Yea, I live in Northern MN, winters are about as bad as it gets. I have driven far to many 2wd vehicles with bald tires during winter over the years, and have managed just fine, but at this point I can afford AWD so why not make life easier. The AWD system in the RDX is very impressive, much more advanced than the systems used in the Mazda or even sister Honda’s. The RDX in my opinion is probably one of the best “Bang for Buck” SUV’s on the market. That being said, the little CX-5 has some appealing features. It’s a little smaller, whips in and out of traffic better, and has a great interior for the price. I have no idea what the RDX or CX-5 are leasing for, but pulling numbers out of the air, my guess is $75-100 a month more for the RDX ($325-375 CX-5?, $425-500 RDX?) Is it worth it, probably would be to me. If I was buying (which I am), it would be a no brainer, go with the RDX (Reliability & Resale vs Mazda). The RDX is a bigger and more upscale class vehicle, and that really is noticeable for driving comfort. Both are highly regarded, and I understand why. I suppose I would have to see the monthly price difference between the two models, but for me that number would be around $85-100+/-. Heres another little wrinkle. The MDX is aging, and might actually lease better than a RDX, worth checking out.