Hello Mazda people, I am considering buying a CX 5 all wheel drive. I cover about three kilometers of quite rough unpaved road daily and am looking to improve my comfort. I currently have a Renault Duster 4x4 which you probably aren't familiar with. It is very capable and does the job but it is an inexpensive vehicle and the ride is only a bit better than a 4x4 pickup I had. So I'm wondering if anyone can give me an experienced opinion on how good/smooth the ride of the CX 5 is on rough dirt roads. Thanks very much.

 

I've taken the CX-5 off road for fun quite a few times, but it doesn't receive that treatment daily. I imagine the daily experience may differ a bit for the occasional use, but here's my experience. On corrugated dirt roads, the ride is ok. Better than a traditional 4x4 because of the suspension setup, but it doesn't absorb big hits well. Also, if you're going quickly there seems to be a "sweet spot" where the car feels nice and plush, before and after that the ride can be pretty harsh. Tire size is also a big consideration, mine has the big wheels and low profile tires which does not help the off pavement ride. To be honest, the quality is better than my old jeep, although it's not as capable (if that makes sense).

 

Thank you very much for that detailed answer. Much food for thought. I came across an article about what vehicle was smoothest riding on rough surfaced roads and the winner according to the author was the Range Rover. Not in my budget though.