Facelifted 2022 Mazda CX-5 Officially Unveiled With Elegant Styling

Less than a week after photos were leaked from China, the facelifted 2022 Mazda CX-5 has officially been unveiled with its new looks and improve driving dynamics.

Exterior changes to the 2022 Mazda CX-5 are subtle but easily noticeable. Onlookers will easily spot the new grille with a chrome finish along with the resculpted front bumper with a wider lower air intake. This move necessitates the deletion of the LED foglights as a result. This gives the CX-5 a cleaner look that’s more in line with the current Mazda 3 and CX-30.

The slimmer LED headlights have a new graphic, and it mirrors the same graphics as the equally slimmer LED taillights. Rounding off the changes are the new rear bumper with more body cladding and a new set of alloy wheels across the lineup.

Unlike before, however, each variant now has more distinction. Entry-level models have unpainted body cladding and satin silver faux skid plates. In the case of Europe’s Newground variant, this is matched with lime green accents on the grille and 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels.

Stepping up a notch to the mid-trim variants gets you a sporty design, which is the case for Europe’s Homura and North America’s Grand Touring Reserve. This CX-5 variant gets gloss black body cladding, red highlights on the grille, and gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels.

As for the top-of-the-line CX-5 called Signature in North America and High+ in Europe, this variant features a more elegant design theme with its body-colored body cladding and bright silver 19-inch alloy wheels.

Interior changes for the 2022 Mazda CX-5 are minimal, which is not surprising since the Japanese automaker has updated this throughout the years. A 7-inch partially-digital gauge cluster is standard, along with a 10.25-inch screen that debuted last year. This infotainment system runs the latest generation of the Mazda Connect user interface.

Just like the exterior, there are also design distinctions across each variant’s interior. In the case of Europe’s entry-level Newground, this is matched with lime green highlights, leather-suede seats, and a cargo floor with a reversible water-resistant side.

Moving to the sporty Grand Touring Reserve/Homura variant gets you red stitching, silver trims with a patterned finish, and a Bose sound system.

Lastly, the top-of-the-line High+/Signature gets plush dark brown Nappa Leather along with real wood trims.

Powertrain options remain unchanged for this year. The gasoline engine range kicks off with the 2.0-liter inline-4 Skyactiv-G that produces 156 hp or 165 hp, depending on the market; a 2.5-liter inline-4 Skyactiv-G that produces 190 hp, and a 2.5-liter turbo Skyactiv-G that produces 250 hp. As for the diesel, this will be a 2.2-liter Skyactiv-D powertrain that produces 190 hp. All are mated to a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic, depending on the market.

For the North American market, all upcoming Mazda SUVs, including this new CX-5, will come as standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). Also new for the 2022 model year is Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive), which lets drivers choose between various drive modes including a new Off-Road mode.

Apart from the visual upgrades, Mazda also updated the car’s driving dynamics. The suspension has been tuned to enhance ride comfort, while the body shell sees a number of structural modifications, all in the name of reducing road noise. The seats are also slightly redesigned for better long-distance comfort.

Mazda’s i-Activsense gets an upgrade for the 2022 model year. A new Cruising & Traffic Support feature for the radar-guided adaptive cruise control has been added, and it’s a feature that first made its debut in the Mazda 3 and CX-30.

The new 2022 Mazda CX-5 is expected to go on sale in North America first this December. More details about launch dates will follow in the coming months.