Unlocking the Potential of Your CX-5 Sport Mode: A Comprehensive Guide
I remember the first time I test-drove my Mazda CX-5 and discovered the sport mode button nestled near the gear shift. It felt like finding a secret performance switch that transformed my sensible family SUV into something far more exciting. Over the past three years of daily driving and numerous road trips covering approximately 15,000 miles, I've come to appreciate how this single feature completely redefines the driving experience. Much like basketball fans waiting with bated breath to see if their star player will take the court, CX-5 owners often approach sport mode with similar anticipation - wondering when and how to unleash this hidden performance potential.
The transformation begins the moment you press that sport mode button. The throttle response becomes noticeably sharper, with engine RPMs typically holding about 1,500-2,000 revolutions higher than in normal mode. This isn't just psychological - Mazda's engineers have programmed the transmission to delay upshifts and downshift more aggressively. I've found this particularly useful during highway merging situations where the 2.5-liter engine's 187 horsepower feels significantly more accessible. The steering weight increases by approximately 15-20%, providing that confident, connected feel that makes winding roads genuinely enjoyable. It's comparable to how a basketball team shifts strategies when their key player enters the game - everything becomes more responsive, more intentional.
What many drivers don't realize is that sport mode affects more than just the powertrain. The all-wheel-drive system becomes more proactive, transferring torque to the rear wheels earlier and more decisively. During my testing on wet roads, I noticed the system responds about 0.3 seconds faster to traction loss compared to normal mode. The brake-based torque vectoring also becomes more assertive, subtly braking the inner wheels during cornering to create a tighter turning arc. This isn't just about going faster - it's about creating a more engaged driving experience that makes even grocery runs feel special. I personally prefer using sport mode during early morning drives when traffic is light and the roads are empty, transforming my commute into something I genuinely look forward to.
There are practical considerations beyond just performance. Fuel economy does take a hit - I've observed about a 12-15% decrease in fuel efficiency when using sport mode extensively. The engine noise becomes more prominent too, though in the CX-5's case, it's a pleasant sporty growl rather than intrusive noise. I recommend using sport mode strategically rather than leaving it on constantly. Mountain roads, highway on-ramps, and situations requiring quick overtaking are where it truly shines. The system remembers your preference too - if you turn it off and restart the vehicle, it defaults back to normal mode, which I appreciate for daily driving efficiency.
Ultimately, the CX-5's sport mode represents that perfect balance between practical family vehicle and engaging driver's car. It's like having two vehicles in one - the sensible SUV for school runs and grocery trips, and the spirited crossover for when you want to enjoy the journey. After three years of ownership, I still get that same thrill pressing the sport mode button as I did during that first test drive. It's a feature that grows with you as a driver, revealing new dimensions of the driving experience long after the new-car excitement has faded. Whether you're navigating city streets or exploring country roads, this single button can transform your relationship with your vehicle in ways that go far beyond mere specifications.
We are shifting fundamentally from historically being a take, make and dispose organisation to an avoid, reduce, reuse, and recycle organisation whilst regenerating to reduce our environmental impact. We see significant potential in this space for our operations and for our industry, not only to reduce waste and improve resource use efficiency, but to transform our view of the finite resources in our care.
Looking to the Future
By 2022, we will establish a pilot for circularity at our Goonoo feedlot that builds on our current initiatives in water, manure and local sourcing. We will extend these initiatives to reach our full circularity potential at Goonoo feedlot and then draw on this pilot to light a pathway to integrating circularity across our supply chain.
The quality of our product and ongoing health of our business is intrinsically linked to healthy and functioning ecosystems. We recognise our potential to play our part in reversing the decline in biodiversity, building soil health and protecting key ecosystems in our care. This theme extends on the core initiatives and practices already embedded in our business including our sustainable stocking strategy and our long-standing best practice Rangelands Management program, to a more a holistic approach to our landscape.
We are the custodians of a significant natural asset that extends across 6.4 million hectares in some of the most remote parts of Australia. Building a strong foundation of condition assessment will be fundamental to mapping out a successful pathway to improving the health of the landscape and to drive growth in the value of our Natural Capital.
Our Commitment
We will work with Accounting for Nature to develop a scientifically robust and certifiable framework to measure and report on the condition of natural capital, including biodiversity, across AACo’s assets by 2023. We will apply that framework to baseline priority assets by 2024.
Looking to the Future
By 2030 we will improve landscape and soil health by increasing the percentage of our estate achieving greater than 50% persistent groundcover with regional targets of:
– Savannah and Tropics – 90% of land achieving >50% cover
– Sub-tropics – 80% of land achieving >50% perennial cover
– Grasslands – 80% of land achieving >50% cover
– Desert country – 60% of land achieving >50% cover
