Mazda CX-5 review

Why, it’s the all-new, third-generation Mazda CX-5 of course. This mid-size SUV is a big deal for the Japanese carmaker – to date Mazda has sold over five million of them (only its third model to hit that milestone, after the 323 and 3), and in 2025 it was its biggest seller, both globally and in the UK.

So chances are several CX-5s have passed you by in the street without you realising. This is the thing with Mazda – you know the name, you recognise the badge, but because it goes about its business with such quiet dignity, it rarely makes headlines. A Mazda doesn’t take risks, it just works.

What's new about this CX-5 then?

Not a whole lot, actually. But that’s intentional, so as not to put off any repeat custom from previous buyers. And there are a lot of them.

It wears the next evolution of Mazda’s ‘Kodo’ design language, looking slightly more chiselled than before, and in the metal it’s a smart looking thing. Certainly a better proposition than some of the other identikit mid-size SUVs that you couldn’t pick out of a line-up of suspects.

But it’s what’s underneath that really matters here, because the petrols and diesels of old have been replaced with a 2.5-litre mild hybrid. Total output is 139bhp and 176lb ft, and it comes in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, with 0-62mph seen off in 10.5s and 10.9s respectively.

The other big news is it’s now available with an automatic gearbox only – more popular nowadays, innit.

Makes speccing it easier…

Yep. Mazda has long favoured natural aspiration in favour of turbocharging, with the e-Skyactiv G engine here – the same as that seen in the 3 hatchback and CX-30 crossover – no exception.

Mazda claims it’s more responsive at low- and mid-range engine speeds compared to the old unit. Pah. We found it to be sluggish and noisy, and you need to rev the nuts off it to make any sort of meaningful progress. Not a good start.

We are told that a full hybrid (i.e. one that'll briefly drive on e-power unaided) will arrive at some point, but we don’t know when yet. It can’t come soon enough, because the mild hybrid is a proper let-down.

Oh dear. What about the inside?

The CX-5 car has grown compared to its predecessor – with an increased wheelbase leading to more head and legroom for rear passengers. Oh, and a bigger boot too. All excellent news from where we’re sitting.

What’s not quite so good news is that Mazda's binned much of the switchgear in favour of a new 10.25in driver’s display and a 12.9in or 15.6in central screen (spec dependent). It does at least get Google built in – maps, voice control etcetera – but gone is the dedicated climate control panel, and the rotary dial. Sniff.

It looks quite suave, but the interface is slow and it's undoubtedly more fiddly. The cabin itself is similarly all very lovely to look at, but dig a little deeper and material quality is lacking in places.

How much does it cost?

Prices start from £31,550 – about what the old model cost – and climb through four trim levels to very nearly £41k. Yeesh.

That puts it in the same ballpark as rivals including the Citroen C5 Aircross, Ford Kuga, Peugeot 3008, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Renault Symbioz, Skoda Karoq… and all those other mid-size SUVs arriving in droves from China.

Mazda had a difficult job with the new CX-5 – too sporty, and it wouldn’t be suitable for families; too soft, and it would betray a key Mazda pillar. But in trying to find a happy middle ground the CX-5 has been caught in No Man’s Land: the chassis is surprisingly unengaging, to such a degree that it completely undermines Mazda’s efforts to improve comfort. The only solution is to drive the thing incredibly slowly, and when you do finally get your foot down the mild hybrid engine badly lacks torque and refinement.

Meanwhile Mazda has finally succumbed to peer pressure and fitted a huge screen instead of relying on physical switchgear. The brand’s tech has needed an overhaul for yonks but Mazdas appeal for their simplicity and ease of use – that the CX-5 is bothersome to operate makes this a misstep in our book.

To any existing CX-5 owners wondering whether to upgrade, we’d suggest sticking with what you’ve got – at least until the new, full hybrid powertrain enters the chat.