XYZ Racing Racing Spec Coilovers — Mazda CX-5 (KE) 4WD 2013-2017

The first-generation CX-5 KE is a tall, 1,500kg-plus crossover with a high roll centre and a soft factory damper tune built for school-run comfort, not corner-entry composure. Drop a Racing Spec coilover under it and you are not chasing tenths on a B-road – you are taking a family SUV and giving it the body control to actually use its 2.2 diesel torque or its 2.0 SkyActiv revs without the nose diving and the rear axle squatting on every transition.

XYZ Racing’s Racing Spec line is the firm end of the catalogue. On a 4WD KE that means controlling a lot of mass over a long wheelbase, with damping stiff enough to settle the body but with enough travel left to keep all four contact patches loaded when the road surface deteriorates.

What this coilover does for your 2013-2017 Mazda CX-5 (KE) 4WD

Body roll on the KE is the single biggest dynamic complaint owners raise, and the Racing Spec addresses it head-on with higher spring rates and a damper valving curve built for sustained load rather than isolated bumps. Independent height adjustment at each corner lets you correct the slightly nose-up factory rake, drop the centre of gravity, and tuck the wheels into the arches without compromising the 4WD driveshaft angles. The 30-level damping adjustment means you can run the car firm for a fast moorland run on Sunday and back the clicks off for the motorway commute on Monday. Pillow-ball top mounts on the front sharpen turn-in response, which is exactly what the slow-witted factory front end needs. The result is an SUV that finally feels like it has a chassis underneath it, rather than a soft platform balanced on tall sidewalls.

About the Racing Spec coilover

Racing Spec is built around a monotube damper with a large-diameter piston, paired with linear-rate springs chosen specifically for the KE’s weight distribution and 4WD driveline. The shock body is constructed for repeated heat cycling, so it tolerates back-to-back hard driving without fade – relevant if you actually drive a CX-5 hard, which more owners do than the styling suggests. Ride height is set independently of spring preload, so you can lower the car without losing usable damper stroke – a trap cheaper kits fall into on tall vehicles like this one. The 30-position damping dial sits at the top of each strut, accessible without removing wheels on most corners. Camber-adjustable top plates on the front struts allow you to set negative camber for tyre wear control once the car is sitting lower on its springs.

Fitment for the Mazda CX-5 (KE) 2013-2017

This kit is matched to the first-generation KE platform in 4WD form, covering the 2013 to 2017 model years before the second-generation KF replaced it. The 4WD-specific calibration matters here – front-axle weight and rear driveshaft geometry on the all-wheel-drive cars differ from the front-drive variants, and the spring rates reflect that.

What buyers also search for

• Mazda CX-5 KE suspension upgrade to reduce body roll on a daily SUV
• CX-5 4WD coilover kit with adjustable damping for road and occasional track
• Mazda CX-5 lowering kit that keeps full damper travel and ride quality
• KE-chassis CX-5 coilovers compatible with the 4WD driveline geometry
• Adjustable height and damping coilovers for the first-generation CX-5

Pick your spring rates, top-mount options and ride-height preset below, and build the spec that suits how you actually use the car.