Originally Posted by Ws6
Originally Posted by edyvw
Quote
During my driving, I noted my cx5 to be just fine, even compared to my JGC, which has an awd more capable than anything Subaru has. Neither the subaru nor cx5 has what Id call an amazing system, but for driving in snow, ice, etc. I dont think it matters one bit. They all do fine. The subaru doesnt have very strong bias, and uses brakes to control torque. Its nothing special. Same as cx5 except it drives all 4 tires and reacts to slip with brakes, while mazda drives 2 and reacts with clutch as well as brakes, although their new as of 2017? system does drive all 4 tires predictively even without slip, basedon temps, windshield wipers, steering angle, and other factors, making it basically mirror Subaru's for all intents. The difference technically exists, but in the real world it doesnt show up on snow and ice really, as they all have enough biasing to spin all 4 tires, and both systems allow slip before "doing something about it". More on rock crawls and the like, where torque biasing really gets stressed, which is where the Jeep QD2 and similar really shines.
Of note, tires matter more, as a friend was following me in his WRX, and almost slid off the road, while I barely noticed the icy patch in the corner that nearly got him. All seasons vs summer performance.
SO your Mazda is fine. My Toyota is fine, but that does not make it beter than Subaru. Yes tires are most important, and that trick with wipers, sensors etc. BMW had 15 years ago, except used on full time AWD.
Know what you drive.
No, I think it's more of less equal to current Subaru.
Scooby has more systems than many realize.
https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/not-every-subaru-all-wheel-drive-system-is-created-equal/
Subaru's 4 systems:
Mazda CX5:
MB 4Matic:
Jeep QD2:
You will note that the Jeep system is the only one that doesn't simply use the brakes, and actually uses diffs to send power to any 1 of 4 wheels, or in any combination. It's about the most adaptive and effective method of sending power to the ground that there is. That being said, acceleration on ice and snow it vs. my CX5, there really isn't much difference I noted. This leads me to believe that any system that is modern, and capable of sending 40-60% of the torque to the front or back of the vehicle and modulating the brakes, is going to work just fine, as I've owned two "extremes", and they drove virtually the same. I have filmed my older, 2015 model CX5 in slow motion on loose surfaces, and on gravel, with it going up hill, flooring it WOT with all traction control off and brake-torquing lightly, the front tires will get in about 1/8th of a rotation before the rears are engaged. Indeed, flooring it in the rain didn't even illicit a chirp. Instant transfer, nearly.
Long story short, IMO, they all drive more or less the same on ice/snow, but when you throw rock-crawling into the mix, systems like the Jeep are absolutely going to dominate.
*The Mazda videos by Coleman are pure gold, and touch on other systems, as well.
Mazda s still FWD biased system. Even Mazda web site in explanation says it. So no, it is not similar to MB, Subaru, JGC. All similar vehicles have stand by torque, in my Tiguan split is constant 90/10 (actually rear wheels get more than Mazda CX-5). It is selling you air. Wipers, incline, angle sensors. All that is available on numerous cars for last two decades. But that is different from full time AWD. Having stand by torque is different from having 50% torque on each axle.
What you NOW claim is that CX-5 drives similarly. That is different from claims how CX-5 is best thing after sliced bread. No, it will not drive similarly to JGC and MB or Subaru as their weight distribution, especially in MB and JGC is not conducive to that kind of understeer as it is in Mazda, Toyota, VW, Honda etc.
Will it do job? Yes. Better than some other cars? Probably as Mazda dynamically is usually better than most Asian cars.
Is Mazda's AWD system good? Yes. No, Dave Colman videos are not pure gold. Numerous videos where every manufacturer claims why you should buy their vehicle, and only their vehicle.