The updated Mazda CX-5 is aimed at SUV buyers looking for sportiness and style. We’ve driven one to find out if it’s as good as the best cars in a competitive class…
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Jinba Ittai is a Japanese phrase that represents the unity of rider and horse. It’s also an ideology that’s been in Mazda’s head since the Eighties, and something that the brand says is the secret sauce that’s sold nearly 70,000 CX-5s in the UK since 2012.
Impressive stuff, but it takes more than Japanese philosophy to stay relevant, so Mazda is hoping that a facelift of this large SUV will be enough to keep the likes of the Citroën C5 Aircross and Peugeot 5008 at bay.
So, what’s new with the Mazda CX-5? Well, the main focuses have been an aesthetic update and a shuffle of the trim levels, meaning you can now choose from SE-L, Newground, Sport, Sport Black and GT Sport.
SE-L remains your well-equipped entry-point car, while the new Newground trim adds a more rugged look to the styling. The various Sport trims add a sportier aesthetic with progressively more equipment.
Regardless, the entry-level SE-L is all you need, as it comes with automatic headlights, front and rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, 16in alloy wheels and other niceties. Upgrading to Sport adds larger 19in alloys, heated front seats, a rear-view camera and a digital driver display. Top-tier GT Sport cars get ventilated seats, an upgraded stereo, wireless phone-charging and LED headlights.
What’s it like to drive
While the old CX-5 was somewhat fidgety, suspension updates mean the new version is much more settled, especially on the smaller 16in wheels.
That said, it’s still firmer than the wafty C5 Aircross and isn’t as good at soaking up large potholes. The upside of that compromise is that the CX-5 handles rather well, offering plenty of front-end grip and leaning less than rivals through corners.
Your engine choices haven’t changed, so the entry-level petrol remains the 163bhp 2.0 Skyactiv-G 165. It has more power than you’ll get from the 1.2 Puretech 130 in the 5008 and feels just as fast, even though it doesn’t get to 60mph as quickly and does without a turbocharger.
The entry-level diesel, the 2.2 Skyactiv-D 150, is more eager to perform from low revs and pulls hard from a standstill. It gets to 60mph only a tad slower than the most powerful petrol and can officially manage around 50mpg. It looks like the best choice if you do a lot of miles.
Regardless of your preferred fuel, the two entry-level engines are the ones to go for. The more powerful 195bhp 2.5 Skyactiv-G 194 petrol and 182bhp 2.2 Skyactiv-D 184 diesel are only slightly faster and will see you at the pumps more often.
So far, we’ve only tried the engines paired with the six-speed manual gearbox but that’s not a bad thing. It’s a pleasure to use, with a sporty feel and short throw. It actually feels almost Mazda MX-5 like, believe it or not.
What’s it like inside
Whichever version of which CX-5 you go for, you’ll get a 10.25in infotainment system with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring and built-in sat-nav.
The screen is high on the dashboard, information is displayed clearly and the software responds quickly to your inputs. Refreshingly, the system isn’t touchscreen-controlled – you use a rotary controller instead, which makes it much less distracting to use while you’re driving.
In fact, you won’t find any fiddly touchscreens or touch-sensitive buttons anywhere, just good old-fashioned buttons and knobs that are satisfying to use. While we’re at it, the CX-5’s historically great interior quality remains. There are plenty of soft-touch materials throughout, especially in the higher trim models, which get close to premium rivals such as the Audi Q5.
There’s also plenty of space up front and even two six-footers will have plenty of head, leg and shoulder room. Rear space is tighter but two tall back-seat passengers will be able to get comfortable. The middle-seat passenger gets a good amount of head room but squeezing three people across the rear bench could be a challenge.
The rear seats don’t do anything impressive like sliding forwards or backwards but they do fold 40/20/40. That’s much more versatile than the 60/40 split in most rivals.
Keyword: 2022 Mazda CX-5 review: price, specs and release date