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A white 2023 Mazda CX-5 is shown leaving a Mazda CX-5 dealer near you.

Five Favorite Features of the 2022 Mazda CX-5

If you’re looking for a new SUV and have considered a Mazda, chances are you may have searched “Mazda CX-5 dealer near me” while looking online. It’s popular not only because of its size and price but because of the sleek, luxurious interior that is not expected in an affordable compact SUV. On top of its impressive insides, the CX-5 offers an array of notable features that enhance every aspect of the driving experience. From under the hood to under the driver, Mazda’s attention to detail is apparent in every corner of this superb vehicle. While there are many noteworthy features throughout the CX-5, here are a few of my favorites that I think make it stand out from its competitors.

A Re-tuned Transmission

For the 2022 model year, Mazda decided that they needed to fine-tune the CX-5, and this included revisiting the transmission to see if it could be improved for even better performance. Though there weren’t major changes made, it was re-tuned to make the ride much smoother and more responsive. Pair this with the available Mazda Intelligent Drive Select technology (Mi-Drive), and you have a driving experience like no other. While this feature already provided the flexibility to tackle almost any terrain challenge, both on and off the pavement, the improvements made to the transmission will give you tighter control, a sharper response, and an effortless ride.

A close up of the lift gate on a grey 2023 Mazda CX-5 is shown.

Mazda’s i-Activsense Safety Technology

While many vehicles have the majority of their safety features available only for upper trim levels, Mazda has instead chosen to make many of its safety features standard across all trim levels, referred to as Mazda i-Activsense. This is incredibly helpful, especially because of the CX-5’s modest pricing, allowing more drivers access to these safety features, ensuring better driving.

The standard driver assistance and safety features for the CX-5 include Mazda radar cruise control, a smart braking system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and lane departure warning with lane-keep assist. With such a suite of features, you’ll never have to worry about bumping into someone in front of you or not seeing someone behind you. Of course, if you decide to go up a few trim levels, there are even more features that will maximize your awareness and confidence on the road. You’ll be able to help your passengers feel comfortable knowing that they are in a vehicle that is looking out for them and that your hands have a little extra help.

Upgraded Suspension

Along with re-tuning the suspension, Mazda decided that the CX-5 could use a redo of its suspension system, which has improved both the handling and the riding experience. Adjusting the suspension to allow for a better experience speaks to Mazda’s dedication to its line of vehicles and drivers. New sleeves, springs, struts, shocks, and mounts for the suspension can be done after a car is purchased, but to already have a great suspension system in place is worth its weight in gold. You’ll never have to feel embarrassed about how rough the ride is on your passengers, and you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy yourself, whether you’re maneuvering through crowded city streets or going up to the mountains or down to the beach for a weekend.

Improved, Supportive Seating

Mazda not only re-tuned the transmission and upgraded the suspension, but they also looked at the seating to see if an improvement could be made. When a company goes over its products to see what could be done better, it establishes trust with customers, who can see the steps being taken to ensure that they are given the best possible product and experience. This, in turn, creates loyalty in customers, which is why so many return to Mazda when they need to replace their older vehicle – there’s already an established connection there, built on trust and loyalty. The CX-5 has more supportive seating, allowing for more comfortable rides; whether you’re just shopping downtown or taking that long-awaited vacation, long rides won’t be a problem. You won’t have to bring along seat cushions, neck pillows, or piles of blankets to make yourself comfortable.

A white 2023 Mazda CX-5 is shown from the side parked on a city street.

A Subscription-Based Wi-Fi Hotspot

With something like a CX-5, there will likely be times you’ll be in a situation where you don’t have access to Wi-Fi—situations like camping, a day at the beach, dead spots on backroads, etc. Luckily, Mazda has provided an option for those who like having the option of always being connected for work, fun, or in an emergency. There’s an available subscription-based wi-fi hotspot that can be activated so that you won’t be in the dark when needing to be online is crucial. I don’t know about you, but road trips are always more pleasant when everyone has a way to entertain themselves via the internet. Just make sure everyone has headphones.

With a hotspot, you can access directions and navigate to your next stop, keep an eye on traffic updates and news reports, and play games (unless you’re the driver) with apps on your phone and tablet. You can also find food, gas stations, and other important places on the go, in addition to playing music, listening to podcasts, or streaming online content from anywhere your trip takes you. Of course, if you’d prefer to unplug and stay off the grid during your travels, you can forgo this option. Having the option, however, is a nice bonus.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 Offers a Broad Range of Driving-Enhancing Features

The 2022 CX-5 promises to be the best version of the model yet, with Mazda committed to making the SUV the best version of itself, complete with more comfortable seating, a re-tuned transmission, a wi-fi hotspot option, updated suspension, and the standard driver-assistance features that allow for safer driving. This shows just how much Mazda believes in their vehicles and how much they value its customer base. It’s easy to see why so many individuals are lifelong Mazda fans; my family had a Mazda pickup in the 1980s and a Mazda sedan in the early 2000s. Those two vehicles have been fondly recalled over the years, perhaps more than any other family vehicle I remember.

Whether you’re just looking for an eventual purchase or you’re ready to buy today, I would highly recommend checking out the 2022 Mazda CX-5 if you are looking for a safe compact SUV that is reliable and loaded with tons of great features. If you’re looking for a family vehicle that maintains its fun, sporty looks and has plenty of upgrades to keep everyone happy. While there are many capable SUVs on the market, sometimes it’s the attention to details that make a particular model stand out among its peers, and that is precisely what Mazda has done with the CX-5. As demonstrated in a few of the aforementioned features, Mazda has never been satisfied with the status quo when it comes to features. A continued dedication to improving its vehicles, as demonstrated by the subtle adjustments made to the transmission and suspension, is what has kept Mazda at the top of the list for people looking for a reliable SUV loaded with innovation, and the 2022 CX-5 is a fantastic example of that.