Mazda has confirmed a full redesign for the CX-5 and will introduce electrification for the first time in its best-selling car. While the gas model looks set to hit dealers this year, the next-gen Mazda CX-5 Hybrid is expected to launch in 2026. Here are seven changes we expect in both variants:
1. Refined Design Language
The redesigned CX-5 will retain Mazda’s ‘Kodo – Soul of Motion’ styling but with sharper details. As seen in our exclusive illustrations in this article, slimmer headlamps inspired by the brand’s 創 Arata design will lift the compact SUV’s aggression.
The grille will have a more upright look, and the wheel arches will be squarer. Additionally, we’re noticing chunkier door armor/rocker panels, streamlined door handles, and the familiar greenhouse shape, in test mules. At the rear, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 will feature L-shaped taillights that appears to cut deeper into the fender. We’re anticipating the ‘Mazda’ lettering to replace the traditional logo on the upper tailgate, as seen in the Mazda 6e. And unlike many OEMs, Mazda will retain exposed exhaust tips.
2. Longer Body
When we analyzed spy shots of new test prototypes, it’s evident that Mazda has lengthened the body of the 2026 CX-5. While the wheelbase appears to have grown a little, it’s the rear that’s receiving much of the benefit. This will give the CX-5 better road presence, and the ‘bulbous’ rear design aligns it with newer models like the CX-90 and CX-80. It remains to be seen how Mazda works around the blind spot from the thicker pillar.
3. Increased Cargo Space
The thicker D-Pillar is a clear indication that Mazda has designed a larger cargo area in the new CX-5. The current CX-5 offers 29.1 cu. ft. of space, which falls short compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V (39.3 cu. ft.) and Toyota RAV4 (37.5 cu. ft.). We’re not going to speculate if Mazda is gunning for class-leading levels, but one inference is that the new hybrid system, much of which will reside behind the rear seat, will not compromise the CX-5’s practicality.
4. Mazda’s Own Hybrid System
Mazda will equip the new CX-5 with an in-house hybrid system that’s currently in development. The powertrain will pair a Skyactiv gasoline engine with electrification for improved mpg, better performance in urban conditions, and lower emissions.
Next-generation CX-5 currently under development and planned to be equipped with a Mazda-developed hybrid power system combining a Skyactiv engine featuring improved exhaust and heat efficiency with electrification technologies.
Excerpt from the Mazda Integrated Report 2024, released on October 31, 2024
Unlike the CX-50 Hybrid, which uses the Toyota Hybrid System, a front-wheel-drive (FWD) option should be available in the CX-5 Hybrid, with an optional e-AWD system for enhanced traction. We don’t expect the hybrid variant to be available until next year.
5. Most Efficient CX-5 yet
We’re expecting the hybrid system to employ either a 2.0- or 2.5-liter Skyactiv gasoline engine, paired with an electric propulsion motor and an electric generator motor. The combined output should be around 200 hp, with an estimated fuel economy of around 40 mpg (combined). A lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1.1-1.5 kWh should allow for short pure-electric driving.
6. July-September 2025 World Debut
Mazda’s South African Managing Director, Craig Roberts, has told Moneyweb, a popular local podcast for business and financial information, that the CX-5 new model would celebrate its global premiere in late summer/early fall.
That new CX-5 will debut in the third quarter of this year, and will probably hit our shores in the first quarter of 2026.
Craig Roberts, Managing Director of Mazda Southern Africa, talking to MoneyWeb on January 15, 2025
Mazda North American Operations usually announces the new model year for the CX-5 around July or August. We reckon that we’ll hear about their plans for MY2026 during the same time this year. As stated earlier, we don’t see the Hybrid version to be available in 2025.
7. Branding Choice In The U.S.
Mazda is adopting dual numbering for its CX range, having discontinued the CX-7 in favor of the CX-70, the CX-9 for the CX-90, and replacing the CX-8 with the CX-80 globally. With the CX-50 already available in the U.S., both Mazda CX-40 and CX-60 are nameplates available for use in this market.
However, the next-gen CX-5 has grown in size and efficiency, and branding it as CX-40 may not align with its improved stature. The company is staying flexible with regional branding strategies, and irrespective of what Mazda chooses globally, we think that they should continue calling it the CX-5 in North America.
Also Read: 2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid: 8 New Features that U.S. buyers will value
Featured image: TopElectricSUV’s illustration of the new Mazda CX-5 Hybrid.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
