Do you have any experience with driving standard shift vehicles? I ask because the best "performance" i feel with the 2017 CX5 for me is when I click off traction control, flip on sport mode, and slide the shifter to the left and drive the vehicle like a standard shift. I can then mimic driving a higher revving standard shift 4 cylinder, shifting when I know the shift point is at it's point of advantage. My experience in this driving mode came from driving 5 speed manual tranny mazda 2 seaters from 1984 to 2010. You get that feel of the shift points either up or down depending upon road configuration, whether it be winding out the motor when entering a freeway ramp or up or down shifting on a winding, hilly road. I hit the downshift going into the turn, the engine rpms increase, add a little throttle and then more in exiting the turn and then hit the upshift at the right time. With the flattening suspension of the CX5, response feels pretty good.