Mazda CX-5 review: NZ Exclusive First Drive

The first-generation Mazda CX-5 seemingly arrived at the perfect time in 2012, just as the world (especially you, New Zealand) started to become obsessed with SUVs. 

It was only one model in a larger wave of new mid-size SUV offerings that arrived on our shores and quickly flooded our roads. These SUVs bugged me. I was a know-it-all twenty-year-old at the time and as I knew best, I thought all these high-ride buyers should own station wagons instead, on dynamic ability alone. I still do, to be honest. But then I drove a CX-5. 

Suddenly there was a raised SUV from a mainstream brand that was actually fun to drive. It was engaging, the steering was communicative, the suspension was sorted and, for me, it was the first modern mid-size to live up to the “S” in SUV. Most importantly, it was accessible to everyday families.

The second-generation CX-5 built on this legacy with a finer focus on driver engagement and looked good at the same time. Kiwis agreed, there’s a reason they’re everywhere on our roads. The CX-5 became Mazda’s best-seller locally with over 34,000 units sold and over 5 million units worldwide. 

Now for only the third time in its relatively short history, there’s an all-new model. Mazda says it will build on the same theme with an “emphasis” on driving dynamics, an all-new look and a totally reimagined interior interface and layout that also offers more space.

But it isn’t 2012 anymore. The new Mazda CX-5 not only rolls into a world of SUVs, but also hybrids, PHEVs, EVs, and nameplates we’d never heard of back then. Now there’s this thing called the Haval H6 that can go from 0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds and is tuned for our roads, also long-time rivals like the Toyota RAV4 are now hybrid-only and will soon be offered with a plug, too. 

So while I’m a fan, my expectations are high because the competition is now even higher. We travelled to Barcelona, Spain to test the new Mazda for the first time. Holla, new CX-5.

How much does the Mazda CX-5 cost?

We don’t know yet. We won’t for a few months. But from today we can run you through the finalised model range for New Zealand.

For 2026 the Mazda CX-5 lineup has been simplified at the entry- to mid-grade level and there’s a new nameplate added to the mix.

The entry-level GLX has been renamed the CX-5 Touring and will come standard with cloth seats that are heated for front row passengers, privacy glass for rear row passengers, 17-inch wheels, LED headlights, a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, eight-speaker sound system and wireless phone charger. 

The CX-5 SP is the successor to the popular GSX and we expect it to be the volume seller for Mazda again. You’ll be able to spot it with black 19-inch wheels and gloss black roof rails. In the cabin the SP adds leatherette seats with electric seat adjustment for the driver, a colour head-up display, heated steering wheel and windscreen, and an electric tailgate.

The CX-5 Homura is a new nameplate for New Zealand. It will feature even more black gloss trim on the front bumper and wheel archers, black metallic finish wheels and a large panoramic sunroof, a first for any CX-5. The cabin gains a full leather interior with full electric adjustability for the front row, heated seats for outer rear row passengers and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. There’s also a new 360-degree view camera with see-through functions that will work even when the mirrors are folded, which is smart, but please unfold them on the move.

The headline act in the CX-5 range remains the Takami, which will be the only model fitted with the large 15.6-inch touchscreen display, steering wheel paddle shifters and a full tan leather interior. The driver will be able to adjust their tanned seat with Mazda’s Driver Personalisation System that automatically adjusts the seat and mirrors for comfort and control. Front row passengers gain ventilated seats, too, and the tailgate adds hand-free control.

The first third-generation CX-5s will land in New Zealand in Spring of 2026 and we expect pricing and final specification to be announced in May.

What’s under the bonnet? 

An updated version of a known powerplant, though it seems a favourite of ours won’t be making a return, at launch at least.

All new CX-5 models will be powered by Mazda’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder Skyactiv-G engine. Thanks to EU regulations, the engine will produce slightly less output then the current version fitted to GSX and Limited AWD models. 

With 132kW and 242Nm, it’s down 8kW and 10Nm for 2026, but the new motor will be more economical and produce less CO2. Mazda have updated the unit to comply with the current EURO 6e standards and updated the internals with a new balancer shaft to reduce vibrations.

That means no return of the current Takami’s turbocharged 2.5-litre engine as it would need a serious overhaul to comply with EURO emission standards. A shame, even though that engine has a serious drinking problem if you can't control your right foot.

Front-wheel drive models won’t be back either, all new models in the range are now all-wheel drive (AWD) with power being sent through a 6-speed automatic transmission. European and American market CX-5s are available with a mild-hybrid and a full hybrid is in the pipeline, so expect new units to arrive in the coming years. 

While it’s a shame Kiwis won’t be getting an electrically-assisted CX-5 at launch, it’s worth noting that the pure-petrol versions that land here produce more power and torque than the mild-hybrids sold in the Northern Hemisphere. Those units only produce 104kW and 238Nm.

What’s the Mazda CX-5 like inside?

Opening any of the four doors reveals the biggest changes to the Mazda CX-5.

Let’s start in the driver seat. Current owners will instantly notice the total lack of physical buttons. That array of media controls and large rotary dial behind the gear leaver is gone, leaving a cleaner centre console tunnel, extended arm rest and a wireless phone charger. The only physical controls left on the console are the gear leaver itself, electronic park brake and auto-hold function.

So guess where all the media controls are now? Yep, bingo. The central touch-screen infotainment system that in top-spec Takami form measures 15.6-inches or 12.9-inches in all other grades.

Access to controls for air conditioning, heated and ventilated front seats, active safety tech, navigation, reversing or 360 camera and media are now found in a strip running along the bottom of the screen. This is Mazda’s own infotainment operating system and is different to that in the Mazda 6e we also just tested. So if you were to own both, there would be two sets of menus you’d need to get the hang of.

At this point I need to mention the steering wheel controls. You’ll find the usual media controls here, too, and they can be used as traditional buttons (they click, none of that haptic nonsense) but can also be swiped, up, down, left, or right in the same way you’d use a smartphone. So now you can swipe to increase volume or change drive modes.

There are three screens the driver relies on. The aforementioned infotainment screen, a large head-up display and a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. There are three display options from a simplified view, a live fuel economy display and full read out with rev counter and temperature gauges. In either mode, the centre of cluster displays what Mazda’s active safety system is reading ahead in real-time, so you’ll know when you’re drifting in your lane.

Below the infotainment screen are three more physical buttons for the hazard lights and front and rear demisters. Mazda say they wanted to modernise this space but controls for safety features that need to be quickly accessed were never going to be compromised.

While they’re all big changes, the new CX-5 does feel instantly familiar. The interior is much more modern but the seating position, view out front and dare I say, the ‘vibe’ of the interior is unmistakably Mazda.

Changes up front are the easiest to spot but the second row is where updates to the Mazda  are most-felt. The wheelbase of the new CX-5 is 115mm longer than the current model and all that space has been added to the rear row. The entire vehicle is also 15mm wider and 30mm higher and you notice it immediately in the back. 

The second row is now EV big for a mid-size SUV. Mazda says knee space has grown by 64mm, head room by 29mm, and shoulder room by 10mm, and those figures feel accurate. The current CX-5 could be a bit cramped for taller adults but the new one feels more like a large SUV. 

The extra wheelbase has also allowed for a larger rear door that opens 70mm wider than before making it easier to get in and out. Mazda even consciously made the rear scuff plate slightly wider so younger or older passengers have better footing exiting the CX-5. 

Mazda also increased their NVH standards for second row passengers, which are now the same targets for the front row, and achieved it by placing more sound-absorbing and insulating materials in key areas to keep noise at an “absolute minimum” for rear row passengers.

The extra wheelbase has also seemingly made for a bigger boot. In European spec, the new CX-5 has gained an extra 61 litres and Mazda were very keen to show off a literal boot-full of luggage the new model could hold (including three large suitcases and three hard-case carry ons with some room to spare). But it’s worth noting Euro versions don’t have a full size spare tire. We don’t know exact dimensions of New Zealand-bound models yet, however I'd expect a bump in usable space once final details are released. 

What’s the Mazda CX-5 like to drive?

Just like a modernised CX-5 should.

Firstly, even with the new cockpit design the view forward is freakishly similar to the current model. That’s no criticism as visibility spanning from the front driver's window to the front passenger window is excellent, something I appreciated while driving a left-hand drive car.

But looking back in the rear view mirror, the CX-5 instantly feels like a bigger car. You can see that 115mm extension to the wheelbase just by glancing at the rear seats behind you. Visually, it feels closer to its 7-seat CX-80 sibling looking rearward from the driver seat.

Once you’re used to it and you’re underway, the body starts to shrink around you, just like it does in all good driver-focused cars. Yup, this is a family SUV, but I’m happy to report the CX-5 is still a fun car to drive down a twisting road.

If you’re a current owner, the first sensation you’ll notice is how much lighter the electric steering is. It makes the old model feel like a 2000s SUV. The new steering doesn't come at the cost of feel and the rack still delivers a lot of feedback compared to rivals in this class. In a short amount of time I found it easy to be very accurate with my inputs and I could place the car exactly where I wanted it during slow or high speed driving.

When cornering the CX-5 remains flat, which was a surprise as the springs in the new model are actually softer than before. Mazda have beefed up the anti-roll bars and increased rebound damping front and rear, which it says provides better road-holding during fast cornering but also does a better job absorbing uneven surfaces for a smoother ride.

Together with Mazda’s i-Activ AWD system with active torque vectoring, the CX-5 is an engaging package. The AWD system can shift torque around all four corners under braking for more steering feel, shift torque rearward during the corner for more stability, and then send more to the front axle at corner exit to fling you out the other side.

Sounds complicated? It really is. But you barely notice it working and it feels natural. The steering, suspension and AWD system are well calibrated, delivering a singular driving experience, not a jumbled mess.

The increased sound deadening made a clear difference as well. I never found NVH to be a big problem with the current model, but the new version is certainly more insulated from the outside world and with the leather seats in our top-spec model, the cabin was a quiet and comfortable place to be. 

However, the engine was easily the weakest part of the package. I only had access to a European market CX-5 with the mild-hybrid, so we’ll reserve judgment on powertrains until we get behind the wheel of a naturally aspirated model on home turf. Still after two days of driving, I’d say Kiwis aren’t missing out on much. It was quiet and refined in town, but on open roads it felt underpowered and choked throughout the rev range and by 2026 standards, it was simply slow.

There are three drive modes - Normal, Sport and Off-Road - I left testing of the latter to my European colleagues who managed to drive up and down a very soft sand beach without getting bogged. Good to know, thank you German media. Maybe something we should try out on home turf later?

What do you get?

This list is by no means complete. Mazda are yet to confirm final specification of all four models but the accessories listed below are locked in at the time of publishing.

Highlights of the Mazda CX-5 Touring include:

• 17-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Cloth seats
• Heated front seats
• 8-speaker stereo system
• 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Wireless phone charger
• Dual-zone climate control
• Privacy glass

SP adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Leatherette interior trim
• Head-up display
• Heated steering wheel
• Electric driver’s seat adjustment
• Roof rails
• Electric tailgate

Homura adds:

• Leather interior
• 12-speaker Bose system
• 360-degree camera
• Electric passenger seat adjustment
• Rear outer seat heating
• Black gloss exterior pack
• Panoramic sunroof

Takami adds:

• Tan leather seating
• 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment display
• Ventilated front seats
• Auto mirror and seating adjustment
• Paddle shifters
• Hands-free eclectic tailgate
  

CarExpert’s take on the Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 has been my benchmark mainstream mid-size SUV for those looking for a family car that’s still fun to drive and after a first taste, I expect that may continue.

The chassis and AWD system tuning is excellent for this class and provides both a comfortable ride and a sporting edge when the mood takes you.

There is still a major question mark over power units. We haven’t tried the naturally aspirated unit yet but we know it will produce slightly less power than the 2.5-litre four-cylinder we have now, so the new engine has some big shoes to fill if it is to match the chassis’ capabilities.

As a usable, everyday family car, the CX-5 takes a big step forward with increased cabin space making the rear row a much more accommodating and comfortable place to be for fully grown adult passengers.

The new exterior design also makes a far better impression in-person than in these pictures. There are organic lines and forms throughout the vehicle that you interpret differently with different body colours and changing light conditions. The CX-5 has always been a looker and this new generation of Mazda’s Kodo design language is still stand-out, in my opinion.

The CX-5 has been the brand’s most important model in recent years and the new model faces some serious competition when it arrives in New Zealand later this year. Luckily for Mazda, it has some serious kit to challenge its rivals, old and new.