Those numbers are completely different from the ones found in my manual, go figure, are they just winging it?: 2014_cx-5_manual_en_optimized.pdf

However there is one thing that makes sense to me here, the TTW definition:

TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT: Sum of weights of the trailer and its load.

That's it! That's what I thought it should logically mean. Why does the NA version, at least for the 2014 model (EDIT: I just checked they're all the same up to 2023), have such a weird definition for the TTW?

The total trailer weight (TTW) is the sum of the weights of the trailer load (trailerweight plus cargo), trailer hitch, 2 passengers, and vehicle load (baggage, food, camp gear, etc.).

That sounds more like the GCWR definition no?

 

I'm sure you are right however I don't really care about possible dammage, I'll bite the bullet if it comes to that, I just want to safely make a road trip with a small light travel trailer. Saw some as low as 1300 lb that would fit our needs even though I'm sure with propane, drinking and grey water that number goes up quite a bit. Say + 500 lb. If I can just install aftermarket brakes and controller on the CX5 I will, and maybe a sway prevention system. But I can't even figure out what the freakin manual says about what my absolute safe max is. It is complete nonsense.

 

I am pretty sure that you will drive sensibly with the trailer? That is reduce your speeds and even more so on adverse road and weather conditions. While MAZDA has that somewhat confusing towing schedule, I can tell you that the chassis was NEVER really designed or engineered for towing high weight values. The mid-section has not structurally reenforced so in turns you will be stressing the complete chassis. The suspension as it will work under MAZDA towing schedule but will also be taxed to its limits.
As I mentioned earlier if towing for a long periods with your MAZDA's life you should consider investing in some suspension, cooling and braking upgrades?

 

At this point I think I will just consider exchanging it for something with a V6 engine and better (and less confusing) towing capacity.

 

Your Mazda is a good and sound vehicle, My posting is simple and can be that same thing I would post regarding towing on any platform forum.
There are some vehicles that more consideration beyond what the max limits and specification from the OEM label for safety and having a trouble free adventure.
Ford Explorer is a great vehicle but the towing recommendation on the Sport caused a few disasters with U-haul rentals to the point you can no longer rent trailers for them. Yet people during that time period still were seen towing full size trailers. I would suspect they used a little more common sense or were just lucky not to have disastrous problems?
When in unsure simply lower your total towing and passenger capacity. Same as flying you can do all the proper weight computation but if that hesitation passing in your mind pops up then reduce to total weight (not the fuel ) and fly safe!

 

I was never sure what the problem was with the Explorer. I had a 97 with the V6 that I used to tow a horse trailer with a horse. Of course, the vehicle had a weight distributing hitch and a trailer brake controller, but I never had any problems with it. I did try to rent a small U-Haul trailer once and they would only rent me a truck, so I used the horse trailer to haul the several pieces of furniture 100 miles to Lexington.

I will grant that when I replaced the Explorer with a 2004 Tahoe, the towing experience was much better, but the Tahoe was a heavier vehicle with a nice V8.

 

I was talking about Explorer Sport not full size. I had an 98 XL V6 and towed all my cars with no problems. Also complete upgraded suspension and E-brake and that included the transmission which we know got the nick name "exploder". .. The sport 2 door (runt 1/2 a real Explorer ) many would just call them Explorer, but they were far short of the full size 4 door. The Sports were the ones that gave the Ford Explorer the bad towing reputation hahaha! .

 

That makes sense. The Sport wasn't long enough for towing, but U-Haul did not make a distinction. Regardless, the Tahoe was far superior and my daughter is still using that 2004 to tow the horse trailer.