Mazda has confirmed its best-selling car will get a mid-life freshen-up early in 2022.
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 has looks inspired by the smaller CX-30, with a fresh grille, light signature, and detailing in the bumpers.
There’s a bigger difference between each model grade for 2022. The range-topping Akera has body-coloured cladding around its wheel arches for a more luxurious look, while the GT SP will feature prominent gloss black detailing.
The Touring gets chunky, off-road-style cladding on the arches and doors, along with lime green grille accents.
Mazda hasn’t detailed what’s changing in the cabin for Australia, but images from Europe reveal the bones of the cabin remain largely the same.
A 2021 update saw the latest Mazda Connect infotainment system added to top-end CX-5 models, and it could be rolled out range-wide for 2022.
Under the skin, Mazda says it has given the CX-5 a stiffer structure and revised the suspension. It also says “road noise has also been greatly reduced, particularly when driving on rough surfaces such as gravel”.
The torque converter automatic transmission has been updated, but it’s unclear if the engine range will be tweaked.
In Australia, petrol front-drive models are powered by a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine developing 115kW and 200Nm.
Across the range there’s a petrol and all-wheel drive combination available, featuring a larger 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol bumping outputs to 140kW and 252Nm.
GT, GT SP and Akera models can be had with a 2.5-litre turbocharged version of the four-pot petrol, outputting 170kW and 420Nm.
Finally, there’s a 2.2-litre twin-turbo four-cylinder diesel available on Maxx Sport, Touring, GT and Akera grades. Outputs are 140kW and 450Nm.
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First launched in 2017, an updated CX-5 would give Mazda more ammunition to fight in Australia’s most competitive segment.
Currently, the CX-5 is the best-selling Mazda in Australia. It sits second in its VFACTS segment behind the Toyota RAV4.
In 2022, it’ll be sold alongside a more luxurious rear-wheel drive CX-50 SUV.
Mazda Australia’s managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, has previously confirmed there’s a new mid-sized SUV coming with a dramatically different drivetrain.
“[For] CX-5 and above on the large platform, inline six will be an option, and rear-wheel drive,” Mr Bhindi said.
“So, those things are going to be available to us where it fits in. We just have to see when the final product is signed off”.
Displacing 3.0 or 3.3 litres, the new inline-six petrol and diesel engines will be available with 48V mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology.
Japanese media has reported the new mid-sized SUV could be sold alongside the existing CX-5, and could offer four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines at the entry level.
MORE: Everything Mazda CX-5
