2026 Mazda CX-5 consumer reviews

This is a review of the 2026 CX-5 Preferred trim, likely the most popular option in the lineup. I've had the car for a little while now and wanted to share my thoughts for anyone considering it. This is actually my second CX-5, so I'm comparing the previous generation directly to this new one. Driving Dynamics: The driving dynamics feel largely the same as before, consistent with the Mazda experience overall. It's a smooth ride, and the engine isn't overly noisy. The New Touchscreen: Now for the most controversial and significant change: the touchscreen. The Preferred trim comes with a 12-inch display. While I generally prefer touchscreens, several features are genuinely a hassle to control this way. Climate control: buttons were simply easier and more intuitive. Volume control: previous Mazdas had a center volume knob, which was far more convenient than adjusting via touchscreen. It feels like a step backward and can be frustrating. Memory seats: these now require you to sit in the car and start it before adjusting. Previously, you could press the memory button before sitting down and let the seat adjust automatically, which was more practical. Odometer: checking your mileage now requires navigating to a specific app on the touchscreen, which feels unnecessarily convoluted. Voice control: performance here isn't great either. I think a combination of touchscreen and physical controls would have struck a better balance. Adding to my concerns, a day after I left the dealership, there was already a recall for a software update due to issues—a sign there's room for improvement right out of the gate. Feature Changes: In previous generations, the moonroof was available as an option on the Preferred trim. Now it's reserved for Premium trims and above, which feels like a money grab. On the plus side, some features once exclusive to Premium trims now come standard on the Preferred, including a heated steering wheel, heads-up display, power mirrors, and wireless charging. These are nice small additions, though nothing groundbreaking. One downside: the touch controls on the steering wheel feel more plastic and cheap compared to before. Seats: My Biggest Disappointment This generation's Preferred trim seats deserve special mention. Previous generations offered leatherette seats that were a great value and quite comfortable, something that helped Mazda stand out. This generation drops the pure leatherette option entirely in favor of a leatherette-and-suede combination, which is really just a fancier way of saying cloth. Most of the seating surface you actually sit on is cloth, and this is my least favorite part of the car. Leatherette does appear on the side bolsters and headrests, so it's unclear why Mazda didn't extend it throughout the seat. This feels like a clear cost-cutting move. I'd strongly recommend sitting in the car in person before committing to this trim; you may want to consider a higher trim level instead. Interior: If you exclude the seats, I would Mazda still retains its premium look. Fuel Economy: Fuel economy has also been underwhelming. I live in the suburbs with a mix of stop-and-go traffic and highway stretches, and my daily trips consistently average in the low 20s (sometimes lower)—well below the advertised 26 mpg. If fuel economy is a priority, it might be worth waiting for the hybrid version coming out next year. Bottom Line: Overall, this feels like a modest upgrade. Is it a major improvement over the previous generation? Probably not. I would most likely ask others to wait a year for fixes as the first year of a new generation usually has issues. Or, I would suggest buying a used model of the previous generation.