The New 2026 Mazda CX-5 Is More of a Good Thing

TL;DR

The 2026 CX-5 is a refined, roomy compact SUV held back by a severely underpowered engine with no hybrid option.

Key Points

• 1.Powertrain is the biggest weakness: The only engine is a 2.5L 4-cylinder making just 187 horsepower — dead last in its class. The previous turbo model made 255 hp, and even the CX-50 hybrid beats it at 220 hp with 38 mpg combined.
• 2.No hybrid offered yet, despite every major rival (RAV4, CR-V, Hyundai Tucson) having one, and even Mazda's own CX-50 offering a hybrid version.
• 3.Longer wheelbase adds real space: The new CX-5 is 4.5 inches longer, producing a genuinely roomy rear seat that rivals midsize SUV passenger room.
• 4.New 14.5-inch touchscreen replaces the old dial controller — generally well-received, but volume requires two steps to adjust and heated seat shortcuts require navigating into a sub-menu instead of one-tap activation.
• 5.Exterior styling went more generic: The new design smoothed out the previous model's distinctive details. Soul Red paint and fading LED turn signals remain the standout visual features.
• 6.Pricing ranges from ~$31,000 (base) to just over $40,000 (top trim), with most buyers landing in the mid-$30K to low-$40K range — competitive but not a bargain given the powertrain limitations.
• 7.Doug Score: 46/100 — still among the best non-special-trim compact SUVs, but the lack of a turbo or hybrid option leaves it without a compelling edge over rivals.