2026 Mazda CX-5 Review: Premium Practicality With Soul
Is the new 2026 Mazda CX-5 a worthy purchase? Delve into full specs, interior features, features, price, safety technology, performance, hybrid models, pros and cons — your definitive CX-5 buyers’ guide.
How the Mazda CX-5 Became a Legend
Let’s turn it back. It’s 2012. The iPhone 5 is in your pocket. Avengers mania has everyone in a frenzy. And Hiroshima’s plucky Mazda launches the first CX-5 — a compact SUV that not only brings home the groceries; it turns the school run into a Sunday cruise.
It was the first Mazda to wear the bold “Kodo” design language and debut SkyActiv tech — a fancy name for squeezing every drop of fun and efficiency from every component. In a world of boring crossovers, the CX-5 stood out for doing what Mazda does best: reminding drivers that cars should be fun.
Flash forward to 2026, and this iconic SUV is larger, wiser, and more high-tech, without sacrificing the essence that made it a legend. The CX-5, version II, is not only here to battle the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Hyundai Tucson — it’s here to take your heart and your brain.
Interior: Mazda Moves Closer to Luxury
One look inside the 2026 Mazda CX-5, and you’ll realize this isn’t your average mainstream crossover. Mazda has quietly thin the line between mainstream mass and premium for years — but the new CX-5 pushes that even new further.
Cabin Quality:
Mazda’s tight panel gaps and soft-touch surfaces now extend to more areas: dash, door cards, center console, even at the rear doors. Leather feels more supple. Stitching is tighter. And cheap, scratchy plastics? You’ll need a microscope to find them.
Tech:
Central to everything is a beautiful 12.9-inch touchscreen, or a huge 15.6-inch one on higher trims — both drive Google Built-In, so you have Google Maps, Assistant, and the Play Store without picking up your phone. There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, too, if you like using your phone’s apps.
Comfort:
Front seats feature heating, ventilation, and enhanced lumbar support — because nobody needs a sore back on a road trip to Banff or Big Sur. Rear passengers enjoy added legroom due to the extended wheelbase and flatter floor, along with reclining seatbacks on upper trims.
Premium Touches:
Ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, genuine aluminum or wood trim (based on trim level), and a new 10-speaker Bose sound system make each drive a miniature escape.
Storage:
Practicality is still a CX-5 virtue: the cargo floor is lower and wider, with thoughtful trunks for small objects and hooks for shopping bags.
Performance: Does It Still Zoom-Zoom?
Fun to drive is Mazda’s calling card — so yes, the 2026 CX-5 still gets it. But this time, it’s matured a little.
Engine:
The old 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G four-cylinder remains on duty for the time being: 187 hp, 185 lb-ft of torque, and a silky 6-speed automatic. Loyalists may complain about no 8-speed or dual-clutch, but the 6-speed is crisp and trusty.
Handling:
The CX-5 is now built on a fresh generation of Mazda’s small SUV platform, lengthened for added room but dialed in to handle better. Steering is tight, body roll is held to a minimum for an SUV, and the ride absorbs potholes without making your latte a milkshake.
AWD Standard:
All 2026 CX-5s receive i-Activ AWD, which continuously checks road conditions, temperature, and driver input to route torque where it’s required — useful in the snow or rain.
Hybrid Coming:
A mild hybrid model will introduce an electric motor for more seamless stop-starts and improved fuel economy (look for about 33–35 MPG combined). A full hybrid, probably co-developed with Toyota technology, comes in 2027 — a huge step for Mazda’s effort toward electrification.
Safety: Smart and Secure
Mazda seeks best-in-class safety ratings with n every generation, and the 2026 CX-5 appears set for a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star NHTSA rating (subject to final testing).
Standard i-Activsense:
Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
Lane Keep Assist with Lane Centering
Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Blind Spot Monitoring
360-degree surround camera system (upper trims)
Traffic Jam Assist
Additional sensors and more intelligent radar level up the system on real-world driving, eliminating suddn braking or zip-zap lane drift.
Capabilities: Built for Everyday Adventure
The CX-5 won’t summit Everest — but it’ll take a muddy trail, ski resort, or Midwest ice storm in stride.
Practical Enhancements:
Higher ground clearance than in previous models (approximately 8.3 inches)
Widened stance for enhanced stability
Roof rails on most trims as standard for bikes, kayaks, or that rooftop cargo box you can’t seem to remove
Towing:
Leave the big toys to the weekends: the gas version can tow approximately 2,000 lbs, so small trailers and jet skis are in order, but no RVs, please.
Off-road modes:
Though not a hard-core 4×4, new drive modes adjust throttle response and AWD torque distribution for loose or slippery terrain.
Pricing and Availability: What Will It Cost?
Mazda will launch the 2026 CX-5 in North America late in 2025, with global rollout early in 2026.
Projected MSRP:
Base: $31,000 USD
Mid-trims: $34,000–$37,000
Fully loaded: $40,000–$43,000
The mild hybrid will fall close to mid-level trims with a modest price increase, while the full hybrid will be positioned just over the top trims when they arrive in 2027.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Upscale interior that punches well above its class
Tastier styling, more useful space
AWD standard and great handling
Google Built-In for easy connectivity
Robust safety tech
Cons:
No plug-in hybrid or full EV (not yet)
Still has a 6-speed automatic when competitors offer 8–10 speeds
Not the most powerful engine in the segment
Final Verdict: Should You Wait or Buy
For drivers seeking an SUV that handles like a car — connected, comfortable, and slightly special — the 2026 Mazda CX-5 remains one of the smartest choices out there. If you need bleeding-edge electrification today, you may want to hold out for the hybrid or Mazda’s future EVs. But if you’re looking for day-to-day usability, considered design, and a grin every time you turn the wheel? This one remains near the top of its class.
FAQs
Q: Will the 2026 Mazda CX-5 be available in a hybrid or electric model?
A: Yes! A mild hybrid will appear later in 2026, and a full hybrid appears in 2027. No EV model yet, but Mazda has an electric SUV plan in the works.
Q: What are the colors options for the 2026 CX-5?
A: Look for Mazda standbys such as Soul Red Crystal, Machine Grey, Snowflake White Pearl, and some new metallic blues and greens.
Q: How much will the 2026 CX-5 cost in the UK and Canada?
A: Canadian prices should begin at CAD $42,000, and UK customers can look for £28,000–£35,000 depending on trim and options
