2022 Mazda CX-5 price and features detailed: Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester SUV rival cops price increase as facelifted model arrives in Australia

Mazda’s updated CX-5 has finally reached Australian shores and the refreshed mid-sizer has copped a slight price increase for 2022.

The popular SUV has been around in second-generation guise for close to five years now and this late-life facelift is the latest update Mazda has introduced to keep it fresh against new and hot-selling rivals.

In terms of the model grades, the 2.5-litre all-wheel drive (AWD) version of the CX-5 Maxx has been dropped, and the Maxx Sport 2.0-litre petrol and 2.2-litre diesel are also gone. There's no more GT variants, however the GT SP remains. A new Touring Active grade slips in to the line-up between the Maxx Sport and the GT SP and is available in 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol and turbo-diesel guise.

Pricing now kicks off from $32,190 before on-road costs for the entry-level Maxx front-wheel drive (FWD) manual – the only manual in the range – and this represents an $800 increase over the outgoing model.

All Maxx variants are powered by Mazda’s entry 115kW/200Nm 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine.

The Maxx Sport FWD is up by $1300 and AWD increases by $800, while the Touring cops a $900 increase.

GT SP and flagship Akera grades have gone up by $1100 apiece.

The pricing still undercuts the facelifted version of its arch rival, the Toyota RAV4, which now starts at $34,300. Other models that compete for sales with the Mazda include the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mitsubishi Outlander, Nissan X-Trail, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester and Volkswagen Tiguan.

As reported, the facelift ushers in a restyled front end with a fresh grille, and new head and tail-light designs with rectangular LED lights.

Mazda has given some of the variants a different visual flavour with the CX-5 Akera losing the black plastic body cladding in favour of body-coloured cladding and bright silver wheels with Nappa leather upholstery inside.

The GT SP adopts a sportier vibe with gloss black flourishes including the grille, wheels and mirror caps, while inside it’s an all-black interior with red accents.

New Touring Active grades feature the exterior cladding, a lime green accent on the grille and lime green touches on the seats and air-conditioning vents.

Mazda says the seats have been redesigned for improved stability, and the transmission has been tweaked for “smoother acceleration”. Damping settings have also been adjusted to improve ride quality and reduce cabin noise.

Mazda’s drive mode select system also makes its debut on the CX-5 as part of the update.

The updated version was revealed in September 2021 and is on sale now.

2022 Mazda CX-5 pricing before on-road costs