The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 brings fresh new styling and an overhauled cabin, along with a new infotainment system that might actually represent a step in the wrong direction.
The previous-generation CX-5 was introduced for the 2017 model year, and the Japanese automaker applied very few changes to it over the years. That’s an eternity in the compact crossover segment, and happily, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 seems to have arrived at the right time.
The new CX-5 boasts an evolution of the previous-gen’s exterior design, so it’s instantly recognizable. The wheelbase has been stretched by 117 millimetres, while overall length is up by 115 mm, along with marginal gains in width and height. There’s a little more rear-seat headroom as well as front and rear legroom, while shoulder and hip room have improved, too. Cargo space is up from 871 to 954 litres with the rear seats in place, and from 1,680 to 1,882 litres with the seatbacks folded. However, towing capacity slips from 907 to 680 kilograms (2,000 to 1,500 pounds).
The 2026 Mazda CX-5’s interior is all-new, as the redesigned steering wheel now bears the brand’s scripted logo, while physical climate controls have been replaced with on-screen button zones. Said screen is much bigger than before and is now touch-sensitive at all times, a change from the outgoing generation’s display that only became a touchscreen when Apple CarPlay/Android Auto were activated, and only when the vehicle wasn’t moving.
Under the hood, we get the familiar naturally aspirated 2.5L inline-four engine that develops 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, equipped with cylinder deactivation, still managed by a six-speed automatic transmission and still connected to a standard all-wheel drivetrain. The optional turbocharged engine, which generated 227 or 256 horsepower in the previous-gen CX-5, isn’t offered for the 2026 model year.
City/highway/combined fuel economy ratings are pegged at 9.9 / 7.9 / 9.0 L/100 km. The 2026 model boasted a combined rating of 9.3 L/100 km without the cylinder deactivation system and 8.5 with it, while the turbo engine delivered a combined average of 9.8. During our test of the 2026 model in GT trim, we managed a very decent 7.9 L/100 km.
Standard features for the 2026 Mazda CX-5 in GX trim include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, power-adjustable mirrors with integrated turn signals, rain-sensing windshield wipers, dual-zone climate control, cloth upholstery, heated front seats, an eight-way manually adjustable driver’s seat, a height-adjustable front passenger seat, a 10.25-inch digital driver instrument cluster, a 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google built-in, Mazda Connected Services and Google Maps with a one-year trial, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and an eight-speaker audio system. The exhaustive list of advanced safety systems includes blind-spot monitoring, driver attention alert and adaptive cruise control, in addition to stolen vehicle assistance.
The GS upgrades to 19-inch wheels, a power liftgate, a front wiper de-icer, heated and power-folding mirrors, roof rails, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear-seat air vents, a smart key, leatherette upholstery, a ten-way power driver’s seat with two-position memory, a six-way power front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, head-up display and wireless phone projection.
The GT also benefits from adaptive headlights, rear-seat USB ports, leather, heated rear outboard seats, ventilated front seats, ambient lighting and a Bose Premium surround sound system with twelve speakers and SiriusXM with 360L compatibility (with a three-month trial). A power panoramic sunroof is optional on the GT, which is mandatory to choose the Premium Package that piles on a 15.6-inch touchscreen, a hands-free power liftgate, wheel-mounted paddle shifters, a 360-degree camera system, user profiles and some enhanced traffic alert and brake systems.
In Canada, pricing ranges from $39,390 to $50,540, including factory options, the $2,195 freight and delivery charges, the $100 A/C tax and the $795 dealer fees. In the United States, the CX-5 is priced from $31,585 to $41,180. Competition includes the Buick Envision, the Chevrolet Equinox, the Ford Bronco Sport, the now-discontinued Ford Escape, the GMC Terrain, the Honda CR-V, the Hyundai Tucson, the Jeep Compass, the Jeep Cherokee, the Kia Sportage, the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Nissan Rogue, the Subaru Forester, the Toyota RAV4 and the Volkswagen Tiguan.
Why You Should Buy a 2026 Mazda CX-5
- As always, the CX-5 offers great driving dynamics. Many compact crossovers are boring to drive, while the CX-5 feels engaged and alive. It’s not all about straight-line performance, but steering feel, handling and lightness are all part of the experience.
- The CX-5’s slightly bigger dimensions provide more cabin room, including much-needed rear-seat legroom and cargo space. It’s still not the biggest model in its class, nor does it have to be.
- Fuel economy isn’t class-leading on paper, and several rivals offer hybrid powertrains that are noticeably more efficient. However, in real-world driving, the CX-5 delivered very respectable frugalness in our hands. Nevertheless, a hybrid engine is on the way, possibly for the 2027 model year, developed in-house by Mazda.
- The new CX-5’s entry price is about $3,400 higher than the 2025 model’s, which is quite a bit, considering the short list of additional features, such as dual-zone climate control, a bigger infotainment touchscreen, rain-sensing wipers, more front-seat adjustments and four more speakers. On the other hand, the 2026 CX-5 remains competitively priced. It has simply caught up to the pack with the redesign.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2026 Mazda CX-5
- As mentioned above, all climate controls except the defrost buttons, as well as volume control, have been relegated to the touchscreen, which is an ergonomic faux-pas. Worse, many functions require a multi-step operation, meaning we must press a button zone, and then tap or slide our finger on the screen to raise or lower cabin temperature, or to simply turn down the music. Owners and the media complained for years about Mazda’s multifunction rotary dial, but it worked, and it was less distracting to use. At least the 360-degree camera view button is easily accessible.
- The new interior design doesn’t quite match the brand’s desire to move upmarket. There’s less detailing here, such as contrast stitching and seat piping, and the GT we tested looked more like a mid-range model than a range-topping one. Maybe our expectations were too high. Also, there’s a lack of storage space on the center console.
- The previous-generation’s turbocharged engine wasn’t a must-have, and didn’t feel that much more powerful under relaxed driving than the base powerplant. However, Mazda took away an element that helped the CX-5 stand out in its segment, which further enhanced its fun-to-drive appeal.
- When the new generation of a model comes out, we’re always wishing the on-board tech was trouble-free. Alas, it’s rarely the case and the CX-5’s system isn’t an exception. During our test, we endured occasional screen freeze-ups, and every other time we’d climb in and start the vehicle, the infotainment system wouldn’t recognize our smartphone and refuse to pair it, or pair it while locking out Bluetooth connectivity and phone projection. It was a rather frustrating week, to be honest. Let’s hope these software glitches get fixed through over-the-air updates. As we mentioned above, Mazda isn’t the only manufacturer with such issues.
Should You Buy a 2026 Mazda CX-5?
The CX-5 is fun to drive, no doubt. It’s more spacious than before, so that’s a plus. It’s also competitively priced, and looks good, as always.
We’re assuming that for many years, compact crossover shoppers were disappointed by the small display screen in the CX-5, which wasn’t touch-sensitive most of the time and reduced the user-friendliness of Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The new model solves that with big touchscreens, but swung all the way to the other end of the spectrum with inconvenient climate controls and, so far, a buggy interface.
We were glad to see that the Mazda would finally get a redesign, but the outgoing generation didn’t feel all that old despite having been introduced for the 2017 model year. In short, we were expecting big improvements with the new model, but the enhancements are mild at best, because the previous gen was already a good product at a great price.
| Specifications | |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mazda CX-5 | 2026 Toyota RAV4 | 2026 Honda CR-V | 2026 Hyundai Tucson | 2026 Jeep Cherokee | 2026 Kia Sportage | 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan | |
| Price Range ($CAD) | $39,390 to $50,540 | $40,529 to $63,184 | $40,374 to $55,149 | $38,598 to $56,748 | $42,390 to $60,975 | $35,279 to $56,229 | $40,545 to $53,545 |
| Engines | 2.5L I4 | 2.5L I4 HEV 2.5L I4 PHEV | Turbo 1.5L I4 | 2.5L I4 Turbo 1.6L I4 HEV Turbo 1.6L I4 PHEV | Turbo 1.6L I4 HEV | 2.5L I4 Turbo 1.6L I4 HEV Turbo 1.6L I4 PHEV | Turbo 2.0L I4 Turbo 2.0L I4 |
| Output (hp) | 187 | 236 to 324 | 190 to 204 | 187 to 268 | 210 | 187 to 261 | 201 to 268 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 186 | 163 (gas engine only) to 201 (electric motor only) | 179 to 247 | 178 to 271 | 230 | 178 to 271 | 207 to 258 |
| Combined Fuel Economy (L/100 km) | 9 | 5.5 to 6.4 | 6.4 to 8.4 | 6.7 to 8.8 | 6.3 | 6.6 to 8.9 | 9.2 |
| Combined Fuel Economy (PHEVs, Le/100 km) | - | 2.4 to 2.9 | - | 3.1 | - | 2.8 | - |
| EV-Only Driving Range (PHEVs, km) | - | 31 to 40 | - | 51 | - | 53 | - |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,815 | 2,690 | 2,700 to 2,701 | 2,755 | 2,869 | 2,755 | 2,791 |
| Length (mm) | 4,690 | 4,601 to 4,655 | 4,695 | 4,640 | 4,778 | 4,685 | 4,684 |
| Width (mm) | 1,860 | 1,854 to 1,880 | 1,866 | 1,865 | 1,897 | 1,865 | 1,853 |
| Height (mm) | 1,695 | 1,685 to 1,780 | 1,680 to 1,690 | 1,685 | 1,715 | 1,665 to 1,680 | 1,680 |
| Headroom 1st/2nd/3rd Rows (mm) | 996 to 1,007 / 992 to 1,020 / - | 963 / 1,003 / - | 970 to 1,016 / 970 / - | 968 to 1,019 / 983 to 1,002 / - | 965 to 1,023 / 969 to 1,022 / - | 959 to 1,006 / 966 to 1,000 / - | 971 to 1,003 / 975 to 1,008 / - |
| Legroom 1st/2nd/3rd Rows (mm) | 1,058 / 1,012 / - | 1,041 / 960 / - | 1,049 / 1,042 / - | 1,052 / 1,004 to 1,050 / - | 1,050 / 977 / - | 1,052 / 1,050 / - | 1,022 / 1,021 / - |
| Cargo Volume Behind 3rd/2nd/1st Rows (L) | - / 954 / 1,882 | - / 951 to 1,070 / 1,801 to 1,994 | - / 1,028 to 1,113 / 2,030 to 2,166 | - / 902 to 1,097 / 1,876 to 2,119 | - / 952 / 1,935 | - / 1,119 to 1,121 / 1,855 to 2,098 | - / 957 / 1,977 |
| Max Towing Capacity (kg) | 680 | 1,588 | 680 | 1,588 | 1,588 | 1,134 | 816 |
