Mazda has announced updates and a new face for the 2022 CX-5. The CX-5 has been a brand best-seller for the past several years, praised for its excellent driving feel, generous luxury features and sharp looks. With a winning formula, any tweaks are sure to be met with some blowback, and we have a few snap judgments to make.
The most visible — and what is likely to be the most controversial — change is in the styling. As predicted by the spy shots we saw last week, Mazda has given the CX-5 a subtle facelift. The front fascia now features a wider lower intake that smooths out some of the design flourishes in the nose. The grille too has a textured pattern rather than the current mesh. It has a thicker chrome frame as well, flanked by headlights housing dual L-shaped LED elements. Oddly, Mazda didn’t provide clear images of the rear, but we know from the spy shots that the taillights repeat the rectangular element theme.
The penultimate Grand Touring Reserve trim level has been re-christened 2.5 Turbo, and features gloss black accents rather than matte black. That means the cladding around the wheel arches, rocker panels and front chin spoiler all look a bit more upscale.
