2022 Mazda CX-5 facelift - What’s new?

While the Mazda CX-5 is priced like a mainstream model, it offers a feel of a premium car with its great sense of quality, both in sharp styling and refined driving dynamics. It is one of the best-selling Mazda vehicles globally and one of the sportiest compact crossover SUVs available on the market. This excellent SUV recently received several subtle, albeit meaningful, revisions in the US that make it more stylish, practical, and refined. 

Well, this updated 2022 Mazda CX-5 facelift will take time to reach the Malaysian shores, but we as automotive enthusiasts can check out the newly added stuff on the U.S.-spec model in the meantime. So, without any further ado, let’s get started. 

What has changed on the outside?

The major exterior changes which we can observe on the new Mazda CX-5 front fascia include a new signature wing that extends outwards from the front grille. The latter also looks more prominent now with a new textured mesh pattern. Further differentiating the facelift model from its predecessor are redesigned headlights and tail lights featuring rectangular LED lighting accents and new aluminum alloy wheels. 

The CX-5 turbocharged trims, on the other hand, received some additional design changes, which include gloss black accents, body-color exterior cladding, and bright gloss silver 19-inch wheels. 

A new Zircon Sand option is also added to the Mazda CX-5 color palette.

What has changed under the skin?

Complementing the elegant design enhancements are the improved driving dynamics and ride quality. The new CX-5 is fitted with a more responsive six-speed automatic transmission providing smoother accelerations. Updates to the suspension setup comprise improved damping control structure and increased frame rigidity, which suppresses the unpleasant vibrations, reduces road noise and makes the cabin quieter.

Further, the SUV is no longer available with front-wheel drive in the US as every trim now comes with Mazda's i-Activ all-wheel-drive system as standard. To feed all four wheels, it gets the same ongoing engine options. These include a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated Skyactiv-G mill generating a maximum power output of 190 PS and a peak torque of 252 Nm, and a more powerful Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo making 254 PS and 434 Nm.

What has changed on the inside?

Inside, the Mazda engineers redesigned the seats to provide the driver and the other occupants greater stability. The redesigned seats together with a better suspension setup offer a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience.

In terms of styling, the cabin looks modern and appealing with red accents and contrast stitching. Mazda designers also added quality Nappa leather and genuine wood grain trimmings on the top-spec version.

Moving to the tech goodies, here the 2022 CX-5 gets a new Mazda intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) system that enables the driver to change comfort and stability settings with one touch of a switch. It is mated to different driving modes including a new off-road mode. Wireless Qi phone charging feature is also new on the list.

Besides these, the SUV continues to come with the same 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen mated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, head-up display, dual-zone climate control, electric parking brake, electrochromic rear-view mirror, 10-speaker surround sound system with Audio Pilot, ambient lighting, power-adjustable front seats and so on.

What’s new on the safety front?

On the safety and driver-assistance front, the new Mazda CX-5 gets an improved i-Activsense suite. The safety package now includes a new Cruising & Traffic Support system, which provides accelerator, brake pedal and steering operations assistance to the driver when stuck in traffic jams and thus helps in reducing fatigue. Mazda also improved the front adaptive LED headlights, which now offer finer control over light distribution.

The list of returning systems include Mazda radar cruise control, 360º View Monitor, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, smart city brake support, driver attention alert, dynamic stability control, emergency brake assist, traction control, emergency stop signal, and hill start assist.

When will it come to Malaysia?

Currently, there is no official info as regards to when the new CX-5 will come to the Malay market. But as per the previous time gaps between the global and local reveal, we expect a late 2022 arrival. 

 Also read: Get ready for five new Mazda SUVs - CX-50, CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90