A new version of Mazda's popular CX-5 SUV is on the way. Earlier today, the Japanese automaker revealed details about the third-generation CX-5, which goes on sale in Europe later this year before coming here in 2026.
The current CX-5, first introduced in 2017, marked Mazda's move upmarket, with a renewed focus on elegant interiors and keen handling without luxury automaker prices. Mazda remains committed to its core principle of "Jinba Ittai"—the horse and rider being at one—and the cars remain popular with enthusiasts, but it's fair to say that the available powertrains often leave something to be desired in terms of fuel efficiency.
At one time, Mazda readied a new diesel engine to try to improve its fleet average, although that option disappeared within a couple of years due to minimal demand. And for a while, we were teased with the clever "Skyactiv-X" compression ignition engine, which promised diesel-like efficiency on regular pump gasoline. It seems the odds of that one actually going on sale in the US are now remote, though.
More recently, Mazda borrowed the hybrid powertrain from Toyota's RAV4 and dropped it into the CX-50—conveniently, both SUVs are built in the same shared factory in Huntsville, Alabama. (In exchange, Toyota gets access to Mazda's Soul Red paint for the RAV4, which is a pretty fair swap.)
Both the CX-5 and CX-50 will continue to coexist in dealerships: The former is a global bestseller, and the latter is made in the US for North American tastes. Finally, there will be a hybrid CX-5 to go with the hybrid CX-50, although not until 2027. Not much is known about the new "Skyactiv-Z" engine other than that it will be a four-cylinder gasoline engine that operates at the ideal stoichiometric ratio of air to fuel throughout the rev range.
For 2026, though, the CX-5 will come with Mazda's Skyactiv-G 2.5 L four-cylinder gasoline engine. Mazda has also developed a new generation of infotainment system for the CX-5, joining the growing list of automakers that have adopted Google's Android Automotive OS and Google automotive services.
Expect pricing much closer to the car's official US launch in 2026.
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