2026 Mazda CX-5 Review
Our automotive expert shares opinions and new photos of the 2026 CX-5.
Tim Stevens
Pros: More cargo space and a big tech boost in an SUV that's still a blast to drive.Â
Cons: An overreliance on touch controls and a higher starting price won't work for everyone.
The Takeaway: Mazda's new 2026 CX-5 is just more of a good thing.
Mazda completely redesigned the CX-5 for the 2026 model year, though it's still visually familiar. The compact SUV is now more spacious and still includes the features that I think make it fun to drive.
The CX-5 has been a perennial bestseller since its introduction for the 2013 model year, bringing plenty of fans to the brand. But in the 13 years since, the crossover SUV segment has grown, with both the number and size of competitors increasing. To stay relevant, the redesigned 2026 CX-5 has grown, too, but despite gaining volume, it still retains the engaging driving characteristics that helped make it so popular in the first place.
What's New for the 2026 Mazda CX-5
QuickTake: Mazda's new CX-5 gains space and tech in this major update.
The CX-5's styling is subtly refined, covering an SUV that's substantially larger than before. The CX-5 gained 4.5 inches of length and 0.6 inch of width, adding 3.7 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the back seats.Â
There's also an all-new, Google-powered infotainment experience and a simplified, touch-heavy interface.
Tim Stevens
About the 2026 Mazda CX-5 Review Vehicle
QuickTake: Mazda offers a variety of trim levels to accommodate different price points.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 comes in 2.5 S, 2.5 S Select, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Premium, and 2.5 S Premium Plus trim levels. Base prices range from about $31,000 to roughly $40,500, including the destination charge to ship the SUV to a dealership from its Hiroshima, Japan, assembly plant.
For this CX-5 review, I test-drove the 2.5 S Premium Plus in Southern California. The only option was Aero Gray Metallic paint, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) to $41,080, including the $1,495 destination charge. Mazda provided the vehicle for this CX-5 review and paid for airfare, lodging, and meals during the evaluation period.
Tim Stevens
Design, Quality, and Interior Layout
QuickTake: The new CX-5's interior is far cleaner and simpler than before, but if you like buttons, you're out of luck.
The CX-5 has always been a good-looking SUV, and despite the vehicle's substantial increase in size, Mazda's designers stuck with the same styling themes for 2026. Up front, the company's Kodo design language lives on, looking more streamlined and simplified. Mazda has also toned down the fender flares, creating a subtler look than that of the more aggressive CX-50.
But while the outside is familiar, the inside represents a radical change, mostly for the better. It starts with a wholly new interface. While the former CX-5 wasn't exactly awash with buttons, most have been evicted for this new generation. Depending on the trim level, the dashboard is dominated by either a 12.9- or 15.6-inch touchscreen, with buttons reserved only for the front defroster, rear defroster, hazard flashers, and the ignition.
For just about everything else, including stereo volume (there's no knob), you'll have to reach for the touchscreen or use the steering wheel controls. Unfortunately, those are of the capacitive touch variety. Mazda has made them reasonably easy to use by adding some depth to the touch surfaces. However, they're still not as user-friendly as dedicated, discrete buttons.
In terms of overall materials and quality, you'll get either cloth, leatherette, or leather upholstery, depending on the trim level. My test vehicle had natural hide, and it looked and felt good to the touch. The SUV's other surfaces were generally covered with durable materials that should withstand whatever your kids snack on during the ride home from school.
They'll stay warm even in the cold, thanks to the heated rear seats that were standard on my top-trim test example. Starting with the middle Preferred trim level and higher, CX-5s come with standard heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Premium and Premium Plus add front-seat ventilation, which worked well enough to keep me cool in the Southern California sun.
Tim Stevens
Comfort, Convenience, and Cargo Space
QuickTake: Improved room and cargo space make the new 2026 Mazda CX-5 a more practical choice.
Rear-seat passengers have a little more legroom than before. It's only officially stated as a 0.3-inch improvement, but the rear compartment feels considerably roomier. Even with the front seat situated comfortably for my 6-foot self, I had plenty of legroom in the back.
The CX-5 seats five, and three across in the rear is a real possibility, even for particularly tall adults, as there's plenty of headroom now, too. The extra space also means more cargo room: 33.7 cu-ft, expanding to 66.5 cu-ft with the rear seats folded.
If you have something particularly long to haul, the middle of the rear seat folds separately from the outer seats in a 40/20/40 split.
Tim Stevens
2026 Mazda CX-5 Infotainment System Review
QuickTake: Mazda's new Google-powered infotainment system is a huge upgrade.
While I thought Mazda's old interface, with its rotary controller, was super simple and easy to use, it lacked a capable native voice assistant and touchscreen functionality. Finally, for 2026, the CX-5 can compete with rivals head-to-head on those fronts, thanks to its new Google-based touchscreen infotainment system.
Standard features include:
- Google Maps
- Google Assistant
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Mazda Connect connected services
- 911 automatic emergency notification
- Eight-speaker audio system
As you move up the trim-level ladder, you get:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- SiriusXM satellite radio
- 12-speaker Bose premium sound system
Google powers the new infotainment experience and runs on either a 12.9-inch or 15.6-inch touchscreen, depending on the trim level. Having Google built-in means you have the power of Google Maps right in your dashboard, even if you forgot your phone at home.
You can also download and install apps such as YouTube Music, Spotify, and many more. Or, if you'd rather, you can run Android Auto or Apple CarPlay through your phone — wirelessly on all but the base trim — with a wireless charger to keep the battery topped off.
I found the overall interface far easier and more intuitive to use than the old system. There was never any trouble finding a feature or setting, and I never had to wait for a display to load. Google Assistant is also part of the mix, allowing me to quickly and easily find points of interest by voice; make simple requests such as checking the weather; or even adjust vehicle settings, such as cabin temperature or heated/ventilated seat activation.
The media I played through the 12-speaker Bose sound system delivered bright, crisp sound with good power, thanks to the rear-mounted subwoofer.
Tim Stevens
Safety Features and Ratings
QuickTake: The CX-5 offers plenty of standard safety features, and most work well.
Mazda equips the CX-5 with a generous collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) as standard equipment:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward-collision warning
- Automatic emergency braking
- Intersection-braking assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Rear automatic braking
- Lane-departure warning
- Lane-keeping assist
- Parking sensors
In addition to those features, my test vehicle added:
- Front cross-traffic alert with braking assist
- Lane-centering assist
- Lane-change assist
- Emergency-stop assist
- Driver-monitoring system
- 360-degree camera
I spent a fair bit of time in California traffic in the CX-5, which gave me plenty of opportunities to sample the adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist (Mazda calls it Cruising & Traffic Support). The CX-5 did a good job of keeping up with traffic and would bring itself to a complete stop. However, it does require a nudge of the accelerator to resume once things get moving again.
The lane-centering generally worked well but tended to drift to the right whenever an exit lane appeared. The SUV will automatically and effectively change lanes with a tap of the indicator. However, this is a hands-on system, so it will alert you if you take your hands away for too long.
The 360-degree camera isn't the clearest, but it is useful. While I'm not a fan of capacitive-touch surfaces, I did appreciate having a dedicated control on the steering wheel to bring up the camera view.
Tim Stevens
2026 Mazda CX-5 Specs and Fuel Economy
QuickTake: No hybrid for the CX-5 yet, and it proves thirsty.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 makes it easy to choose an engine because there's only one available. It's the company's 2.5-liter four-cylinder, which makes 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. That's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. For now, there's no hybrid available, and the previously available turbocharged four-cylinder is off the menu.
According to Mazda's EPA estimate, the CX-5 returns 26 mpg in combined city and highway driving. In my mixed testing, I only managed 23.3 mpg, which would mean 356 miles of range from the 15.3-gallon tank.
Tim Stevens
2026 Mazda CX-5 Test Drive
QuickTake: Mazda's new CX-5 may be bigger and more capable, but it's still a surprising treat to drive.
It's cliché to say there's some Miata DNA in every Mazda in production today, but in the CX-5, it really feels true. This family-oriented SUV is genuinely fun to drive.
Switch to Sport mode, and that six-speed transmission gets far more aggressive. You can shift it yourself with a pair of petite paddles behind the wheel, and in manual mode, the transmission will even hold a gear all the way to redline. If you want to hit the rev limiter in a family SUV, the CX-5 is for you.
The steering is a little on the slow side, so you'll be turning the wheel quite a bit, and there's a long throw to the brake pedal, too, meaning your driving inputs will have to be made with purpose. But dig in there and toss the CX-5 into the corners, and it'll sling through without complaint.
If there's one area of disappointment, it's the engine. The 2.5-liter's output numbers are in line with those of the Subaru and Honda competition, but still, the engine feels a bit weak. It does just fine for around-town driving, though, while a suspension with good compliance makes for a happy commute even over broken asphalt.
Tim Stevens
Alternatives to the 2026 Mazda CX-5
QuickTake: The CX-5 makes some key upgrades, but still has room for improvement.
Mazda's new CX-5 has grown, without losing its charm. The new software is a big step forward, even if the overreliance on touch controls is unfortunate. The competition in this segment is brutal, with Subaru's latest Forester, Toyota's new RAV4, and Honda's CR-V vying for your dollars. All those offer hybrid powertrains, something missing here, but none is quite as engaging to drive as the latest CX-5.
Tim StevensTim is a freelance automotive and technology journalist with more than 25 years of experience. He is a frequent contributor to major domestic and international online, print, and broadcast news outlets, sharing his insights and perspectives on everything from cybersecurity to supercars. Tim also serves as a juror for the World Car Awards and regularly acts as speaker and moderator at major industry events such as CES, Web Summit, SXSW, NAIAS, and AutoMobility LA. He formerly served as editor-at-large and vice president of content at CNET. Before that he was editor-in-chief of Engadget and editorial director at AOL Tech.
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