Mazda CX-5 Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Model

We are back with another product release for you CX-5 owners! Say hello to the CorkSport Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Mazda CX-5. Using our tried and true 11 gauge aluminum construction and 2-piece design, the CS skid plate adds some much needed protection to the underside of your CX5. Whether you use your CX-5 for camping, extra snow protection, or as a slammed show car, the CorkSport skid tray is a perfect fit for your build along with our axle-back exhaust! Read on for full details!

The OEM splash shield does a good job at its intended purpose: to smooth the air under your car for efficiency and keep your engine bay components dry. Any impact from road debris, rocks, or even a pesky speed bump though can easily crack or tear off your plastic splash shield leaving you without any protection.

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The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine

The CorkSport Skid Plate replaces the easily broken OEM unit with a full aluminum skid tray that can take a beating. We’ve used and abused these skid trays at the track (and some off-track excursions…) on our Mazda 3’s over the years and they have proven themselves to be sturdy, even withstanding the stresses of the 25 hours of Thunderhill! The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine so you can be less worried about your CX-5 when you take it camping on rocky forest roads, up to the mountain through snow & ice, or slam it and take it to shows.

To offer the best experience possible for you all, we have carefully CAD designed the CX-5 skid plate to mount directly in place of the OEM splash shield. This means no drilling, cutting, trimming, or headaches during the hour or less install. We kept the OEM style 2-piece design for further easy installation plus, the bonus of adjustability for minor variation vehicle to vehicle and cheaper shipping! Finally, there is an oil access cover just like OEM that you can move out of the way to easily change your oil and filter.

Each CorkSport CX-5 skid tray is made from laser-cut and precision formed 5052 aluminum. This ensures a consistent product for each of you that will stand the test of time and the elements. Included with each kit is all the extra hardware needed for installation.

Stainless steel button head bolts that provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag

This includes stainless steel button head bolts that fasten the skid tray to the vehicle. These provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag as easily as a traditional hex head bolt. We also include Torx screws for the oil access cover. This style of screw prevents the head from stripping after repeated oil changes which are typical with a traditional Phillips head screw.

If you’re looking to add some protection to the underbody of your 2017+ CX-5, look no further than the CorkSport Aluminum Skid Tray! Be sure to check out the product listing for more images and don’t hesitate to call us with any questions.

CorkSport

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs

We are proud to announce the Sport Lowering Springs for 2017+ Mazda CX-5 equipped with the 2.5L turbocharged engine. We took a fresh approach to spring design to offer you the best combination of style, ride quality, and handling in a package that fits just like OEM. The new Mazda CX-5 looks great, but a functional drop gives it just what it needs to look even better.

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs — Shop all 2017+ CX-5 Parts

Let’s get right to the point…ride height. The CX-5 looks great but it needs a drop and dropped it we did. Being an SUV, the factory ride height is pretty high up so we were able to make a significant drop while still keeping your SUV functional and practical for a daily driver.

These springs offer a drop of about 2.1 inches front & rear. We chose this height as it offers a great new look without sacrificing any of the daily drivability of the Mazda CX-5. This height clears the typical driveway with no issues, and retains plenty of suspension travel, even when fully loaded with 5 adults and weight in the trunk.

The height drop will be noticed when you’re outside the car, but the handling improvements will be apparent when driving. By lowering the center of gravity and stiffening the springs, body roll is reduced in corners, giving you extra confidence when attacking that backroad (Haha we know it’s an SUV). Also, we stiffened the rear springs more than the fronts, reducing understeer. By number, this meant 3.4K front springs (17% stiffer than OEM) and 7.0K rear springs (32% stiffer than OEM).

While this may sound like a big jump, they ride very similar to the OEM springs. We used natural frequency analysis and referenced our spring designs from earlier CX5 models to ensure we achieved comfortable characteristics over bumps. The spring rates we chose fit well with the stock shocks and struts to prevent any bounciness, plus, the drop ensures you are in the normal operating range of the dampers. This means no prematurely worn shocks/struts due to springs that are too low.

Lastly, the CS Sport Lowering Springs are made from high tensile strength spring steel and come with pre-installed spring isolators to eliminate any unwanted noises common with lowering springs. With that, we are introducing our new CorkSport Blue powder coat for long-lasting quality and corrosion resistance. They install just like stock, reusing all your OEM components. The only permanent modification is trimming the bump stops to match OEM suspension travel.

Thanks for checking out the new lowering springs for the facelift 2017+ CX-5. Check out our product listing for more details and images!

Barett @ CS

February 13, 2018February 28, 2018

Why no AWD?

Mazda has recently said they would like to have AWD in most models, but the current generation has some space/packaging constraints. I was scratching my head over this statement trying to figure out why the existing model Mazda 6 is offered in AWD in Europe with the Skyactiv diesel engine and Mazda is saying they cannot get it to fit.

I think I may have stumbled onto the answer after having a conversation with a friend recently. It is no secret Mazda is working on offering the diesel Cx5 to the US market, but it has been held up in government regulations with the EPA courtesy of VW and FIAT cheating on their engine mapping and emissions. Mazda has the setup which will pass and get the power they want to offer but here lies the problem.

Say you were going to offer a Mazda 6 diesel model that now meets the US emissions with the urea injection. Where are you going to put the tank to hold in the car? In the Cx5, which has more space to put something like a urea tank, it is not as much of a problem with packaging to find a spot. The Mazda 6 doesn’t sit off the ground as high and allow you a space to get everything to work out and be able to still fit the transfer case, drive shaft, and rear differential.

Why doesn’t Mazda offer both? This is a question I wish I could sort out. It wouldn’t be the first time Mazda would have models with different floor plans. Mazda has done this in the past with the 323s and Protégé, so I don’t think this is the reason why. This could be a possible play on the overall strategy with North America and only offer the AWD as a diesel model. This goes against what we have already with the Cx5 2.5 gas engine and the Cx9 gas 2.5 turbo motor, so I don’t think this is it which leaves this question for me to puzzle over a bit longer.

With the announcement of the Mazda/Toyota plant in Alabama and the statement by the chief of Mazda saying Mazda is going to build something different, this could be the queue that they will find a way to give us AWD turbo fun again. If anything the announcement of the new plant will finally get the EPA to give the green light to the Skyactiv diesel engine.

Overall Mazda desire to give us AWD still has me hopeful for the 2.5 Skyactiv gas turbo with all-wheel drive, but all the current signs say nope. Please Mazda, I don’t mind being wrong on this one.

Tag: Mazda cx5

Mazda CX-5 Aluminum Skid Plate for 2017+ Model

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine

Stainless steel button head bolts that provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag

2017+ Mazda CX-5 Turbo Lowering Springs

Why no AWD?

Overall Mazda desire to give us AWD still has me hopeful for the 2.5 Skyactiv gas turbo with all-wheel drive, but all the current signs say nope. Please Mazda, I don’t mind being wrong on this one.

-Derrick

Stay Up-to-date with CorkSport

The CS skid tray will offer better protection for your engine

Stainless steel button head bolts that provide great corrosion resistance and won’t snag

Stay up-to-date on the latest news and product updates from CorkSport.

Overall Mazda desire to give us AWD still has me hopeful for the 2.5 Skyactiv gas turbo with all-wheel drive, but all the current signs say nope. Please Mazda, I don’t mind being wrong on this one.

-Derrick