This was super informative. Thank you. I'm in Richmond and we just had a few inches of snow. I thought the CX-5 did fine with the standard tires, but I drive pretty slowly in snow. If I ever move someplace up north again, snow tires will definitely be on the list.

 

I've had mine through a few snowstorms and really can't complain. Is this your first AWD? Where the value of AWD comes in is driving up snowy or muddy slopes and then not getting stuck when you come to a stop on an unplowed road. Once your driving over 30mph there isn't a lot of benefit. I've driven Subaru and Ford AWD's in the snow and they're pretty much the same as the Mazda.

 

With conti tires, my cx5 had no problem with 8" of snow. I also drove it in the mountains ( Sierra Nevada) and it had brake and accelerated quite well.

 

I live in Alberta, Canada, and its been amazing in the snow and ice so far. my experience is quite the opposite from the OP. I have the 2016 AWD model with all seasons. I had a 2004 explorer sport trac 4x4 before, and I feel safer in the CX5 for snow driving.

 

So far my '16 GT AWD on hakkapeliittas has been unstoppable and unflappable. Has been a crappy winter but even up near the ski mountains I haven't even felt it slip once. It seems to me that the OP kept wanting to say that it was the vehicles fault and wouldn't address the fact that he was using the wrong tire for where he lives.

And Subies are good winter vehicles, but not at a level that people want to make them out to be.

 

So your telling us that you bought a brand new vehicle and then took off the perfectly good stock all season tires and put on Hakkapeliittas????



Good for you. Smart man. After investing north of 30K in a car it is strange economy that won't spend another $700 to $1000 to protect that vehicle and the occupants from a accident. plus driving a CX-5 in new snow on good tires is FUN.

Zoom Zoom.

 

Totally agree! It's like complaining about your latest XYZ running shoes while using them on an ice skating rink.

 

This is the type of conclusions from people that believe cars are just accesories in their life style... Everybody asked, but you never replied on what tires was your CX-5 on. All-seasons? Hmmm... most probably due to your messages.

I was born and raised in a country with temperatures, year around, of 20°C+ but the first thing I did after arriving into Canada was to read about winter tires and the REAL NEED for them when temperature drops below 7°C. Anyway, with the Blizzaks DM-V1, my CX-5 just loves winter.

 

Brand new CX3 Grand Touring edition ( all the extras) and the first snowfall this morning had me freaking out about how crap it drives!
Not even a major storm. Less than an inch

Less than half an inch even...and I'm skidding every turn unless slowing down to 2 mph.

Almost rear ended a few cars too while driving maybe 25 mph city streets and coming to lights.

Wow. I thought AWD ON DEMAND MEANS IT KICKS IN AUTOMATICALLY?

NEW YOKOHAMA TIRES (all season mind you, however my previous Nissan Versa drove in snow better with 3 year old SUMMER TIRES . I'm not even kidding .

I immediately looked online to check if I'm supposed to CLICK SOME BUTTON or something.

Anyone...?

The only way I'm not hitting **** is I have paddle shifting , manual option. So I'm using my gears to help slow the car and stay grippy around corners.

Weird. Tell me I'm dumb and doing something wrong and ill GLADLY AGREE AND WRITE
:IM SORRY IM DUMB AND BLAMED MY CX3" on the chalk board 100 times after classes!
I'll accept punishing online comments about how I jumped the gun and was mean to my car in public.

JUST TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON and why my 1 year old nice AWD car cant handle snow? Btw ..yes I'm a chick...but YES I CAN DRIVE WELL. I've raced motorbikes, taken track courses...and am not meek and feeble-weeble.

Anyone.....?


Bueller.....?

Anyone.................??

 

The only input I have is.either Garage the car for the Winter and drive a "beater" like I did when I lived in Minnesota or get rid of those factory Yokohama tires and get some real all season tires like Bridgestone or Michelin's would be my advise. Also check your tire pressures. Anything above 32lbs on ice and snow is asking for trouble. We're Cx-5er's in here so maybe try the CX-3 forum. It is a different weight class after all. From my own experience; any light, FWD car (Ford Escort station wagon, VW Golf GTI) that I put Goodyear Eagles on, tracked through ice and snow like a polar bear. I think it's those tires. Your in Canada for Pete's sake! Get a set of inexpensive steel rims and mount Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires on them and run those in the snow. I don't think it's the car. Everything your asking the car to do is communicated through the tire's. My CX-5 came with Yokohama's. Just because a tire has tread on it doesn't mean it's any good. Those aren't even good rain tires...