When it comes to sporty compact SUVs, Mazda has a lot to offer potential customers. All of which offer a rare SUV that combines driving pleasure with vehicle practicality.
In addition to the longstanding CX-5, Mazda recently introduced the CX-50. This is a more off-road inspired product with more ground clearance.
For the 2022 CX-5, Mazda has standardized all-wheel drive, improved engine options, minor exterior design changes and upgraded suspension.
I recently tested the 2022 CX-5 and am back with a full report on how it performs competitively inside and outside the Mazda lineup.
for your information
- vehicle: 2022 Mazda CX-5
- Price tested: $38,650 (starting at $27,000)
- best feature: Quality interior, Mazda drive quality
- evaluation: 4 out of 5 stars
- who wants this vehicle?: Compact SUV buyers looking for an attractive, fun and safe ride
Appearance
The 2022 CX-5 features a bold yet classy exterior design with an expressive nose in keeping with Mazda’s design architecture. Mazda has also made some minor adjustments to the CX-5’s bumper and headlight design for 2022.
The CX-5 is also slightly taller than the CX-50, giving you a better view of the road. It’s slightly shorter longitudinally than the CX-50, making it a good choice for city dwellers who need to fit into tight parking spaces.
The CX-5 features 17- to 19-inch wheels depending on trim level. My car had 19 inch aluminum wheels.
Other features include rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated power mirrors with turn lights, auto-fold door mirrors, power moonroof, power rear liftgate and LED headlights and taillights.
Moving on to the CX-5’s interior, Mazda’s lineup shines. Among luxury vehicles, it offers arguably the most high-end and comfortable experience in the industry. If you show the interior without revealing the brand name, chances are high that people will think it’s a luxury car.
All materials are top notch and luxurious, nothing cheap. Leather seats are particularly cozy for all five of his passengers, and sharp wood trim and ambient interior lighting are provided.
Cargo space in the CX-5 is segment average, with 30.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. As with all compact SUVs, rear passengers can be a little cramped unless you’re a short adult or child, but if you’re carrying passengers often, his CX-5 is better than the CX-50 is better.
Other features include power driver seats with lumbar, driver seat memory, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, leather steering wheel with audio and cruise control.
how is the ride?
Riding thrills aren’t often talked about in SUVs, but Mazda is one of the few brands that can offer that in every car.
Two engines are provided. I tested the high-end option of a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that boasts 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Mazda says those numbers increase to 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft when using 93-octane fuel.
The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder non-turbo producing 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft.
Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and all CX-5 models feature all-wheel drive.
The CX-5 goes from zero to 60 in just over six seconds, not bad for an SUV.
The CX-5 has a towing capacity of just 2,000 lbs, so I don’t plan on towing much. (Moving to the CX-50 gives you £3,500 capacity)
I highly recommend choosing the CX-5 with its upgraded turbocharged engine. It offers a high-quality driving experience that is unmatched among competing SUVs in the non-car realm.
Handling is phenomenal, braking is immediate and turns are handled sportier than the competition. Drive modes include Sport, Normal and Off-road, but we do not recommend doing serious off-road driving with the CX-5 (the CX-50’s increased ground clearance makes it a better choice in this area). ).
And for 2022, suspension upgrades reduce road noise intrusion.
technology, safety
Speaking of technology, Mazda had an impressive system for driver entertainment.
At its center is a 10.25-inch color display with central control dials for easy access to most commands. Voice commands also worked very well for navigation, music and calls.
The navigation system works really well, always getting me where I want to go without any trouble, and it can even project directions onto a heads-up display to keep my eyes on the road. It also has traffic sign recognition technology.
Other tech features included a wireless phone charger, a fast-growing 10-speaker Bose sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, multiple USB slots, 3 months of free satellite radio, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. rice field.
The CX-5 offers a 5-star government safety rating for those looking for one of the safest cars for their family. This is because it includes a good amount of safety features. Some are standard, others are only higher trim levels.
Features included in all CX-5 models include: Blind spot monitor with rear cross traffic alerts to help with lane changes and parking. Lane Departure Mitigation that can bring the vehicle back into the lane.
Some may find these systems a bit over-sensitive, but in my opinion it’s better than the alternative.
Also helpful is Adaptive Cruise Control, which maintains a constant following distance from other drivers.
Other safety-enhancing features of the CX-5 include dynamic stability control, traction control, tire pressure monitoring and an array of airbags.
At higher trim levels, you can take advantage of features like a 360-degree camera system, which can be very helpful in parking situations, and rear auto-braking, which can stop the CX-5 if you’re about to back up onto another object or vehicle.
Overall, the CX-5 is a safe SUV.
MPG
The official fuel economy figures for the 2022 Mazda CX-5 with turbo engine are a 22 city/27 highway 24 combined. For non-turbo based engines, the official numbers are 24 city and 30 highway.
In my real world testing, I averaged 21 mpg on the CX-5. These numbers are a little behind some of its top-tier compact SUV competitors, but are somewhat expected as it offers a sportier ride than most rivals. At this point, it comes down to what seems more important, like fuel economy and ride comfort.
price
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 I tested cost $38,650. Its base price starts at around $27,000. Trim levels include S, Select, Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium, Premium Plus, Turbo and Turbo Signature.
That’s good pricing given the quality of the drive, but the price range for other models is slightly lower. not.
As for warranties, the CX-5 comes with a 60-month/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a 36-month/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
bottom line
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 is a powerful vehicle option for families who like Mazda’s design style and sharp driving style in a compact SUV, but don’t need the off-road friendly nature of the CX-50.
With near-luxury styling and plenty of room to comfortably stow your family and luggage, the 2022 CX-5 is worth a test drive for buyers in the compact SUV class.
Matt Myftiu can be reached via email at matt@autotechreviews.com. All of his past reviews are available online at autotechreviews.com. Follow his AutoTechReviews on Instagram @Autotechreviews.