Mazda CX-5 News

Mazda’s new-generation CX-5 mid-size SUV split opinion when it was unveiled a few months ago, but the carmaker claims it took direct feedback from Australians.

Mazda revealed its new CX-5 family SUV recently, bringing fresh styling and upgraded tech, but not everyone was happy.Australian Mazda CX-5 owners forums have erupted, with Mazda's engine choice — or lack thereof — in the firing line.Mazda’s much talked about in-house hybrid technology won’t be available when the car launches next year. 2027 might even be stretched, with the vital new tech earmarked for a US launch towards the end of that year, there is no certainty Australia will get it before 2028.The brand has also ditched the more potent turbocharged petrol engine from the future line-up. This is likely a response to the federal government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which punishes carmakers for every gram of CO2 they emit per kilometre over a certain threshold.Instead Mazda will launch with a detuned version of the current 2.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder engine that will make 132kW and 242Nm, or 8kW and 10Nm less than the outgoing version. Current owners are not happy.“New CX-5 is being launched half baked (how can you launch your best selling car with 1 single engine option???),” said one Mazda CX-5 Club Australia member.“So disappointed Mazda have missed the boat on hybrid opportunity,” said another.“It’s boring, will not buy it. Pathetically Slow Zoom Zoom,” stated another.Others quipped: “Mazda still thinks its competition is the RAV4? Wrong!”“Not only have they failed to deliver a ‘knock out punch’, Mazda haven’t even made it into the ring.”Even Mazda Australia’s own Facebook post was peppered with negative comments.“I’m stunned they dropped the turbo,” said one commenter.Others were less fussed.“I think the car itself looks great, as most Mazdas ,” said one fan.“I’m personally not fussed about not having a turbo engine, I’m not after the ‘fun factor’ and don’t drive aggressively.”"Stunning," said another. "Absolutely love it," replied another fan.Mazda’s new in-house developed hybrid will be worth the wait.Mazda North America VP of Strategic Planning, Stefan Meisterfeld, told US publication CarBuzz: “The hybrid system will have performance that is comparable to or exceeding the turbo powertrain.”That means it'll likely top the 170kW and 420Nm of the outgoing turbo CX-5. That kind of performance will leave conventional hybrids in its dust.Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi told CarsGuide the new CX-5 Hybrid will deliver on the brand’s Zoom Zoom promise."My understanding is that it will be totally Mazda, it will be designed in a way that delivers what Mazda wants it to deliver – the Jinba Ittai (Japanese for horse and rider as one), the Zoom Zoom element,” he said.The new CX-5 is more than just an engine, though.The company has evolved its handsome looks and heavily refreshed the interior to give it a more premium feel.It'll have wider opening doors, a panoramic sunroof option, ambient lighting and a 15.6-inch multimedia touchscreen.Mazda is also ditching its rotary dial multimedia display controls and instead going for more conventional touchscreen and physical button controls.It is bigger on the outside, so expect a roomier cabin.

Will Mazda's hybrid CX-5 be too little, too late?

Mazda opted to develop its new hybrid powertrain for the CX-5, rather than utilise Toyota's RAV4 Hybrid system as the brand does with the CX-50 in the USA, because it wanted to ensure its most popular vehicle was more dynamic to drive than its Japanese rival.

Mazda has globally revealed its new third-generation CX-5 mid-size SUV ahead of it arriving in Australia in 2026.

The new Mazda CX-5 has made its global debut, with the third generation of Mazda’s popular mid-size SUV featuring an updated design and interior.

New CX-5 officially teased!

Mazda Australia has set up trademark requests for a series of badge names that point to a potential influx of electric cars.Five filings with IP Australia consist of anticipated or possible electric cars names from the brand, including the Mazda CX-6e and Mazda 6e, which already exist in some markets.The Mazda 2e and 3e filings suggest light and small electric cars could be on the way, while the CX-5e name points to another mid-size SUV model.While brands sometimes register trademarks to protect model names that fit in their style but don’t apply to an existing car, the choices by Mazda to register these limited but specific names seems more deliberate.The Mazda 6e and CX-6e have already been around for a short while, starting life as the EZ-6 and EZ-60 respectively in China, built by joint venture Changan-Mazda.The 6e and CX-6e model names are applied to the cars for international markets and brand recognition, with the 2026 Mazda 6e already locked in Europe and available with details for each market.The CX-6e is not yet confirmed under that name, but it’s possible that it will be the EZ-60’s international name if not deemed too similar phonetically to ‘CX-60’.As for the 2e, 3e and CX-5e, all have been trademarked in the EU by Mazda so it’s possible there are more announcements to come from Mazda regarding future EVs, even if not entirely relevant to Australia.It would make sense that if 2e and 3e come to fruition, they’d be Mazda2 and Mazda3-sized. There’s also a chance the CX-5e name has been registered in anticipation of the next-gen CX-5, if electrification ends up being on the cards.CarsGuide has contacted Mazda Australia for comment on the trademark filings.

One of the most hotly anticipated models of this year is just around the corner.Mazda is preparing to take the covers off the next-generation CX-5 family SUV.We still don’t know what it looks like yet, but the team from Japan's Best Car magazine has given us a glimpse of what it could look like in fresh digital renders.The new CX-5’s design is more of an evolution than a revolution, with it sticking to the formula that has made it — and the brand’s whole range of SUVs — a hit in Australia and the US.The front end has been tweaked with fresh headlights and grille. The overall shape is boxier than the current version, which brings it in line with the carmaker's premium range of  SUVs the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90.The new-generation CX-5 is rumoured to be revealed later this year, with the Tokyo motor show in October a likely covers-off location.This roughly lines up with comments made by Mazda's South African boss, Craig Roberts, earlier this year in an interview with business outlet Moneyweb.“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," said Roberts.This generation will finally give the CX-5 an answer to the mighty Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Mazda has been developing its own in-house hybrid set-up, dubbed SkyActiv-Z. It won’t find its way into the new CX-5 until 2027, though.Best Car, which is known for its well-placed sources in the Japanese auto industry, claims the CX-5 will launch with mild-hybrid power instead.Despite the coming hybrid version, Mazda has already fallen behind market leader Toyota. Toyota recently announced the next-gen RAV4, which is due in Australia before July 2026, will come with plug-in hybrid power as well as standard hybrid options. Mazda has given no indication a plug-in hybrid is on the way.Mazda might be prepping an all electric version of the CX-5, though. In China it revealed the EZ-60 at the recent Shanghai auto show. The EZ-60 is rough the same size as the CX-5, and is built by Mazda’s Chinese partner Changan. This partnership has already spawned the electric Mazda6 replacement dubbed 6e in Europe.

This is Mazda's much-anticipated hybrid CX-5.