2026 Mazda CX-5: How Does the New CX-5 Compare with the Old One?
The 2026 CX-5 is longer than before and promises more interior space.
The optional turbocharged engine is no longer available, but there is a hybrid model coming in 2027.
The Mazda CX-5 compact SUV has been around for well over a decade, and it's receiving its second major update for the 2026 model year. The latest generation of this popular crossover boasts some significant changes compared with the outgoing model, so we're detailing the differences, which include a larger footprint, a revised powertrain lineup, styling changes, and new technology features.
The CX-5 Gets Stretched
Mazda says it stretched the new 2026 CX-5's wheelbase by three inches and its overall length by 4.5 inches compared with the old model. It's also 0.5 inch wider than before. This should pay dividends in both rear-seat space and cargo room, though we don't yet have detailed specifications for either of these measurements. Mazda claims that rear-seat legroom, knee room, and headroom are increased, and the door openings are larger. The rear cargo floor is two inches longer and one inch deeper, with a lower liftover height that should make it easier to load heavy items.
Mazda
New Mazda CX-5
Andi Hedrick
|
Car and Driver
Old Mazda CX-5
No More Turbo Engine, Hybrid Coming Soon
Sadly, for 2026, Mazda is no longer offering our favorite powertrain option for the CX-5, the turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four. This optional engine produced 256 horsepower in the previous CX-5, but now the only choice is the 187-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four. The transmission remains a six-speed automatic, and all-wheel drive is standard. If you want the turbo engine in a Mazda compact SUV, the similarly sized CX-50 will still offer that powertrain combo for the time being.
Later, Mazda will add a hybrid version of the CX-5 that will use a new in-house-developed hybrid system. It hasn't released specifications on this setup, but we think it's safe to assume that it will be more powerful than the 2.5-liter four
Still Looks Snazzy, Bigger Screens
Mazda
Andi Hedrick
|
Car and Driver
The 2026 CX-5 looks different on the outside, with more modern-looking headlights and taillights, plus new wheel designs. Its overall shape is similar, though the longer proportions are noticeable. The interior makeover includes larger screens, including a standard 12.9-inch touchscreen and an optional 15.6-inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard, and more luxurious-looking materials. The previous car's rotary control knob in the center console is also gone, as the screen is now operated only via touch inputs.
Mazda hasn't yet detailed most of the 2026 CX-5's new features nor any of its trim levels, but we expect it to offer a similar lineup as the current car, which ranges from the 2.5 S base model up to the fully loaded Signature. Pricing will be released closer to the 2026 model's on-sale date, and we expect it to rise somewhat from the current CX-5's $30,265 base price.
Joey Capparella
Deputy Editor, Rankings Content
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City. Read full bio
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