Mazda hangs its hat on sporty driving feel more than any other affordable automaker. The clearest proof of that is the CX-5 compact SUV. It is among a class full of look-alike, drive-alike crossovers that meet the average driver’s needs quite well and quite formulaically. Mazda’s entry into it, the CX-5, is fun. For the 2022 model year, Mazda won’t change that. It will just tighten things up a bit.
Mazda hasn’t revealed pricing for the 2022 CX-5. But as you’ll see, there have been some significant updates, and we expect a price increase to cover their cost.
A Fresh, Clean Look
The CX-5 isn’t all-new for 2022. It’s getting a styling update, inside and out, with a few mechanical tweaks to emphasize its character.
It starts with a makeover. The new CX-5 has a simpler look than the 2021 model – Mazda says, “designers focused on refining the front and rear ends, opting to minimize character lines in favor of reflective body surfaces.” A wider lower front air intake and thicker chrome grille surround sit beneath narrower headlights. A thicker textured surface replaces the simple mesh of the old grille, and we’re surprised how much that changes the look.
Top-of-the-line Turbo Signature models lose some black body cladding, getting body-color trim in its place. That change always seems to class a model up. One level down, the Turbo model keeps the black but makes it glossy.
Inside, less has changed. Turbo models get new red contrast stitching and red trim accents. The seats have been redesigned, with thicker bolsters “to help provide the driver and the vehicle’s occupants with greater stability to help create a natural and comfortable experience.” The frame is more rigid to reduce cabin noise.
Enhanced Driving Dynamics
Mechanically, a lot has changed. The base CX-5 has always been front-wheel-drive (FWD), but Mazda says most buyers have opted to step up to a more sure-footed all-wheel-drive (AWD). So, they’ve simplified the choice, losing the FWD setup entirely. Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system is tuned for driving pleasure as much as for foul-weather grip.
Mazda has gone a step further to enhance the driving experience, adding its Drive Select system (Mi-Drive), which allows the driver to select from several driving modes. Mi-Drive can tighten up the suspension and change the transmission’s shift pattern to provide a sportier driving experience or a more staid, fuel-saving one at the touch of a button.
The 2022 CX-5 has kept its aging 6-speed automatic transmission. It’s a bit of an outlier. The class-leading Toyota RAV4 offers a more modern eight gears, while rivals like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue have foregone shifting entirely and moved to continuously variable transmissions.
That’s probably not enough to hold the CX-5 back from being the most engaging drive in its class. We’ll bring you a first-hand driving experience report soon.
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
