- The 2022 Mazda CX-5 has cosmetic and mechanical updates
- All-wheel drive is now standard on the CX-5
- The top two trims are now called Turbo and Turbo Signature
- New front grille design
- Pricing starts at $26,250 | Price it your way
- On sale now | See Mazda CX-5 models for sale near you
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 is a compact SUV with two rows of seating, room for five passengers, and a reputation for driving fun that you won’t find in the competition.
Driving excitement in a practical and family-friendly SUV?
That’s right, the freshened 2022 CX-5 has gotten a round of cosmetic and mechanical improvements which make it an even more attractive and entertaining option among rivals that include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, and Chevrolet Equinox.
Credit Mazda’s retuning of the suspension and stiffening of the chassis to help make the CX-5 more nimble when the road ahead is full of twists and turns. All-wheel drive is now standard on all CX-5 trim levels, too.
The front and rear end of the CX-5 has been slightly tweaked for a smoother and cleaner look. Meanwhile, inside Mazda redesigned the front seats to offer better support, while under the hood the optional turbocharged 4-cylinder engine delivers 6 more horsepower than it did previously (256 versus 250 horsepower, when running on premium fuel).
The CX-5 is available in a total of eight trim levels, all but the upper two powered by a 187-horsepower 4-cylinder coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine is punchier than its power figures suggest, though the 256-horsepower turbo 4-cylinder holds a definite advantage in terms of acceleration and highway passing power.
Passenger Room and Comfort
The CX-5 has always been graced with an interior that looks like it belongs to a luxury-branded SUV. For the 2022 model year, Mazda hasn’t reinvented the wheel when it came time to update the CX-5’s cabin, though redesigned front seats arrive to offer added comfort and support. And really, who doesn’t like a little more comfort and support?
In terms of overall space, however, the CX-5 is firmly mid-pack among compact SUVs. Rear legroom is fine for adults, and nobody will feel claustrophobic after a long road trip. Scaling to higher trims brings leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, heated rear seats, and real wood trim in the top-of-the-line Turbo Signature.
With its updated suspension, Mazda promises the CX-5 has crisper steering responses and an even more composed ride over all types of surfaces.
Features and Tech
Every Mazda CX-5 is equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen that comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two front USB ports, voice commands, and a subscription-based Wi-Fi hot spot. The base S trim is also outfitted with keyless entry, cloth seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, automatic high-beam headlights, and rain-sensing wipers.
Active safety features are abundant, even in the base S trim. Not only do you get common features like forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, the CX-5 also comes standard with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist.
Thankfully, you don’t need to scale the heights of the Mazda CX-5’s eight available trims to add more comfort, convenience, tech, and safety touches. Starting at $28,250, excluding Mazda’s $1,225 destination fee, the Select trim is only $2,000 more expensive than the base model.
Yet, for this additional outlay you get faux leather seating surfaces, automatic climate control, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, rear air conditioning vents, heated front seats, and two rear USB outlets.
Of course, you can keep going higher up the CX-5 family tree to acquire extras like a head-up instrument display, wireless device charging, a power rear liftgate, a Bose 10-speaker stereo, and, of course, the more powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Accessing the upgraded powertrain means spending $36,750 on the Turbo trim, excluding options or the destination charge.
Materials and Design
The dashboard of the Mazda CX-5 has a clean and uncluttered appearance, all major controls are within easy reach of the driver. The upgraded leather seating and wood grain trim found on the range-topping Turbo Signature creates a true luxury interior, albeit minus the luxury SUV price tag. You could easily fool yourself into thinking this was a BMW or Audi cabin if the Mazda badges were all covered.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
One area the Mazda CX-5 trails a number of other compact SUVs is in its total amount of cargo capacity. You’ll find 29 cubic feet of space behind the second row, expanding to 58 cubic feet with the rear seat folded (and you don’t get a completely flat and level cargo area in that configuration). These figures are less than the room provided in the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Toyota RAV4, for instance.
This is still plenty of cargo volume for most routine driving demands, and it’s nearly equal to what you get in Mazda’s own all-new 2023 CX-50 compact SUV. The two SUVs are priced and sized almost identically, though the CX-50 has a slightly more rugged appearance and can tow 3,500 pounds (with its optional turbo 4-cylinder), versus 2,000 pounds in the CX-5.
Build and price your own 2022 Mazda CX-5 to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see CX-5 models on sale near you.
