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2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo Review

The new turbocharged powerplant does make the Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo an enticing offer.

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Mazda CX-5 AWE Turbo

The refreshed Mazda CX-5 recently made its debut in the Philippines featuring updated styling, a better range of safety features, and a new engine that has been added to the variant lineup. Speaking of the variant lineup, this has been also changed for the Japanese crossover with the diesel engines, now no longer available. This just leaves the 2.0 and 2.5-liter motors as the only engine options. The lower variants get the naturally aspirated versions of these engines, while the new variant gets the turbocharged 2.5-liter under its hood.

With this refreshed lineup of the CX-5 from Mazda Philippines, this now begs the question, is the Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo worth it, now that it's the top dog of the crossover’s variant range? Find out as we take a closer look at the vehicle to see what it has to offer and if that newfound power is worth it.

4.4 / 5
2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo Review
Performance
Engine Output (HP), Acceleration, Transmission, Handling 4.5/5
Design
Exterior & Interior Design, Quality, Fit and Finish, Ergonomics 4.5/5
Ride Comfort
Cabin Comfort, Suspension, NVH Insulation 4.5/5
Safety and Technology
Convenience Technologies, Active and Passive Safety Features 4.5/5
Value for Money
Amount of the vehicle you get for the price, Fuel Efficiency 4.0/5
What You Will Like
  • Great amount of power
  • Impressive driving dynamics
  • Great build quality
What You Won't Like
  • Average fuel economy figures
  • No adaptive cruise control
  • Steep price
How We Do Our Reviews
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo exterior front quarter
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo exterior rear quarter
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo exterior side profile

This version of the Mazda CX-5 is in its facelifted form. This means that its overall shape and dimensions are the same as the previous model. However, the changes to the exterior can be found with the front fascia as the crossover now gets a new grille design and new LED headlights. Aside from this it also gets a new set of 19-inch wheels and the cladding has now been painted to match the color of the body for the 2.5 AWD Turbo model. The updated CX-5 also gets a new set of taillights with the same shape but a different design.

Overall these are subtle changes to the vehicle that do help make it look a little bit sleeker than before. It may not seem like a lot to the average buyer but the devil is in the details. The lack of body cladding also gives the vehicle a cleaner and more subtle look that we like about the vehicle. Mazda has been known for its overall clean designs and has won multiple awards for it which shows on the CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo model. 

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior dashboard
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior seats
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior cargo space

The interior of the Mazda CX-5 remains largely the same as the previous model in terms of its layout. What’s new for the 2022 year model are the updated seats which feature more support and the upgraded cabin insulation which will supposedly dampen more noise vibration and harshness (NVH) while driving. Also, the interior can come in a Deep Red Nappa leather interior, giving the crossover a subtle two-tone look for its cabin. Just like the previous model this newest interaction is just as premium, soft-touch materials are everywhere. Even the feel of the buttons is on point, it's almost as if someone at Mazda had the job of designing the tactical feel and sound.

For its premium positioning in the market, the Mazda CX-5 is ready to dress to impress. Its interior is plush with leather in high-touch areas. The comfort is great thanks to the suspension and the leather seats. Plus the seating position is also great thanks to Mazda’s philosophy of Jinba Ittai which is a Japanese phrase that means the experience of a horse rider feeling he has become one with his mount. To sum this up, Mazda has designed the seating of the CX-5 to not only be comfortable and ergonomic but also to feel like a natural extension of your being albeit a bit heavier. 

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior rear air vents

The interior of the CX-5 is premium and comfortable. The bolstering of the seats is soft yet supportive but firm enough to keep you in place for much more spirited driving. The air conditioning is easy to use and keeps the car cool as well even without tint. The door sidings are also very comfortable to the touch and don’t creak when you put some weight on them.

For the ride quality, NVH suppression is great in the CX-5 with most of the wind noise being muffled at lower speeds and only ever popping up at about 90km/h. The suspension takes bumps on with ease but you can tell it's a bit on the stiffer side to help manage the weight of the vehicle. Overall it's a quality ride inside the CX-5 AWD Turbo which is great, especially for its premium positioning in the market. 

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo infotainment system

For its technology, the Mazda CX-5 comes with an 8-inch infotainment system that comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. aside from this it also comes with a 10-speaker bose sound system which is great in terms of its tonality but lacks in certain areas when it comes to adjusting where the sound will come from inside the crossover. It also comes with two USB ports at the front, an active driving display that is projected onto the windshield, and a wireless charger.  All things considered, this is a great feature set to have that many owners will enjoy.

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo safety

Where the Mazda CX-5 gets a substantial upgrade is with its safety feature set. The vehicle now gets Smart Brake assist and Smart City brake assist. These features give the vehicle autonomous emergency braking if the driver is inattentive and is about to encounter a collision or fails to apply the appropriate force to stop the car. On top of this, the CX-5 also comes with blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, and driver attention alert. 

This is separate from its standard kit of safety features which includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, dynamic stability control, front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and ISOFIX anchor points. Overall a great feature set with nothing really to complain about.

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo driving and handling

The Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that has 249 hp and 434 Nm of torque on 95 octane gasoline, it sends power to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. Something to note is that if you do fuel up the CX-5 with 91 octane its power figures will go down by a bit.

As for its driving experience, things are made easy with the power of the 2.5-liter turbo which likes to stay in the lower part of its rev range. It’s definitely a step up in smoothness but with the torque of the beloved diesel powerplant thanks to the engine’s tuning as opposed to the naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter gasoline and 2.2-liter diesel motors, respectively. Power delivery is very linear with most of it being found in the middle of the rev range, but ask more and the engine will deliver up to 249 horsepower. The same can be said for 434 Nm of torque as it resides mostly on the lower end, but even with its high power figures, the engine feels like it struggles at the upper limits of the tachometer. 

The Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo feels very much like a turbo diesel car. You get a good pull on the lower rev range that extends well into the mid-range. The car is quick to act when the turbos come online but is a bit sluggish before they kick in. You can feel the weight of the car when accelerating but the torque is there and is more than enough to rocket the crossover to highway speeds quickly. As is the case with most gasoline versus diesel debates, you can expect a little more bark in the upper rev ranges of the motor, but the turbo does well to give you ample torque when you’re setting off, even from an incline

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo engine bay

Even with the great power that the 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine offers the Mazda CX-5 AWD is still a pretty heavy car. While it produces 249 hp and 434 Nm of torque, the all-wheel-drive system also takes power from the engine to utilize that don’t exactly aid with fuel economy. Regardless, the CX-5 does put up some decent numbers. In the city, the crossover can do about 7km/L, while on the highway, it can do 15.1km/L. 

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo front angle

Priced near the P2.4-million mark, the Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo can be a bit of a tough choice for some especially with turbo diesel SUVs being roughly at the same price point. What makes it stand out against its competitors is its great feature set, premium interior, great ride comfort, and great safety technology. Its premium styling both inside and out makes the CX-5 a great buy. You will easily stand out in a sea of traffic all while being lowkey about it thanks to the simple yet very elegant styling that Mazda gave to the crossover.

Overall the Mazda CX-5 is a great purchase for those who want a comfortable and premium 5-seater crossover. It ticks all the right boxes with plenty of space inside the cabin, a great feature set, a sunroof, a 10-speaker bose sound system, and much more. Power from the 2.5-liter turbo motor is always there when you need it and the six-speed automatic is there to put that power to the ground. The all-wheel-drive system isn’t intrusive and the vehicle feels much like a front-wheel drive car to maneuver. However, with great power does come great responsibility as you will need to drive it with a light foot if you want to get the best fuel economy possible. 

Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo exterior front quarter
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo exterior rear quarter
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo exterior side profile +11
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior air conditioning vents
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior driving aids
Mazda CX-5 2.5 AWD Turbo interior bose tweeter +34

Specifications

Engine

2.5 L

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Performance

250 hp @ 5,000 rpm

Transmission

Automatic

Summary

Name Mazda CX-5 2.5L AWD Turbo
Body Type Crossover
Price ₱2,430,000
Transmission Category Automatic

Engine

Performance

Economy & Environment

Dimensions

Safety & Security

Features

Technology

Colors

Mazda CX-5 Zircon Sand Zircon Sand
Mazda CX-5 Soul Red Crystal Soul Red Crystal
Mazda CX-5 Sonic Silver Sonic Silver
Mazda CX-5 Snowflake White Pearl Snowflake White Pearl
Mazda CX-5 Rhodium White Premium Rhodium White Premium
Mazda CX-5 Polymetal Gray Polymetal Gray
Mazda CX-5 Machine Gray Machine Gray
Mazda CX-5 Jet Black Jet Black

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