Has Mazda’s 2022 refresh given the popular CX-5 mid-size SUV the arsenal to fight newer rivals like the Kia Sportage and Mitsubishi Outlander?
- Turbo engine packs plenty of punch
- Roomy cabin for occupants
- One of the sharper driver’s cars in the class
- Infotainment screen is not a touchscreen
- Small boot by class standards
- Missing important active safety systems
Is the Mazda CX-5 a good car?
Since the Mazda CX-5 arrived in Australia in 2012, it has been one of the most popular new vehicles on sale. In fact, not only has Mazda sold more than 235,000 in the last 10 years, the Mazda CX-5 mid-size SUV is regularly in the top five best-sellers, beaten only by dual-cab utes and the Toyota RAV4, its arch rival.
So, this new CX-5 updated for 2022 has big shoes to fill, and big expectations if it is to maintain the momentum. Let’s take a closer look at how Mazda has refreshed its biggest seller.
There are six variants in the 2022 Mazda CX-5 line-up, starting with the Maxx from $32,190 and stretching to the Akera Turbo diesel at $53,680. The turbo petrol Akera we’re testing here is just $500 less than that at $53,180 (all before on-road costs).
Mazda’s on-road price is $58,481, including CTP, 12 months registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery fees.
Picking the 2022 update from the outside takes a bit of insider knowledge. Unless you’re a CX-5 anorak, you won’t notice the slightly different 3D-look front grille and the bolder front wing. The LED headlights are shaped differently too.
Along the side, Mazda has replaced the black plastic cladding of other other CX-5 variants with body-coloured sills on the Akera for a more luxurious look. The Akera also gets silver alloy wheels and body-colour wing mirrors. At the back, the tail-lights have been reshaped, and… That’s about it.
| Key details | 2022 Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo AWD |
| Price (MSRP) | $53,180 plus on-road costs |
| Colour of test car | Snowflake White Pearl Mica |
| Options | None |
| Price as tested | $53,180 plus on-road costs $58,481 drive-away (Melbourne) |
| Rivals | Kia Sportage | Hyundai Tucson | Mitsubishi Outlander |
What is the Mazda CX-5 like inside?
Moving inside and this CX-5 Akera has everything Mazda can throw at it. But you’d expect that for a price tag north of $50,000.
That means full nappa leather trim, front seats with heating and ventilation, rear seats with heating, a heated steering wheel, real wood in the doors and dashboard, and ambient lighting.
That’s on top of the electric front seat adjustment, power sunroof and tailgate, climate control, head-up display, 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat-nav and premium Bose sound system, wireless phone charging, and smartphone mirroring.
As for the driving position, it’s good. Mazda has long had a knack of providing a Goldilocks driving position for me, and with enough flexibility for body shapes that aren’t like mine. Mazda says it updated the seats for 2022, making them more comfortable for longer trips.
Storage options up front are the usual array of cupholders and storage bins. There’s also a wireless charging mat in front of the transmission lever. It’s tilted rather than flat, which makes it easier to get your phone in and out, but larger smartphones slide off the charging spot.
The CX-5 is quite spacious in the second row, with plenty of legroom and under-seat foot room. Headroom is ample for my 175cm frame, with eight to ten inches to spare above. The two outer seats are heated, which is nice, and the backrest across all three positions reclines up to 28-degrees to provide more comfort on longer trips or to accommodate taller passengers.
The second row has a fold-down armrest with a pair of cupholders and a USB port. There are two ISOFIX mounting positions, one in each outer seat.
Now, the boot, which on this Akera opens electrically. Boot space is good without being great – 438L is the claim, and that looks about right. But that’s a lot smaller than the RAV4 and Sportage, which are both around 540L, and a country mile behind the big-butt king of the medium SUV brigade, the 600L Haval H6.
The Mazda’s rear seat split-folds 40/20/40 to liberate more luggage space at the expense of back seat passengers, and there are remote seat releases accessible from the boot.
| 2022 Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo AWD | |
| Seats | Five |
| Boot volume | 438L seats up / 1340L seats folded |
| Length | 4575mm |
| Width | 1845mm |
| Height | 1680mm |
| Wheelbase | 2700mm |
How big is the screen in the Mazda CX-5?
No touchscreen?! What were they thinking? Were they thinking?
The Mazda CX-5 Akera comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen that has all the usual systems – audio, sat-nav, smartphone connectivity, etc – plumbed in, but can only be operated via a rotary dial behind the gear lever.
The CX-5’s sound system is by Bose and has 10 speakers. It also has AM/FM and DAB+ digital radio, and Bluetooth phone connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard fitment, via a wired connection.
Is the Mazda CX-5 a safe car?
The Mazda CX-5 is a five-star car according to independent crash testing done by ANCAP, which gives you peace of mind. The rating was bestowed in 2017, a time at which ANCAP’s testing standards were not as rigorous as today. However, since the CX-5 has not changed structurally since then, ANCAP has not retested it.
The CX-5 Akera also has a plethora of active safety systems to help the driver avoid an accident, including autonomous emergency braking (forward and reverse), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and lane-keeping smarts.
The only safety additions the Akera gets that the GT SP variant below it doesn’t get are adaptive LED headlights and a 360-degree camera.
The CX-5 Akera doesn’t match the best in class for active safety, so if that’s a concern for you, have a closer look at our 2022 Drive Car of the Year Kia Sportage and the Hyundai Tucson. The Toyota RAV4 is well-specced in this area, too, as is the Mitsubishi Outlander.
| 2022 Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo AWD | |
| ANCAP rating | Five stars (tested 2017) |
| Safety report | Link to ANCAP report |
How much is the Mazda CX-5 in Australia?
The Mazda CX-5 comes with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and five years of roadside assist. Servicing intervals are 12 months or 10,000km, which is a touch shorter than some rivals. Each service costs either $363 (first, third and fifth) or $393 (second and fourth), making for a total outlay of $1875 for the first five visits.
Brake fluid and cabin air filters must be replaced every 40,000km and cost an additional $155, which takes the real five-year servicing cost to $2030.
Comprehensive insurance for the CX-5 Akera Turbo costs around $1170 for a 35yo Sydney male with a clean record. That compares to $1252 for a similarly priced Toyota RAV4 Edge ($50,200 plus ORCs).
| At a glance | 2022 Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo AWD |
| Warranty | Five years / unlimited km |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Servicing costs | $1119 (3 years), $2030 (5 years) |
This turbocharged petrol Akera is not light – it weighs 1730kg, which puts it among the heavier mid-sizers, but the engine disguises the weight well. You will notice it in the fuel consumption, though. Mazda says this car will consume around 10.3L/100km around town, and 6.9L in the country for an average of 8.2L/100km.
That’s not what you’d call economical by today’s standards, but it is in keeping with this turbocharged engine’s performance… So if you use it, be prepared to pay.
If you don’t need the speed this Akera has on offer, two other drivetrains are available. There’s a non-turbocharged petrol variant with 140kW and 252Nm that is said to average 7.4L/100km, or you can go even more frugal with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel that averages 5.7L/100km.
Fuel Consumption – brought to you by bp
| Fuel Useage | Fuel Stats |
| Fuel cons. (claimed) | 8.3L/100km |
| Fuel cons. (on test) | 11.2L/100km |
| Fuel type | 91-octane unleaded |
| Fuel tank size | 58L |
What is the Mazda CX-5 like to drive?
The Mazda CX-5 is more of a driver’s car compared to rivals like the Mitsubishi Outlander and Toyota RAV4, although the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson come close in that regard.
The 2.5-litre turbocharged engine is strong off the mark and has plenty of roll-on acceleration for picking up speed in traffic or overtaking – as you’d expect of an engine producing 170kW and 420Nm. Those outputs put this variant up near the top of the medium SUV category on performance, and it feels like it too.
It’s all-wheel drive, so there’s no fear that the car won’t be able to get the power down even in trickier conditions. That said, this is not an all-wheel-drive off-road wagon that’ll take you through the Simpson Desert and back, but it’s good enough to give me confidence on moderate dirt roads and gravel tracks.
The throttle is quite sensitive and the powertrain very responsive, which makes it hard to be smooth initially. It takes concentration to iron out the jerks, but that’s because this powertrain is so willing to get going. And we much prefer that to a sluggish engine you have to be aggressive with all the time.
The CX-5 has a six-speed automatic transmission that does a pretty good job picking the right gear for the occasion. During our test drive it proved itself a smooth and seamless companion.
The updated CX-5 has Mazda’s Intelligent Drive Select, which lets you customise throttle response and gearchange mapping, either to suit a more sporty drive or for off-roading. When you change the setting, the colouring in the instrument dials changes to match.
As for ride quality, well, it’s a Mazda, which means it’s firm and sporty rather than soft. If you’re looking for a plush, wafting, luxurious ride, this is not it. This is a more athletic SUV that feels taut and agile. It’s not uncomfortable, but it does follow the undulations in the road rather than glide across the top of them.
The steering is heavier than its rivals, which in turn means the driver gets more feedback about road conditions and grip and the front end. At lower speeds the assistance increases, making it lighter, but it still requires more effort than its rivals at parking speeds.
The steering itself is very direct, and the turning circle is relatively tight at 11.0m. That’s not the best in class, but neither is it the worst.
| Key details | 2022 Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo AWD |
| Engine | 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Power | 170kW @ 5000rpm |
| Torque | 420Nm @ 2000rpm |
| Drive type | All-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Six-speed torque converter automatic |
| Power to weight ratio | 98kW/t |
| Weight | 1730kg |
| Tow rating | 2000kg braked, 750kg unbraked |
| Turning circle | 11.0m |
Should I buy a Mazda CX-5?
Mazda’s 2022 CX-5 refresh has lifted this popular medium SUV, but it still trails its rivals in key areas. This is more a reflection of the ‘real’ age of the CX-5 – the base on which the 2022 model is built dates back more than a decade – and despite regular refreshes and updates, that age is holding it back from offering the latest technologies and being truly competitive.
If you’re looking for a willing and engaging medium SUV with plenty of premium trappings, then the Mazda CX-5 Akera Turbo ticks those boxes.
If you want the best-in-class space, safety and technology, then the Mazda CX-5 cannot match newer rivals like the Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson and Toyota RAV4.
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