2022 Mazda CX-5

Pros: Nimble handling; excellent road manners; responsive powertrain; upscale trimmings on high-end trim levels

Cons: Not as much cargo room as some competitors; some testers dislike console-mounted infotainment control knob

CG Says: The 2022 Mazda CX-5 gets standard all-wheel drive across a revised trim level lineup. Front and rear fascia feature refreshed styling. New seats and subtle suspension changes promise improved ride comfort. The base engine is Mazda’s 187-horsepower 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G 4-cylinder. Turbo and Turbo Signature models have a 256-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, which represents a slight bump in horsepower for 2022. Both the base 2.5 and the turbo engine are paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

A heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, reclining rear seat backs, and a power liftgate are among the CX-5’s available comfort and convenience features. A 10.25-inch control screen with a new generation of infotainment controls is standard. Available safety features include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, rear cross-traffic alert, head-up instrument display, traffic-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. Some larger compact-SUV competitors are better at hauling cargo and some have more user-friendly infotainment systems, but the CX-5’s engaging driving personality, high-quality interior, and respectable fuel-economy numbers make it an excellent choice.