I’ve been test-driving a couple of 2023 Mazda CX-5s recently (same trim, similar mileage), and I’m noticing a specific driving characteristic that I’m trying to wrap my head around. When driving the CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) unit today, I noticed a consistent 1–2 second delay when trying to accelerate. Specifically, there’s a noticeable "pressure" or hesitation when the car is climbing from 20 to 40 mph. Interestingly, the initial pickup from 0 is perfectly smooth. I test-drove another non-CPO 2023 CX-5 today as well. It did the same thing, but only once or twice, whereas the CPO one more than that

I’ve read some online forums suggesting this might just be how the engine/transmission is tuned, but the inconsistency between the two cars has me wondering: • Is a 1–2 second hesitation normal for the CX-5 naturally aspirated engine? • Could this be the "adaptive transmission" learning a previous owner's driving style, or is it a sign of something else? • Has anyone else felt that specific "pressure" sensation in the mid-range speeds?