2022 Mazda CX-5

Standard equipment on the CX-5 Maxx includes:

• 17-inch alloy wheels with 225/65 tyres
• Automatic LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Power-folding mirrors
• Rear seats with reclining function and 40/20/40 split-fold backrest
• Black cloth seat trim
• 8.0-inch touchscreen (MZD Connect)
• 7.0-inch digital instrument binnacle
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• AM/FM radio, DAB+
• Electric parking brake with Auto Hold
• Leather-wrapped gear shift knob and steering wheel
• Push-button start

Moving to the Maxx Sport brings:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Paddle shifters
• Rear-view mirror with auto-dimming
• Rear seats with centre armrest storage and USB charging ports
• Satellite navigation
• Traffic sign recognition

Moving to the Touring brings:

• Body-coloured, heated mirrors with auto-fold
• Black Maztex/Black Grand Luxe synthetic suede seat trim
• Keyless entry
• Front parking sensors
• Wireless smartphone charging
• Reversible cargo floorboard

Moving to the Touring Active brings:

• 17-inch alloy wheels (grey metallic)
• Green accented seat trim
• Side mirror caps in piano black

The GT SP gains:

• 19-inch alloy wheels (black metallic) with
• 10.25-inch widescreen infotainment display (Mazda Connect)
• Adaptive headlights
• Black headliner
• Power sliding and tilt-glass sunroof
• Hands-free kick-operated power tailgate
• Heated, powered front seats with driver memory
• Black leather seat trim with contrast red stitching
• Premium Bose 249-watt amplifier and 10 speakers (including subwoofer)

The range-topping Akera has:

• 19-inch alloy wheels (brilliant dark)
• Surround-view camera
• Adaptive LED headlights
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated outer rear seats
• Dark russet Nappa leather seat trim
• Heated steering wheel
• Ambient lighting
• Frameless rear-view mirror
• Real wood door and dashboard trim inserts
• Unique overhead console

Mazda offers the following colours on the CX-5:

• Polymetal Grey Metallic
• Deep Crystal Blue Mica
• Eternal Blue Mica
• Soul Red Crystal Metallic
• Zircon Sand Metallic
• Jet Black Mica
• Machine Grey Metallic
• Sonic Silver Metallic
• Snowflake White Pearl Metallic

Mazda backs its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assist.

Service intervals and prices for the updated CX-5 haven’t been revealed, but they’re unlikely to have changed from those of the pre-update model which required maintenance every 12 months or 10,000km.

Five years of capped-price servicing in the pre-update model cost a combined $1805.

The CX-5 remains arguably one of the dynamic benchmark in the mid-sized SUV segment, and it shines brightest with the turbo-petrol engine.

This mid-sized SUV fun to drive on a twisty road, something that can’t be said for a vast number of its rivals. Steering is precise, well-weighted and communicative, and there's plenty of grip.

The six-speed automatic might be down a gear or two on some rivals but it shifts smoothly and quickly, even in spirited driving. There’s really little point in flicking it to Sport mode or using the paddle shifters.

Ah, but how does it fare in your daily commute? Quite well. The ride is a touch firm but it’s never uncomfortable, and bumps are dispatched with a well-damped poise even riding on the bigger wheel options.

Out on a country road, the LED headlights provide excellent illumination and the Adaptive Front Lighting System is a splendid companion on a winding mountain road.

The automatic stop/start system isn’t as intrusive as Volkswagen’s, and you have to depress the brake pedal quite firmly to activate it. Likewise, the lane-keep assist isn’t constantly making its presence felt, though that also means its overall performance is average.

You can switch it off via a button on the dash, though it defaults to on.

The CX-5 range doesn't have a long options list, what you see on each model is what you get.

Mazda backs its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assist.

Service intervals and prices for the updated CX-5 haven’t been revealed, but they’re unlikely to have changed from those of the pre-update model which required maintenance every 12 months or 10,000km.

Five years of capped-price servicing in the pre-update model cost a combined $1805.

The 2022 CX-5 is expected to arrive towards the end of the first quarter.

The current model is in runout, meaning what's at dealers is likely what's left.

Boot space is a claimed 438 litres with the rear seats in place, and 1340L with the 40/20/20 folding rear bench sitting flat.

The CX-5 fits into one of Australia's most popular new car segments, going head-to-head with mid-sized SUVs such as the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan X-Trail.

Mazda sold 24,968 examples of the CX-5 in 2021, putting it behind just the Toyota RAV4 (35,751) in the mid-sized SUV class.

The CX-5 outsold the Mitsubishi Outlander (14,572), Hyundai Tucson (14,194), and Nissan X-Trail (13,860).

We’ve all heard it before. A person wants something a little sporty to drive, but their partner wants a practical SUV. Or perhaps they’re a couple on the same page about needing an SUV but both want something with a little more poke.

Unfortunately, many vehicles in this segment are merely poky. That’s where the Mazda CX-5 stands tall, with one of the most powerful engines in the mainstream mid-sized SUV segment, and sharp handling.

While the interior isn’t the roomiest in the segment, it’s a comfortable place to sit and has a high-quality look and feel.

Before it set about developing the CX-5, Mazda sold a version of the Ford Escape called the Mazda Tribute. It also offered a mid-sized SUV called the CX-7 until 2012.