Mazda North American has announced that the 2022 CX-5, it’s best-selling SUV – is finally getting some much-needed updates. The most important change is the addition of AWD as standard equipment across the lineup. However, it should also be noted that there are a few exterior design tweaks as well. But can it stand firm against the slightly lower-priced Volkswagen Tiguan and Hyundai Tucson?

Overview.

The new 2022 CX-5 is not all new but Mazda has confirmed a few important changes over the outgoing model. The first and foremost would be the new i-ACTIV AWD standard across all trims, along with re-tweaked chassis and suspension for better stability. Speaking of trims, the Grand Touring Reserve will get replaced with a new Turbo trim and will feature the 2.5-liter turbocharged mill. The exterior gets new sleeker headlamps and a newly designed intake grille. However, the base trim is still powered by the same 187-horsepower engine. Pricing has yet to be revealed, but the 2022 CX-5 is expected to start under $30,000.

Trims and Features.

Unlike the outgoing model, the new 2022 CX-5 will be offered in five different trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, Turbo, and Turbo Signature. The Turbo trim replaces the Grand Touring Reserve and Mazda stated that the Turbo trims will feature special exterior and interior design elements that would distinguish them from the lower trims. The entry-level CX-5 will be priced around $28,000 and will sport features such as:

- 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-4 engine with AWD.

- Six-speed automatic transmission.

- 17-inch alloy wheels.

- Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

- 10.25-inch central display.

- Four-speaker audio unit.

- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

- Manual air conditioning.

As for the driver assistance features, these are included as standard:

- Lane-departure warning.

- Forward collision mitigation.

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

2022 Mazda CX-5 Trims And Features

Exterior Upgrades.

The new 2022 CX-5 gets mild updates, and it looks even better now with the rectangular-shaped horizontal LEDs at the front and rear. The intake grille now ditches the mesh design and a three-dimensional texture takes its place. The taillights get similarly shaped LEDs like that of the front and are pretty much the same as the outgoing model year with dual-exhaust pipes. While the looks are eye-catchy, it gets an attractive set of aluminum alloy wheels that influences the modern touch and the urban vehicle feel. In terms of dimensions, the new CX-5 will be measuring similar length, width, height, wheelbase, and ground clearance as that of the outgoing model. The curb weight might go up a little but nothing worth noticing.

2022 Mazda CX-5 Exterior Dimensions

Interior: Features and Practicality.

Similar to the previous year, the cabin feels airy in the front and, for the 2022 model year, Mazda has updated the seats for added comfort with extra bolstering. The driving position is upright as usual and offers a good view of the road. The dashboard remains similar to the outgoing model with nice soft-touch materials available with the higher trims. There’s a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob fitted as standard which has integrated buttons for summoning the adaptive cruise control and other infotainment features. The cloth-covered standard seats offer decent comfort but opting for the higher trims with leather seats will enhance the comfort with a level of opulence.

The cabin is decently spacious to fit up to 5 people but unlike the front row, the rear is not the best in terms of legroom. Taller individuals will find the back seats to be a bit cramped but it is not the worst. With 39.7 and 39.0 inches of headroom, passengers will be able to sit comfortably without banging their heads on the roof. Now that we know about the cabin feels, let’s talk about the practicality. Behind the rear seats, 30.9 cubic feet of boot space is available which is enough for your weekend getaways or cross-country tours. However, it is surely not the best compared to the likes of the Hyundai Tucson which sports 38.7 cubic feet for cargo capacity. A few interior highlights include:

- Dual-zone automatic climate control.

- Leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel.

- Keyless ignition.

- 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory functions and multi-level heating options.

- 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat with multi-level heating options.

- Nappa leather seats and wooden interior trims.

- Heated rear seats.

- Upgraded driver information display.

2022 Mazda CX-5 Interior Dimensions

The infotainment system features the same display from the outgoing model which is a 10.25-inch non-touchscreen display. The screen can be controlled via a knob or buttons on the center console but it lacks intuitiveness as you could get distracted while operating the system. Mazda Connected Service helps with seamless Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. A four-speaker audio system comes standard. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay make things easier but Mazda should add a touch-sensitive screen for better usability. A few of the available infotainment features are as follows:

- 10.25-inch center-mounted display.

- Mazda Connected Services.

- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

- Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity.

- Satellite radio.

- Navigation system.

- 10-speaker Bose premium audio system.

Powertrain, Performance and, Braking

Powering the 2022 Mazda CX-5 is a 2.5-liter engine which for the lower trims, is a naturally aspirated inline-4 engine. The Turbo and the Turbo Signature get a turbocharged version of the same engine. While the naturally aspirated engine produces 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, the turbocharged version puts out an impressive 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of maximum torque. Both engine variants come with a six-speed automatic transmission and the all-wheel-drive as standard.

As the engine power remains the same the acceleration results should be similar but the addition of the AWD might manipulate the base engine accelerations. The turbocharged engine, on the other hand, did come with AWD as standard for a few years and does a knot to 60 in 6.1 seconds and completes a quarter-mile from standstill in 14.7 seconds. All models have a top speed of 130 mph.

Easy handling and maneuverability were always the CX-5’s game but for the 2022 model year, it got even better. The re-worked chassis with an improved dampening control system has helped reduce the subtle vibrations felt from the road. The steering capabilities have been improved to offer good feedback. Also, the i-ACTIV system which comes as standard with the 2022 CX-5 comes with s a center limited-slip differential that can distribute torque as needed. It takes about 167 feet to stop from an emergency braking at 70 mph.

2022 Mazda CX-5 Performance Stats

Fuel Economy.

The base naturally aspirated mill inside the CX-5 is quite a good performer in terms of fuel economy. According to the EPA, it is rated at 24/30/26 for city/highway/combined. The turbo engine, on the other hand, produces higher engine power but sips slightly more gas than the former. It gets 22/27/24 for city/highway/combined ratings. The tank size remains the same at 15.3 gallons and the base engine can return up to 397.8 miles while the turbo offers a slightly lower 367.2 miles.

2022 Mazda CX-5 Fuel Economy

Safety Features.

The CX-5 is one of the safest vehicles you can buy right now and, for the past few years, the safety ratings have been pretty good on its side. The NHTSA and IIHS have rated the 2021 model year of the same with a full 5-star and “Good” with “Top Safety Pick+”. The 2022 model year will continue to sport advanced driver assistance features as standard which will include:

- Lane-departure warning.

- Blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

- Adaptive cruise control.

- Forward collision mitigation.

- Pre-collision safety system.

- Post-collision safety system.

- Emergency braking assist.

Conclusion.

The upcoming 2022 Mazda CX-5 will be better than the model it will replace in a lot of ways like updated handling, comfort, exterior styling, and a few added features. A few other downsides that cannot be avoided are the non-touchscreen infotainment display and the cramped rear seats with a slightly smaller cargo capacity. If you want an all-round performer in the segment then the Hyundai Tucson will bring a lot of practicality and better features for a slightly lower starting price.