With its clean, contoured sheet metallic and engaging proportions, the CX-5’s designers hit the bullseye. This is among the prettiest small SUVs round, way more interesting than the robotic Honda CR-V, overly faceted Hyundai Tucson or blocky Toyota RAV4. The Ford Escape’s bodywork is equally clean, although it is nonetheless not as eye-catching as this Mazda, particularly when wearing elective Soul Crimson Crystal Metallic paint ($595), the Japanese automaker’s signature hue.

Irrespective of the trim stage, the CX-5 comes customary with all-wheel drive, a brand new perk for 2022. Facilities like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, adaptive cruise management with stop-and-go functionality, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and LED headlamps with automated excessive beams are all included at no additional cost. This implies the CX-5 is not only a fairly face, it is a good worth, too. The massive cause to pay for a better trim stage, nevertheless, is due to what’s underneath the hood.

A torquetonic shift

A well-known and amenable 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine gives the hustle within the CX-5 Turbo and Signature fashions, delivering both 227 horsepower when you fill the tank with 87-octane common gasoline or 256 hp when you spring for 93-octane premium. Whether or not you are a skinflint or spendy on the gasoline pump, you get almost the identical quantity of torque, 310 pound-feet with common or 320 when burning premium.

Efficiency is rarely a difficulty within the turbocharged CX-5, which may hit 60 mph within the low-to-mid 6-second vary. Sadly, as potent because the engine could also be, it sounds and feels noticeably rougher than I keep in mind in different Mazdas. Additionally, regardless of this SUV’s sprinting skills, it isn’t notably succesful. The CX-5 Turbo can solely tow 2,000 kilos, the identical as a Ford Maverick hybrid, which produces manner much less energy.

Regardless of an antiquated design with simply six ahead gears, this clean, responsive automated transmission nonetheless helps ship admirable gasoline economic system. In line with the EPA, this CX-5 stickers at 22 mpg metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 24 mpg mixed. In blended, largely interstate driving, I am averaging 27 mpg on the nostril, which is not too unhealthy for an all-wheel-drive SUV with this a lot scoot.

The remainder of the CX-5’s driving dynamics are largely nice. The steering is properly dialed in, neither too mild nor artificially heavy. As you navigate corners, this SUV feels prefer it’s pivoting about an axis someplace close to its middle, feeling mild on its ft and unusually exact for a household car. The brake pedal is properly weighted as effectively, and the experience is clean with out ever feeling sloppy. The posh-like expertise continues even at freeway speeds, the place the inside stays good and quiet.

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Nice cabin, awful infotainment system.

Craig Cole/CNETPremium and pleased with it

The CX-5’s largest declare to fame is its luxurious car-rivaling inside. The cabin of this mass-market SUV is tastefully designed and fantastically constructed, with loads of upscale supplies and high-quality controls. The dashboard is elegantly easy, though the instrument cluster could take {that a} bit too far, trying plain moderately than premium. Different upscale appointments embody tender plastics on the rear door panels, a rarity on this class of auto, in addition to a beautiful woven headliner. The local weather controls are mounted on the backside of the middle stack, and so they’re instantly intuitive. The standard mechanical shifter is reassuring due to its placement and slick motion.

Larger-end variations of the CX-5 function a 10.3-inch display screen, which is extensive, slim and set far again on the dashboard. As in different Mazdas, the infotainment system that lives in there’s a hateful affair, among the many most unintuitive you will discover in any car at this time. The system is so unhealthy, the truth is, I have never even bothered setting any radio presets as a result of the method is so irritating. With myriad menus to rifle by, nothing is straightforward to get at, plus there is no touchscreen, so that you’re pressured to make use of the management knob for every thing, and it is set a bit too far again on the middle console to make room for the shifter.

Fortunately, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are each customary, although you will nonetheless want a cable if you wish to use both smartphone-mirroring system, so plan accordingly. No less than a wi-fi charging pad is included in Turbo and Signature fashions, although you’ll be able to’t use CarPlay or Android Auto whereas charging, in fact.

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This is among the most upscale autos within the compact SUV class.

Craig Cole/CNET

This SUV’s entrance seats are comfy sufficient, although the underside cushion does not angle sufficiently to correctly assist taller drivers’ thighs. Easing the sting, each entrance chairs are heated and ventilated, and the outboard rear positions additionally function butt heaters. Passengers within the again have sufficient headroom and leg house, however rival SUVs are noticeably extra spacious. Annoyingly, this Mazda’s rear door openings are on the tight aspect, which makes it troublesome to get out and in of the car.

The CX-5 is an effective cargo hauler, simply inferior to a few of its major rivals. With the rear backrests folded down, there’s almost 60 cubic ft of cargo house. The cavernous Honda CR-V affords almost 76 cubes’ value of room, whereas the non-hybrid Ford Escape gives 65 and alter. The Toyota RAV4 falls between these two fashions, clocking in at a whisker lower than 70.

Prime quality at a low worth

This 2022 Mazda CX-5 Turbo checks out for $38,670 together with $1,225 in vacation spot charges, making it fairly affordable, not less than by 2022 requirements the place every thing is pricey. For a little bit context, the entry-level S mannequin checks out for about $27,500 and the range-topping Signature trim goes for about $41,000. On each ends of the spectrum, these costs are similar to different compact SUVs, although the RAV4 and Escape can each be pushed a pair grand past the most costly CX-5, regardless of not feeling almost as particular.

Total, this Mazda utility car is fashionable, nice to drive and comes with a beautiful inside. In the event you can stay with the exasperating infotainment system and do not thoughts sacrificing a little bit cargo house in comparison with competing SUVs, it is a pretty possibility. If Mazda have been aiming to ship a premium but reasonably priced car, it definitely hit the goal.