The Mazda CX-5 is the brand’s best-selling crossover SUV. The original CX-5 first debuted in 2013, and Mazda recently announced an all-new Mazda CX-5 for 2026. This is the third generation of this Mazda SUV, and it builds upon the key components of Mazda’s brand identity: SKYACTIV® technology, Kodo design, innovative performance technology, and advanced safety.
The new Mazda CX-5 features an updated, bolder design with tie-ins to the Mazda CX-70 and Mazda CX-90.
It features the latest innovative technology, including Mazda’s largest touchscreen at 15.6 inches. This touchscreen includes Google built-in.
This Mazda SUV also offers an advanced suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and features for additional safety.
The new Mazda CX-5 interior increases cargo space and comfort in the rear seats.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 features a new engine: a 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G four-cylinder that generates 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. i-Activ AWD (all-wheel drive) remains standard on this Mazda SUV.
Mazda is fully committed to vehicle safety, which is evidenced by the fact that almost every vehicle in the lineup has earned an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ or Top Safety Pick award and is highly rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The Mazda CX-5 has a history of earning IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick awards, and the brand wants to ensure that the newest model continues to be one of the safest SUVs available. The 2026 Mazda CX-5 features an expansive suite of standard and available vehicle safety features as well as new safety technologies to provide even more protection and peace of mind.
The Mazda CX-5 remains a two-row SUV with seating for five, but the interior features updates and upgrades as well. There are larger door openings, making entering and exiting easier. It will also make it easier for parents to get kids in and out of car seats.
The second row of this crossover SUV provides more headroom, legroom, and knee room. An available panoramic sunroof helps make the 2026 Mazda CX-5 interior feel more open and airy.
Thanks to the increased size and length, the new Mazda CX-5 provides a notably larger cargo space. It’s now approximately 2 inches longer and an inch higher. That, combined with a lift-in height that’s an inch lower, makes loading and unloading easier as well.
Front door trims now feature ambient lighting with seven different color options.
Kodo is Mazda’s design philosophy. Designers use the concept of “soul in motion” to infuse each Mazda car and SUV with its own personality while maintaining the unifying theme that runs throughout the entire Mazda lineup. As part of the process, each vehicle design starts with clay rather than a 3D rendering. Once the clay is shaped to achieve the ideal lines, the sculptors collaborate with digital modelers.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 displays the progression of Kodo design. You can tell from the outside that it’s still a CX-5, but the new 2026 model features larger proportions that result in a bigger cabin and an exterior that creates a stronger sense of stability. The 2026 Mazda CX-5 also has available 19-inch wheels that add to the solidity of this crossover SUV.
The front of this Mazda SUV receives a “more chiseled, wider-set look”, according to a press release, that still incorporates Mazda’s signature wing grille. The back of the new Mazda CX-5 features more angular lighting that’s more similar to the Mazda CX-70 and Mazda CX-90.
When it comes to this crossover SUV’s specs, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 is 4.5 inches longer than the current model in overall length and wheelbase. It’s also more than half an inch wider than the current model.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is currently set to be released in early 2026, according to the brand. To find out more about this new Mazda crossover SUV or to explore the current Mazda car and SUV lineup, contact Whitten Brothers Mazda or visit our showroom in Richmond, VA.
