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Pros: Handling, build quality, comfort
Cons: Weak 2.0-litre petrol engines, expensive top-spec diesel models
The CX-5 is a crucial car for Mazda, having established itself among the absolute best family SUVs on the market since it arrived in 2012. But with impressively capable rivals including the Volkswagen Tiguan and Kia Sportage, the CX-5 has had to evolve. The latest round of updates might be minor, but Mazda is hoping it will be enough to give the car a few more years among the best in its class.
Mazda CX-5 Design
It isn’t easy to tell the new CX-5 apart from its predecessor unless you sit the two cars side by side. The main update is to the front grille, but new bumpers and new taillights also feature, along with some new alloy wheel designs and paint colours. Otherwise, the only difference is the range, which has undergone a bit of a revamp – most notably with the addition of a Newground model near the foot of the line-up.
That lack of major changes means the CX-5 remains the handsome beast it always was. Mazda’s styling is generally pretty solid, and the CX-5 is no exception – especially if you go for the glorious Soul Red Crystal paintwork. One word of warning, though, Newground models come with little flashes of lurid green in the grille, and that won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Mazda CX-5 Interior
If you thought the CX-5’s external updates were minor, the interior has changed even less. Sure, the Newground model comes with more bright green trim around the air vents and some snazzy upholstery, but otherwise there are very few modifications.
As before, it all feels more like a premium car than a mainstream model, with some really soft materials on show. Sure, there are one or two plastics, such as the steering wheel buttons, that could be a little more tactile, but that would be nit-picking. Generally speaking, it all feels very classy and well built, and there’s plenty of interior space for four adults, while boot space is admirable, too.
It even looks good, with wood trim in high-end models and a generally modern feel to the whole dashboard layout. There’s a digital instrument cluster that doesn’t over-complicate things, preferring to stick with the classic white-on-black dial arrangement, albeit in digital form, and there’s a touchscreen infotainment system in the centre of the dash.
That system may not have the most attractive graphics of any on the market, but it is one of the easiest to use. It comes with a rotary controller on the centre console that makes it easier and less distracting to navigate when you’re on the road – something made especially simple by the logical and simple menus. While the screen may not have the style or functionality of a BMW system, it’s still one of the best on the market today.
Mazda CX-5 Performance & Drive
How the CX-5 performs will depend largely on which engine you choose. We’d avoid the 2.0-litre petrol option, which feels sluggish and lethargic compared with the more powerful 2.5-litre unit, but the 2.2-litre diesels remain the most appealing. Not only are they quite punchy – particularly in 184hp guise – but they’re economical and refined to boot. The perfect combination, really.
And that’s a metaphor for the rest of the CX-5’s driving experience. Thanks in part to some of the 2022 car’s tweaks, every model is comfortable and smooth, with great suspension that manages to iron out all but the worst bumps and still keep the car’s tall body under control in corners. It’s very impressive stuff when most manufacturers have to sacrifice either handling or comfort to favour the other. Mazda has proved that isn’t necessary.
That said, four-wheel-drive cars seem to be the better choice for keen drivers, with slightly more composure in corners and marginally more stability, but every version of the CX-5 is still good to drive. It’s also quieter than before, thanks to some soundproofing upgrades that keep the road noise to a minimum.
Mazda CX-5 Pricing
The cheapest versions of the updated CX-5 start at €36,745, which isn’t so bad for a spacious family SUV with a premium feel and alloy wheels, climate control and parking sensors at the front and rear. However, while moving up the trim levels adds more kit, including leather upholstery, a reversing camera and various other goodies, it does increase the price substantially. Top-of-the-range GT Lux models start at €44,640, but opt for a diesel automatic version and a few options will take you well over the €60,000 mark.
Carzone Verdict: 4/5
Although Mazda hasn’t made many changes to the CX-5, serious tweaks weren’t really necessary. A plug-in hybrid version would have been a good addition, but with impressive handling and comfort, as well as great 2.2-litre diesel engines, the CX-5 is still one of our favourite family SUVs.