not particularly useful. 8.6 seconds is objectively quite adequate and vs. some 8.0 in a mainstream competitor is not something you'd ever notice unless you're an asshat, to use your phrase, in a vehicle not designed for that manner of driving.
More relevant than 0-60 in daily driving, C&D clocks the turbo at 4.6 seconds 50-70. The only source I know of that provides 187 hp specs of this kind is Consumer Reports and they came up with 5.4 seconds in going 45-65. In these coming-up-the-ramp specs the difference is less than counting to one-one-thousand.
The sensation that the 187 horses in under powered in daily driving, whether coming up the ramp or passing, is because the engine and cabin are quiet under normal conditions but before the pedal hits the floor under hard acceleration it gets LOUD. Keep the pedal going down and there's enough giddy up.
I have several flat smooth two lane blacktops around my house that are often deserted with miles of visibility for cops or somebody entering the road, ideal spots to punch it from 55 mph up to the red line and 85 mph to blow out carbon. That's VERY LOUD, but pretty quick.
As a daily driver, a common complaint is the opposite--uneven shifting in low gears at low RPMs, around the 1500 mark or under. My complaint was lugging in low gears/low RPMs. After having a software TSB applied, the ID number escaping me at the moment, I sometimes get a mild jerk on the upshift instead. I'm happy with that trade-off. Oddly, others have reported the opposite--dropping down a gear when it shouldn't. Regardless, the 2022 is purported to offer smoother shifting. If they pull that off in the 187 hp., that should be #1 on the hit list, not the minor cosmetic changes some folks obsess about.