Since the first generation CX-5 arrived in 2012, Mazda New Zealand has retailed more than 27,225 of the compact crossovers.
The CX-5 accounts for 30% of Mazda NZ’s annual sales. Of those, 55% are to private customers with the remaining 45% going to business buyers in larger fleets and small medium enterprises.
Globally, the CX-5 has been Mazda’s best-selling vehicle since 2014 and more than 3.5 million have been delivered worldwide.
Mazda NZ says that the GSX 2.5-litre all-wheel drive, tested here, is its largest seller, accounting for more than 30% of overall CX-5 volume.
A diesel option is off the table unless there is sudden and increased demand for it. Mazda NZ managing director David Hodge says that previously, one in nine CX-5 sales was a diesel and went primarily to one fleet customer.
THE RANGE
Mazda refreshed its CX-5 NZ range in April, adding three new variants, the Activ, SP25T and Takami, to the familiar GLX, GSX, and Limited.
There’s a choice of three petrol engines, a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder (GLX, GSX), a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre (GSX, Limited, Activ), and a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder (SP25T, Takami).
A six-speed automatic gearbox is standard on all cars, and all-wheel drive is standard on 2.5-litre models.
The Activ targets outdoor adventurers with its weatherproof, reversible load space floorboard, the SP25T targets more dynamic drivers with its sports performance, and the high-end Takami offers a premium feel with its Nappa leather upholstery and Maple Wood trim.
The Takami and Active have a new Off-road mode through the Mazda MI-Drive system for greater traction on mud, grass, and snow.
All new 2022 CX-5 models sit in the neutral zone of the Clean Car Standard except for the SP25 T and Takami models powered by the 2.5-litre turbo engine.
The CX-5 is covered by the Mazdacare five-year warranty and five-year Mazda On-Call Roadside Assistance with a three-year/100,000km (whichever comes first) scheduled servicing at no extra cost.
Pricing for the CX-5 starts at $42,290 for the GLX 2WD through to $64,290 for the Takami.
THE LOOK
For 2022, all CX-5s get a restyled front grille and bumper with a new LED headlight design for a sleeker yet more aggressive stance, and the rear tailgate and rear bumper have been squared off with a larger tailpipe and a new taillight design.
Complementing the new design, the driving dynamics and ride quality of the 2022 CX-5 have evolved with updates to the seats, body, and suspension carried across from other Mazda models.
The new Activ grade features a silver underguard style treatment to the front and rear bumpers and door garnishes, black door mirrors, lime green accents to the front grille and 19-inch black machine-cut alloy wheels.
The interior combines suede upholstery with lime green stitching and air-conditioning louvres.
The SP25T has a distinct blackout design. There’s black chrome on the Mazda “wing” badge in the grille and gloss black on the lower bumper sections, wheel arches, door garnishes and door mirrors.
The 19-inch alloy wheels are black metallic, and the grille incorporates red accents. Red stitching trims the black leather seats, steering wheel, gear lever, and door panels.
The top-of-the-range Takami has a one-colour exterior complemented by silver 19-inch alloy wheels. The interior features Nappa leather and genuine woodgrain.
A two-piece, reversible load space floorboard and the tailgate sill are on the same level to aid loading or can be lowered for extra cargo space.
There’s a new colour Zircon Sand Metallic has been added and there’s a $300 (including GST) surcharge for Soul Red Crystal and the Machine Grey Metallic paint.
INSIDE
The CX-5 GSX 2.5 AWD has a unique blend of suede and leatherette upholstery complemented by a lighter beige headlining. The multi-adjustable seats are very supportive and the GSX’s updated interior has more of premium feel. All 2022 models have reversing cameras and the evolved infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto cell phone connectivity.
Mazda’s simple to operate MZD infotainment system remains, complete with a knob on the console to control the audio volume, something that’s becoming rare in modern cars.
The cabin is comfortable and spacious for up to five people, and the wide opening doors enable easy of entry and exit.
SAFETY
The 2022 CX-5 benefits from a new cruise and traffic support (CTS) function that helps reduce driver fatigue by assisting the accelerator, brake pedal and steering in heavy traffic.
CTS adjusts vehicle speed to maintain a constant distance to the vehicle ahead. At speeds up to 55km/h, CTS adds steering assistance to keep the vehicle in its lane when rounding bends.
Standard across the CX-5 range, Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) uses a forward camera to detect vehicles and pedestrians ahead, both by day and at night.
The system stops or reduces the speed of the car when there’s a risk of collision with the vehicle or pedestrian ahead.
Other driver-supporting technologies included as standard across the range include lane-keep assist system, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, and Mazda radar cruise control (MRCC).
THE DRIVE
Though the 2.5-litre naturally aspirated engine of the GSX may not have the get up and go of the turbocharged unit in the 2.5SPT and Takami, it’s more than sprightly and responsive enough for fleet use. And it doesn’t attract the clean car fee of its turbocharged siblings.
The Japanese concept of Kaizen (continuous improvement) shows in the GSX with a quieter cabin, a more comfortable ride, and a more direct steering response.
The improvements are evolutionary including the adoption of G-Vectoring Control-Plus (GVC-Plus) which plants the car more firmly to the road.
The CX-5 has always been considered one of the more enjoyable cars to drive in the small SUV segment.
And in spite of, or probably because of, its standard 17-inch wheel and tyre combination, is the pick of the range for its all-round comfort and capability without feeling noisy or harsh across some of New Zealand’s challenging road surfaces.
OUR VIEW
The small SUV market is one of the most competitive in New Zealand, where the Mazda CX-5 faces competition from new entrants like the Ford Escape, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, and later this year the all-new Nissan X-Trail.
However, thanks to Kaizen the CX-5 remains not only very competent but also very desirable.
Its blend of quality engineering, functional aesthetics plus fun-to-drive character will continue to tick the boxes for many fleet buyers.
