The 2022 Mazda CX-5 is the Target of compact SUVs. What could this utility vehicle have in common with a discount retailer? Simply put, the CX-5 provides an upscale experience at a reasonable price.
With its smooth, contoured sheet metal and attractive proportions, the CX-5's designers hit the bullseye. This is one of the prettiest small SUVs around, especially when dressed in optional Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint ($595), the Japanese automaker's signature hue.
No matter the trim level, the CX-5 comes standard with all-wheel drive, a new perk for 2022. Amenities like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and LED headlamps with automatic high beams all are included at no extra charge.
The big reason to pay for a higher trim level, however, is because of what's under the hood. A familiar and amenable 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides the hustle in the CX-5 Turbo and Signature models, delivering either 227 horsepower if you fill the tank with 87-octane regular gasoline or 256 if you spring for 93-octane premium. Whether you're a skinflint or spendy at the gas pump, you get nearly the same amount of torque, 310 pound-feet with regular or 320 when burning premium.
Performance is never an issue in the turbocharged CX-5, which can hit 60 miles per hour in the low-to-mid 6-second range. Unfortunately, it's not particularly capable. It can tow only 2,000 pounds, the same as a Ford Maverick hybrid, which produces way less power.
With six forward gears, the smooth, responsive automatic transmission helps deliver admirable fuel economy. This CX-5 stickers at 22 miles per gallon in the city, 27 on the highway and 24 combined. In mixed, mostly interstate driving, I averaged 27 on the nose, which isn't bad for an all-wheel-drive SUV with this much scoot.
The rest of the CX-5's driving dynamics are great. The steering is nicely dialed in, neither too light nor artificially heavy. As you navigate corners, this SUV feels light on its feet and unusually precise for a family vehicle. The brake pedal is nicely weighted as well, and the ride is smooth without feeling sloppy. The luxury-like experience continues even at highway speeds, where the interior stays nice and quiet.
Impressive interior
The CX-5's biggest claim to fame is its luxury car-rivaling interior. The cabin of this mass-market SUV is tastefully designed and beautifully built, with plenty of upscale materials and high-quality controls.
The upscale appointments include soft plastics on the rear door panels, a rarity in this class of vehicle, as well as a lovely woven headliner. The climate controls are mounted at the bottom of the center stack, and they're immediately intuitive. The traditional mechanical shifter is reassuring thanks to its placement and slick action.
Higher-end versions of the CX-5 have some drawbacks, however. They feature a 10.3-inch screen, which is wide, narrow and set far back on the dashboard. The infotainment system that lives in there is among the most unintuitive you will find in any vehicle. With myriad menus to rifle through, nothing is easy to get at, plus there's no touchscreen, so you're forced to use the control knob for everything, and it's set a bit too far back on the center console to make room for the shifter.
In fact, the system is so bad that I never even bothered setting any radio presets because the process is so frustrating.
Thankfully, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both are standard, though you'll still need a cable if you want to use either smartphone-mirroring system, so plan accordingly. A wireless charging pad is included in Turbo and Signature models.
The front seats are comfortable enough, though the bottom cushion doesn't angle sufficiently to properly support taller drivers' thighs. Both front chairs are heated and ventilated, and the outboard rear positions also feature warmers. Passengers in the back have enough headroom and leg space, but rival SUVs are noticeably more spacious.
The CX-5 is a good cargo hauler, just not as good as some of its main rivals. With the rear backrests folded down, there's nearly 60 cubic feet of cargo space. By comparison, the cavernous Honda CR-V offers nearly 76, the Toyota RAV4 offers 70 and the non-hybrid Ford Escape provides 65.
This 2022 Mazda CX-5 Turbo checks out for $38,670 including $1,225 in destination fees, making it quite reasonable, at least by 2022 standards where everything is expensive. The entry-level S model is about $27,500, and the range-topping Signature trim goes for about $41,000. These prices are comparable to other compact SUVs.
If Mazda was aiming to deliver a premium yet affordable vehicle, it hit the target.
