Just yesterday, Mazda took the covers off the new 2022 Mazda CX-5 facelift, improving upon an already-excellent SUV.

Also Read: New 2022 Mazda CX-5 facelift debuts with revised styling and better suspension

For many Malaysians, the question is – when will Bermaz Motor launch the new Mazda CX-5 in Malaysia?

To get a better understanding, we took a look at the pre-facelift Mazda CX-5 – from the time it was announced to its arrival in Malaysia.

Mazda unveiled the second-generation Mazda CX-5 in November 2016 and it took only 11 months for the SUV to be launched in Malaysia in October 2017.

Then there's the Mazda CX-8. It was launched in Japan in December 2017 and was previewed in Malaysia in February 2019 before going on sale later that year.

All-in-all, the Mazda CX-8 took 14 months from its Japan launch to the time it arrived in Malaysia, factoring in the lead time required for local assembly (CKD) at Mazda’s plant in Kulim, Kedah.

In the case of the CX-5 facelift, there is a possibility of the model being introduced here in a similar or shorter timeframe, owing to the fact that a facelift job isn't as complicated as a brand-new model.

Plus, with the pre-facelift CX-5, Mazda's Kulim plant was sharing a paintshop with other brands, which is no longer the case as Mazda has its own dedicated paintshop. This is bound to improve lead times

Thus, it is possible for the facelifted Mazda CX-5 to be launched in Malaysia in late-2022 or early-2023.

Also Read: Review: Mazda CX-8 2.2D High – This over the VW Tiguan Allspace R-Line?

But bear in mind the given timeframe was during pre-Covid times. The ongoing Covid situation, compounded by the semiconductor shortage, could delay things a bit further.

As a refresher, the facelift introduced a number of improvements, including revised styling, improved ride and handling, as well as a new colour – Zircon Sand.

Powertrain options are expected to be carried over from the outgoing model. Mazda offers a rather extensive list of engines with the CX-5, including two naturally-aspirated petrol engines, one turbocharged petrol engine, as well as a turbodiesel unit. 

Headlining the CX-5 range is the turbocharged 2.5-litre petrol engine that does 230 PS and 420 Nm. Lesser variants are expected to be powered by naturally-aspirated engines, either in 2.0- or 2.5-litre guises. The former does 162 PS and 213 Nm, while the latter is good for 192 PS and 258 Nm.

The 2.2-litre turbodiesel (173 PS and 420 Nm) may be a left-field option, the oil burner is also expected to be carried over, seeing that the smaller CX-30 and larger CX-8 both still offer this engine option.

As usual, engine availability is market-dependent; not all engines are available in every market. 

Watch this space for more updates.