2022 Mazda CX-5 vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Up front, it featured Hyundai's new vehicle face, with a parametric grille hiding LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The headlights and daytime running lights formed a unique shape resembling the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra's design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, with high-end trims featuring premium fascias, skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, and available sport combination and leather-trimmed seats. Horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic gave the interior a sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 featured new LED headlights and taillights with more distinctive illumination, new bumpers, a revised grille, a redesigned rear liftgate, and fresh alloy wheel designs. The top-of-the-line Signature trim received body-color lower exterior trim to emphasize Mazda's premium brand aspirations. The interior remained unchanged stylistically, with the Signature trim offering premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The seats were new for 2022, providing improved comfort. Mazda also introduced a more confusing lineup of trim levels, with the CX-5 2.5 S and CX-5 2.5 Turbo as the main options. The 2.5 S came in base, Select, Preferred, Carbon Edition, Premium, and Premium Plus trims, while the 2.5 Turbo was available in base and Signature trims. The test vehicle was a 2.5 Turbo with optional Soul Red paint, a navigation system, a rear bumper guard, and a package including roof rails and crossbars, totaling $39,445.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain made the Tucson more powerful than the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Tucson offered optional all-wheel drive (AWD) on ICE models and standard AWD on hybrid models. The ICE engine achieved an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. The hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with 37 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was expected to deliver 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, paired with a revised six-speed automatic transmission for more responsive performance. All CX-5s came with standard AWD, achieving an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in combined driving. The CX-5 2.5 Turbo offered 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque on premium gas, or 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on regular gas. The Turbo also featured the revised six-speed automatic and standard AWD, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 24 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 Turbo trims and the 2.5 S Premium and Premium Plus included Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road settings. The 2022 CX-5 benefited from increased structural rigidity and reworked suspension tuning for a quieter and smoother ride. The improved driving dynamics provided a blend of compliance and composure, making the CX-5 feel more like a premium brand vehicle.

The Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Drivers also received lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with leather-wrapped and heated options on higher trims. The new Tucson platform provided more room for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering two inches more legroom than the RAV4. The cabin had ample space for a family of four, with a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and handling with new seats providing better support and a sportier driving position. All trims except the 2.5 S base included a height-adjustable front passenger seat. The 2.5 Turbo test vehicle featured leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The back seat remained snug but offered heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents. The control layout was a source of frustration, with the Mazda Connect infotainment system lacking a touchscreen display and natural voice recognition. Storage space was adequate, with a small bin under the center armrest and wireless smartphone charging in a tray forward of the transmission shifter. The CX-5 provided 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down, comparing favorably to entry-level luxury SUVs but less so against mainstream compact crossovers.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was in front of the driver. Moving up to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, two additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, but required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit, making it difficult to find the right button while driving. The touchpoints were responsive, but the narrow steering wheel controls were less user-friendly.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 retained the Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display, which was not touch-sensitive. Mazda believed touchscreens caused driver distraction and did not include natural voice recognition. Instead, users had to operate the system with controls on the center console and steering wheel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services. A three-year trial subscription to connected services was included, except for WiFi, which was free for three months or 2GB of data use. Starting with the 2.5 S Premium trim, the CX-5 included a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included standard features like forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Optional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, parking collision avoidance assist, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary oil changes and tire rotations.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 came with the i-Activsense package, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system. The Signature trim included Traffic Jam Assist. The i-Activsense system operated mostly in the background, with alerts appearing in the head-up display. The IIHS awarded the 2022 Mazda CX-5 a "Top Safety Pick+" rating.