5 Reasons Why You Should Consider the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High Facelift

We've tested the facelifted Mazda CX-5 2.2D High, which current stood as the sole oil-burning C-SUV left in Malaysia.

It’s not often we get to test more than one variant of the same car, but that’s exactly what’s been given to us by Mazda brand custodians Bermaz Auto Berhad (BAuto) recently. Following up from our stint with the face-lifted CX-5 2.0 High comes the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High.

Launched simultaneously with its petrol-powered siblings, the CX-5 2.2D High currently stands as the sole diesel-powered C-segment SUV on sale in our local market, with most of its newer rivals getting turbo-petrol or partially-electrified powertrain setups instead.

Spending significant time with the newly-facelifted Mazda CX-5 2.0 High prior has definitely given us ideas or ‘expectations’ ahead of gauging this oil-burning twin. That being said, here are five reasons why we reckon you should really consider the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High over its other petrol-powered siblings.

1. It’s (One of) the Most Stylish Variant

Compared to the CX-5 2.0 High, the facelifted CX-5 2.2D High stood as the higher and more up-specced variant of the two, featuring one key addition that simply makes it a better-looking car.

The only exterior design change the 2.2D High model boasts over the 2.0 High is the bigger 19-inch two-tone alloy rims it rides on, not to mention the bigger and better Toyo Proxes R46.

We say one, because literally it’s only design change this diesel-powered CX-5 has over its low-spec twin, which is its rolling stock - 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels. Compared to the 17-inch units primed on the 2.0 High model, said larger wheels definitely look better on the CX-5, especially due to its size.

More importantly, the bigger wheels allow the CX-5 2.2D High to be fitted with larger and higher-end tyres, with our tester getting shod with Toyo Proxes R46 tyres for change too.

Despite its ageing facade, the CX-5 is still a looker, thanks to the recent facelift treatment given by Mazda.

The rest of the car, however, remains the same as other variants, with the CX-5 2.2D High bestowed the same design changes we detailed prior. Differentiating both cars is also harder since the diesel unit featured came dressed in the same Platinum Quartz hue as our previous 2.0 High tester, which looks stunning.

Then again, this is not bad news entirely since the CX-5 is a pretty sharply-styled SUV to begin with, not to mention the recent facelift treatment that rejuvenates the facade of this ageing model.

2. (Slightly) Improved Cabin Amenities

Fortunately, there’s a lot more to unpack inside the CX-5 2.2D High’s cabin. The oil-burner gets some additional equipment over the standard variants that brings it close to the range-topping 2.5 Turbo High model.

The addition of front ventilated and powered seats (top) and the larger multi-info display metre (bottom) really elevates the living conditions inside the CX-5 2.2D High.

On top of the already posh cabin, this diesel CX-5 also gets a ventilated and power-adjustability function in the front seats – a nifty feature absent in the CX-5 2.0 High we tested last. New here too is the larger semi-digital TFT display that features an integrated ADAS display.

When tested, the ventilated front seats turned out to be quite powerful, making them truly useful additions to the cabin, especially given our hot and humid climate. Paired with the dual-zone climate control, it truly helps to elevate the living conditions inside the CX-5’s cabin.

The rest of the cabin remains unchanged from the 2.0 High, with this diesel model featuring liberal use of soft-touch materials and leather upholstery. This same applies to the tech count primed, which include a wireless charging pad, multiple USB charging ports front and rear, and the same 8-inch infotainment unit that supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Our only gripe with the CX-5 2.2D High’s cabin is the absence of the head-up display (HUD), which is exclusively primed in the range-topping 2.5 Turbo High model. We’d reckon this addition wouldn’t just enhance driving experience, it would’ve also made it a very compelling buy over other rivalling C-SUVs.

3. The 2.2-litre Diesel Mill is the Torquiest in its Segment!

Turbo-diesel mills are renowned to boast significant torque output over their petrol-powered counterparts, and this mill harnessed by the facelifted Mazda CX-5 2.2D High is no exception too.

The facelifted CX-5 2.2D High is still powered by the same 2.2-litre 4-cyl Skyactiv-D turbodiesel lump used in the pre-facelifted model.

Under its hood sits Mazda’s tried-and-tested 2.2-litre 4-cyl Skyactiv-D turbo-diesel lump used in many previous iterations of the CX-5. It decently outputs 188 HP and 450 NM, thus making this Skyactiv-D mill the torquiest in class, which is impressive considering some adversaries now feature partially-electrified powertrains.

Despite its large facade, the beefy low-end torque provided by the four-banger turbodiesel mill allows the CX-5 2.2D High to be quite a peppy SUV.

Said peak twist is accessible from a relatively low 2,000 RPM onwards, and it really makes the CX-5 diesel feel very peppy and quick despite its sizable stature. While not as instantaneous as an electrified hybrid rival, said torque is more than sufficient to propel this 1.6-tonne SUV rather rapidly, making it an ideal SUV for overtaking, hillclimbs, and perhaps towing too.

Besides high torque output, the Skyactiv-D’s 188 HP top-end power is quite decent as it allows this SUV to hit a decent V-Max of up to 206 KM/H.

Don't let its diesel moniker fool you, as the CX-5's 2.2-litre turbodiesel unit is far from your typical 'Agrarian' diesel engines.

Unlike traditional turbo-diesel mills, which are mostly powering utilitarian pick-up trucks or vans, the CX-5’s 2.2-litre unit feels less ‘Agrarian’, thanks to its relatively low compression ratio of 14:1. This allows the engine to sound quieter and vibrate much less when idling, with the noise only noticeable during rapid acceleration.

Paired with its improved cabin noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels we denoted prior, the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High truly delivers a smooth and comfortable driving experience, so much so that some won’t even notice the oil-burning mill hidden beneath its front hood.

This fact is also bolstered by the CX-5’s already-decent spring and dampers setup, not to mention its G-Vectoring Control (GVC) Plus system that provides a perfect balance between handling performance and ride comfort.

Overall, the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High truly improves over the already-impressive 2.0 High model thanks to its turbo-diesel heart’s decent torque-rich nature, which enhances its smooth ride performance.

4. You Get Better Fuel Economy from the Diesel, too!

Abundance of torque aside, diesel engines are also known for their frugality. So much so that Mazda claims the CX-5 2.2D High will sip as low as 5.5 litres/100 KM on average.

When running on the Euro 5 B7 diesel fuel, Mazda claims the CX-5 2.2D High can offer decent fuel economy rate as low as 5.5 litres per 100 KM.

Said figure is actually not far off from what Honda claims for the new CR-V 2.0 e:HEV RS hybrid – 5 litres/100 KM. This is rather impressive indeed, more when you note how the CX-5 diesel is able to match its hybrid rival sans any level of electrification assistance.

Said figure becomes more impressive when you contrast the CX-5 diesel against its own petrol-powered siblings, with the 2.0 High unit we’ve tested prior only able to hit a best fuel economy average of 6.9 litres/100 KM.

Unfortunately, throughout our testing period, which mostly involved urban driving and occasional caning, we only managed to get about 8 litres/100 KM. What didn’t help during our test is the relatively new condition of our tester unit – less than 3,000 KM on its mileage clock, in fact.

One concern many might have is the price of diesel. Through the impending targeted fuel subsidy implementation, we might yet see another surge in diesel fuel prices. However, with diligent and economical driving, we reckon you may be able to offset the high diesel fuel price through this diesel CX-5’s near-unrivalled efficiency.

5. Competitively Priced with a Comprehensive Warranty Package

Given everything noted above, the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High facelift still stands as a pretty stellar left-field alternative in the burgeoning C-segment SUV space. And this fact is further bolstered once you take its price and the warranty package into consideration.

As it stands, the locally-assembled (CKD) Mazda CX-5 2.2D High commands RM180,322 on-the-road. This makes it one of the most affordable ‘premium-spec’ C-SUVs on sale in our market now.

Besides its competitive pricing, the CX-5 2.2D High also benefits from BAuto's comprehensive vehicle and service warranty.

And, dare we say that this oil-burner is made even  more compelling over the mid-spec CX-5 2.0 High thanks to its richer kit list and diesel-powered benefits. Adding to it all? The complete warranty and service package offered by BAuto. 

Included in said price is the firm’s nearly unrivalled, all-in-one 5-year or 100,000 KM vehicle warranty with free maintenance and service package. Surely, this promises to elevate the CX-5 2.2D High’s ownership experience, as owners don’t need to worry about the rising service and spare part costs for their vehicle.

So, What Do You Think?

Decently styled, richly kitted, and matched with a peppy yet frugal and highly capable turbo-diesel heart, the face-lifted Mazda CX-5 2.2D High truly ticks all the boxes if you’re looking for a premium C-SUV that perfectly balances practicality and dynamic driving experiences.

However, those are just our thoughts. What do you think of the Mazda CX-5 2.2D High? Would you prefer this oil-burner over fancier and electrified adversaries? As always, don’t forget to leave your thoughts in the comments down below…

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2024 MAZDA CX-5 2.2D HIGH FACELIFT CKD