The overhauled CX-5 moves indeed closer to the CX-50. A few kin fair can't remain out of each other's hair. The Mazda CX-5 and CX-50 are like that. When the CX-50 showed up on the scene for 2023, the brand's moment section among compact SUVs was situated as marginally bigger and more upscale, in spite of the fact that there was bounty of cover between the two.
Mazda North American Operations president and CEO Tom Donnelly portrays the CX-5 as "somewhat more urban" than the CX-50, which he characterizes as "tough" and "outdoorsy."
Those refinements strike us as for the most part fanciful. The truth is that the crisply updated 2026 CX-5 contracts the crevice, and these two SUVs cover more than ever. The unused CX-5 includes 4.6 inches between the axles, meaning that it presently offers the same 110.8-inch wheelbase as the CX-50.
What's New for 2026 Mazda CX-5 Review?
A 4.5-inch increment in generally length puts the unused CX-5 fair 1.2 inches modest of the CX-50. The CX-50 remains fair over two inches more extensive, whereas the CX-5 is a few three inches taller than its in-house equal.
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As a result of that development spurt, the CX-5 presently surpasses the CX-50 in both traveler and cargo space. Mazda paid specific consideration to rear-seat room, with more raise legroom and over two inches of extra knee room than some time recently; raise headroom is more noteworthy as well.
Though the raise situate already couldn't coordinate competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan, it presently has bounty of legroom and knee clearance for a six-footer sitting behind a similar-sized driver.
Wider and taller raise entryways moreover upgrade get to. Out back, a bigger liftgate opens to the more liberal cargo range, where a lower floor facilitates stacking of baggage, and the raise seatback is part 40/20/40 to permit long, contract things (such as skis) to settle between the rear-seat passengers.
What You Want to Know 2026 Mazda CX-5?
See all comes about for modern 2026 Mazda CX-5 for deal close 110026. Up front, there's a modern directing wheel that joins more controls and has a smooth calfskin edge that feels extraordinary. The gage cluster is presently a 10.3-inch advanced show, and the accessible head-up show is more than twice as expansive as some time recently.
The enormous alter, in any case, is the infotainment framework. The show develops from the past 10.3 inches to 12.9 inches, or 15.6 inches on the Premium Furthermore.
The long-serving rotational controller has been kicked to the control; Mazda has at long last grasped the touchscreen. It has done so with a convert's fervor, rejecting indeed the sound system's volume and tuning knobs.
Mazda has moreover grasped voice control, through Google's built-in computer program. Other Google apps incorporate Google Maps and Google Play, as well as Google's AI aide, Gemini.
Gemini can work in-car highlights, such as the climate control. If you'd or maybe fair reach out and alter the temperature or the fan speed yourself, without help from Silicon Valley, the climate controls are presently onscreen; oft-used capacities live at the base of the show, but a few (situate heating/ventilation and the accessible warmed directing wheel, for occasion) require opening the climate-control domestic screen.
Tragically, the high-quality physical switchgear that already performed these capacities has been jettisoned. The front seats are a comfortable mix of delicate quality and bolster, and the entryway armrests are thickly cushioned.
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There's a modern two-tone color treatment for the mid-level models as well. Still, the top-spec Premium Furthermore insides wraps up aren't as decent as those in the proportionate CX-50, with less soft-touch surfaces and more difficult plastic.
The 187-hp 2.5-liter motor with standard all-wheel drive carries over from some time recently, in spite of the fact that Mazda claims to have changed the powertrain rationale. The combo of the actually suctioned motor and the six-speed programmed gives more direct reaction than a few turbo fours and CVTs, but this powertrain isn't a fireball.
In the ancient CX-5, the 187-horse four overseen a class-competitive 7.9 seconds to 60 mph, but the unused demonstrate is bigger and heavier. The discretionary 256-hp turbocharged motor was chosen by as it were a little rate of buyers and has not returned (in spite of the fact that the CX-50 still offers it), whereas a half breed powertrain is set to connect the lineup another year. Shockingly, fuel economy has slipped marginally, with EPA gauges of 24 mpg city and 30 mpg thruway, versus the past 26/30 mpg.
The returning powertrain strikes a note of recognition, but the New CX-5 moreover feels like a Mazda in its driving elements. Mazda's chief of vehicle flow building, Dave Coleman, portrays the objectives for the chassis tuning as holding the active model's fun-to-drive characteristics whereas mixing in a bit more compliance for moved forward ride quality.
Our Southern California drive course didn't give the ride-quality torment test of our pothole-devastated asphalt back domestic, but the CX-5 did a awesome work veiling the patches of disintegrated landing area that we did experience.
And when the street turned twisty, the unused CX-5 shown the same physicality for which this show has long been known, guided by controlling that is natural-feeling and superbly weighted.
Mazda has included a few modern active-safety highlights, counting a few applications of programmed braking: in reaction to drawing closer cross activity when backing up, and when turning over activity. Versatile voyage control, lane-keeping help, traffic-sign acknowledgment, and blind-spot help are presently standard on all models.
How Much Does Cost of 2026 Mazda CX-5?
Mazda too gloats that the New CX-5 wins best scores in all IIHS crash tests. Versatile journey still requires a hand on the wheel but will presently consequently execute path changes (which the driver must start by enacting the turn flag); it can too moderate for bends and brakes prior for abating activity ahead.
With the extra standard gear, costs have crept up by fair beneath $1000 at the moo conclusion to more than $3000 for the best show: The 2026 CX-5 ranges from $31,485 to $40,485. That presently totally overlaps—and indeed exceeds—the base-engine CX-50, at $31,395 to $36,395.
We do not imagine to get it the item situating here, but perhaps it's best fair to take a laissez-faire approach. Let the two kin battle it out in the showroom; for buyers, there's no off-base choice here.
