2026 Mazda CX-5

More interior room and a new touchscreen multimedia system are big improvements that help make the new 2026 Mazda CX-5 fully competitive with popular alternatives.

Read here for a quick look at five things we like about the 2026 Mazda CX-5 and two we don’t after getting to drive one.

The improvements Mazda has made to the CX-5 are transformative, turning the one-note compact SUV into a real contender with only two areas that stand out as faults.

The increase in size makes the 2026 Mazda CX-5 fully competitive with the segment’s bestsellers, eliminating one of our main gripes with the SUV.

The 2026 SUV market features a notable redesign with the hybrid-only Toyota RAV4 as well as all-new EVs like the Rivian R2 and Subaru Trailseeker. Favorites like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride also get significant redesigns.

Now that Mazda has debuted a new CX-5, it seems safe to say that it and the CX-50 will continue to coexist in the automaker’s lineup.

According to Mazda, the 2026 CX-5 will come with a sharper design, more spacious cabin and renewed focus on functionality.