The days of front-wheel drive Mazda CX crossovers are numbered. You better get yours fast, or you may miss out forever! What are we talking about here at Napleton News? The new 2022 Mazda CX-5 crossover CUV and all future CX CUV models will now be putting down the grip at all four corners. Yeehaw!
The CX-5 is the best-selling model the brand makes. For 2022 they are making improvements that will enhance the capabilities and style that promise to make the Mazda CX-5 more popular than ever. First up? i-Activ AWD (All-Wheel Drive). But this time, every model gets a go: All-wheel drive is now standard on all CX crossovers in the Mazda portfolio. That means everything from the CX-3, CX-30, CX-5 and CX-9 will all be all-wheel drive-equipped when delivered in 2022.
Zoom-Zoom, the ethos lying at the heart of the entire Mazda lineup, remains. Sure, a CX-5 is just like any other Crossover and SUV in the market today. But one thing the CX-5 has in spades that most of the competition lacks is the inherent fun-to-drive factor present in each of these vehicles. In addition to the drivetrain, the CX-5 receives an exterior update that leaves it appearing more elegant than before. A new level of refinement is part of it, restyling the front and rear ends of the CX-5. Gone are the character lines from the Mazda “Kodo” design protocols that anchored the 2021 model. Reflective design, meaning flat body panels, take the place of the swirling panels of the past.
The front fascia includes signature wings extending outward from the jet fighter-inspired front grille. New 3-D texture replaces the outgoing grille surface. Head- and taillights receive a new styling change making them more contemporary than before. A new crop of aluminum-alloy wheel designs helps to refresh the overall look of the CX-5. Going further, Mazda will offer differentiation that separates the turbocharged CX-5 from the naturally-aspirated model. This styling isn’t radical enough to irk the Mazda faithful but will also draw new fans to the brand. Trim levels change slightly, with the 2022 Mazda CX-5 turbo receiving added styling features to distinguish it from non-turbo models. A reorganization will, hopefully, make it easier to track. The former CX-5 Grand Touring Reserve is now the 2.5 Turbo and offers a new, more contemporary style that appeals to sporty enthusiast types. Gloss black finishing surfaces are featured throughout to make this CX-5 a standout looker.
The 2.5 Turbo Signature model adds to the overall elegance of the new CX-5. Instead of black cladding, the Signature CX-5 turns things around to include body-colored cladding that adds a certain sense of elegance, especially when its bright silver-finished wheels are added to the look. The interior receives Nappa leather and genuine woodgrain trim.
Power for the 2022 Mazda CX-5 relies on the familiar. In this case, it’s a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated inline-4 engine that delivers 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5 Turbo is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 227 horsepower with regular 87 octane fuel. Fill it with 93 octane gas for a more satisfying 250 ponies under the hood. Both engines are matched to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The i-Activ AWD system will continuously monitor the CX-5’s weight as it transfers from front to back and side to side. Sensors monitor the wheels for slippage, sending power to those that still have grip. It’s a torque-vectoring system that helps sharpen vehicle turn-in based on readouts of sensor speed and cornering forces.
The 2022 Mazda CX-5 should arrive at dealerships later this year. Pricing will be released around the same time.
This post was published on October 5, 2021
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