2022 Mazda CX-5 Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Glance at the 2022 Mazda CX-5, and you might wonder what changed for 2022. For starters, the LED headlights and taillights are new and feature more distinctive illumination. Whether that change will resolve the seemingly rampant problem of Mazda CX-5 owners driving around in the dark without their regular lights turned on remains to be seen.

Additionally, the CX-5 has new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh (but uninspired) alloy wheel designs. This year, the top-of-the-line Signature trim also gets body-colour lower exterior trim to further underscore Mazda’s bid to become a premium brand.

Stylistically, Mazda makes no changes to the CX-5’s interior. As was true before, the Signature trim is convincingly luxurious with premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and the classy polished metallic accents that make all CX-5s look upscale. For 2022, the seats are new, and we’ll discuss how comfortable they are later in the review.

If you want to save money and enjoy slightly better fuel economy in exchange for more leisurely acceleration, you want the CX-5 GX, GS, Kuro, or GT. Prices range from MSRPs of $30,500 to $39,250, not including a destination charge of $1,950.

If you have more room in the budget and prefer speedy acceleration at the expense of fuel efficiency, choose the Sport Design ($40,450) grade, where the 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder is optional for $2,200 more, or Signature ($43,650) where it’s standard.

Our test drive was in the U.S. equivalent of the Sport Design grade, equipped with the turbocharged engine, optional Soul Red paint, a rear bumper guard, and a package including roof rails and crossbars. The grand total comes to $46,175, including fees (Canadian, estimated).

The entry level engine in the 2022 Mazda CX-5 is the Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Those are competitive figures for a base engine, and for 2022, Mazda says it has revised the 6-speed automatic transmission for more responsive performance. Here’s another change for the new model year: all CX-5s have standard all-wheel drive (AWD). According to Natural Resources Canada, fuel consumption for this powertrain is 9.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving (or 9.0 L/100 km when cylinder deactivation is equipped).

If you like to ride the swell of torque produced by a turbo engine, or if you either live or spend time in a high-altitude area, consider the turbo. Run it on premium gas, and it will provide 256 hp (an increase of 6 hp versus 2021) and 320 pound-feet of torque. Stick with regular gas, and the power figures are 227 hp and 310 lb-ft.

The turbocharged engine also gets the revised six-speed automatic and standard AWD. Natural Resources Canada says it will burn 9.8 L/100 km in combined driving, but we saw 11.1 L/100 km on our testing loop while driving the Mazda primarily in Normal mode.

The new Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) drive mode selector is standard from the Kuro grade with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road settings. Meanwhile, all CX-5s benefit from increased structural rigidity and reworked suspension tuning for a quieter and smoother yet still sporty ride.

If you’re familiar with the driving experience in a 2017-2021 Mazda CX-5, you’ll immediately sense the improved driving dynamics. In addition to less noise, vibration, and harshness, the 2022 CX-5’s ride and handling nearly eliminate body roll, ride chop, and weight toss when driving with enthusiasm on a winding, undulating mountain road. In their place are sure-footed grip, dramatically reduced body motions, and a blend of compliance and composure that instills trust in the SUV’s driver.

In short, the CX-5 now drives as a Mazda should instead of a crossover SUV with Mazda badges slapped on it. Not only that, but the added sense of solidity combined with newfound cabin quietude adds credibility to Mazda’s claim that it is transforming itself into a premium brand. And the changes are why we think a CX-5 is a legit alternative to a small entry-level luxury SUV.

Previously, one of our more significant complaints about the second-generation CX-5 was its flinty ride and handling. Another gripe related to its front seats. We felt less like we were sitting in a driver's seat and more like we were sitting on a small, undersized chair. However, Mazda has fixed this problem with the 2022 CX-5’s new furnishings.

Thanks to the all-new seats, we feel coddled and supported now, and the driving position is sportier with a more natural relationship to the steering wheel and controls. Furthermore, all CX-5 models except the base trim include a height-adjustable front passenger’s seat, a rarity among the CX-5’s traditional rivals. Finally, in addition to leather upholstery, our test vehicle also had dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seat cushions, and a heated steering wheel, making it ready for any kind of weather.

The Mazda CX-5’s back seat remains snug. Still, the test vehicle’s heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents help make your passengers as comfortable as possible, whether they’re hot, cold, or somewhere in between.

The control layout remains a source of frustration, mainly because the Mazda Connect infotainment system offers neither a touchscreen display nor a natural voice recognition system. However, once you acclimate to the centre console controls, you can operate them without looking down and away from the road.

Storage space is adequate at best. The bin underneath the centre armrest is small, but the test vehicle offered wireless smartphone charging in a tray forward of the transmission shifter, and door armrest trays and lower panel bins on all four doors.

Depending on what you compare a CX-5 against, cargo space is merely adequate or surprisingly generous. Behind the rear seats, the CX-5 supplies 871 litres of luggage volume. Fold the back seat down, and the maximum cargo capacity amounts to 1,680 litres. Those numbers compare favourably to entry-level luxury SUVs but are unimpressive when stacked up against mainstream compact crossovers.

Mazda hasn’t changed the CX-5’s tech spec, so it still has a Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display and Bluetooth. Unfortunately, the display is not touch-sensing because Mazda believes those interfaces cause driver distraction. It also doesn’t have natural voice recognition, which would make the system easier to use. So instead, to use Mazda Connect, you must fiddle with controls on the centre console and steering wheel to operate the system.

Over time, you do acclimate to Mazda’s approach. However, even BMW has determined that touchscreen displays have their place and no longer forces its customers to solely use the iDrive controls on the centre console. Mazda should do the same.

Or, at a minimum, Mazda needs to introduce voice recognition tech on par with Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX). That way, if you upgrade your CX-5 with the optional navigation system, you could say, “Hey Mazda, I need to go to the closest hospital,” with some degree of certainty that Mazda Connect would help you to get medical help ASAP. Right now, you just get: “Sorry, I didn’t understand your request. Say ‘help’ for additional assistance.”

That means you’re going to need to connect your smartphone to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and ask Siri or Google for quick, intuitive help with such matters. Those features are standard, along with text-messaging support and Mazda Connected Services. As of this review being published, Mazda Canada gives new CX-5 and CX-9 owners a complimentary two-year trial subscription to its connected services.

Optional on GT and standard from Sport Design, the CX-5 includes a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system. Bose can be a little hit-or-miss with car audio systems, and we’re not always big fans of this brand. However, in the latest CX-5, it sounds good enough to get a passing grade. SiriusXM satellite radio also follows this same packaging.

Mazda does not skimp on safety. In addition to the CX-5’s robust structural engineering, the standard i-Activsense package of driving assistance and collision avoidance systems is comprehensive. It includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

As you move up the trim-level ladder, the CX-5 GT adds adaptive headlights that help the driver to see around dark corners and curves. Mazda reserves the remaining safety features for the top-of-the-line Signature. They include a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system. The Signature also has Traffic Jam Assist, a low-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-centreing function for use during busy commutes.

While driving, i-Activsense is mostly agreeable. However, in moderate traffic, there is a delay in recognizing a car that has tucked into the gap ahead, followed by more sudden and urgent braking than is preferable. Drivers can choose to receive tactile, audible, or both types of alerts, and the technology mainly operates in the background, which means you’re more likely to use it.

One of our favourite things about the driving tech is that when a Mazda CX-5 has a head-up display, the blind-spot warning appears there. In turn, that means you don’t need to look away from the road and at the side mirror to determine if it is safe to signal and move over.

When it comes to crash-test ratings, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2022 Mazda CX-5 a “Top Safety Pick+” rating. Few of the CX-5’s rivals can match that whether they’re wearing a luxury nameplate or not.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 is arguably the best it has ever been. The redesigned seats, quieter and smoother ride, and more athletic handling go a long way to making the CX-5 drive like a premium-brand SUV. Add this Mazda’s appealing style, quality interior, and impressive safety features and ratings, and it’s hard to argue that a CX-5 doesn’t deserve premium status.

Ultimately, that’s not up to Mazda to decide. It’s up to consumers. If people don’t think a Mazda is premium, they won’t pay the new car price that goes with that positioning.

In the meantime, while Mazda diligently attempts to move that needle, you’re in for a relative bargain. Consider, for a moment, your alternatives among so-called premium brands, the Buick Envision, GMC Terrain, and Jeep Cherokee. The Mazda not only stacks up competitively against these rivals but puts them to shame.

Dare to cross-shop a Mazda CX-5 against small luxury-brand SUVs such as the Audi Q3, BMW X1 and X2, Cadillac XT4, Jaguar E-Pace, Lexus UX, Mercedes-Benz GLA and GLB, and Volvo XC40, and the value proposition is more starkly evident. The choice is clear. You can pay for substance (Mazda) or pay for image (luxury brands).

No matter what you decide, one thing is certain: the 2022 Mazda CX-5 might not look much different, but it definitely drives that way. And that’s a very good thing.

Note: Images show a US model.