New 2026 Mazda CX-5: price, specs & release date

The new Mazda CX-5 takes over from the brand's best-selling SUV, and at first glance it doesn't look like much has changed. It still uses a non-turbo petrol engine – unusual in this day and age – and its styling is definitely a case of evolution over revolution. There are new styling details inspired by the larger CX-60.

New Mazda CX-5 prices and specifications

Mazda charges £31,550 for the entry-level Prime-Line trim, which is actually £80 less than the starting price of the older model. Prime-Line sits on grey 17-inch alloy wheels, and comes with plenty of equipment such as a reversing camera, auto LED headlights with high-beam assist, adaptive cruise control, a load of driver assistance tech and two-zone climate control.

Centre-Line is next. For £34,050 (+£2,500), Mazda gives you 19-inch bi-colour wheels, a powered bootlid, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, rear air vents and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base model gets this phone connectivity too, but you have to plug in with a cable. It's a little bizarre that Mazda didn't just offer wireless connectivity as standard.

Exclusive-Line is another £2,500, adding a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree parking camera, an electric passenger seat, heated rear seats and a 12-speaker Bose sound system. Top-spec Homura gives you black wheels, cooled leather seats, upgraded headlights, ambient lighting and a bigger touchscreen for £38,950.

Engine and performance

The 2.5-litre petrol has started to be fitted in other Mazda models, such as the smaller CX-30. Its 141hp output doesn’t sound particularly impressive, and that’s reiterated by the respectable but hardly astounding 0-62mph time of 10.5 seconds.

Now, the Mazda CX-5 only comes with an automatic gearbox, which is a shame – the old CX-5's manual gearshift was one of the best parts of its driving experience.

As before, most cars will be front-wheel drive, although an all-wheel-drive version will be optional. Maximum towing capacity has increased to a useful 2,000kg.

Interior

Perhaps the biggest change is inside, and specifically in terms of the infotainment. Two touchscreens are available – measuring either 12.9 or 15.6 inches – and these use built-in Google software. That means always-up-to-date sat nav info, while Mazda talks of a ‘smartphone-style’ interface with customisable menus.

There’s a new steering wheel with Mazda lettering rather than the logo, and a digital instrument cluster – which is finally giving up trying to look like traditional dials.

The boot space has grown by 61 litres, to a much more competitive 583 litres, while the rear doors open wider and the rear seats all fold individually.

The CX-5 is an alternative to the Hyundai Tucson, Ford Kuga, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage and Peugeot 3008.

Save thousands on a used Mazda CX-5 for sale at Motorpoint, or read our Mazda CX-5 review to see what’s great about it.