The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is a tale of two cars. One part premium. One part frustrating. This Mazda CX-5 review breaks down both sides. You get a cabin that feels like a luxury car leather everywhere. A big screen, a back seat that finally fits adults.

You also get an engine that feels slow. No turbo no hybrid and Mazda removed almost every button, volume, climate, seat heaters. All on the touchscreen now some drivers will hate that. Others will not care. The price starts at $29,990 that undercuts the Honda CR-V. So is it worth it? Let us dig into the details. Real talk. No fluff.

What Is New for 2026?

This is the third-generation CX-5. It is not a small update. Mazda redesigned it from the ground up.

The new CX-5 is 4.5 inches longer than before. Most of that extra length goes to rear-seat legroom. There is 2.3 inches more knee clearance in the back . Adults can finally sit comfortably back there. The cargo area is deeper too.

The styling is familiar. If you liked the old CX-5, you will like this one. It sits a little wider and lower. The changes are subtle. You would need to park them side by side to spot the difference .

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What Does the 2026 Mazda CX-5 Cost?

The CX-5 starts at $29,990. That is the base 2.5 S trim. The top Premium Plus trim hits $38,990 . Add $595 for premium paint colors .

Here is the full price breakdown:

• 2.5 S: $29,990
• 2.5 S Select: $31,990
• 2.5 S Preferred: $34,250
• 2.5 S Premium: $36,900
• 2.5 S Premium Plus: $38,990

That is a competitive range for a compact SUV. The Honda CR-V starts at $32,370. The Toyota RAV4 starts at $31,900 .

Engine and Performance

• Every 2026 CX-5 comes with the same engine. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It makes 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque . All-wheel drive is standard on every trim.
• The problem? This engine is too slow for this car. The CX-5 weighs about 3,856 pounds . That is heavy for a compact SUV. The power-to-weight ratio is poor. Car and Driver tested the old CX-5 at 8.2 seconds to 60 mph. The new one is similar .
• Mazda dropped the turbo engine. The old CX-5 had an optional turbo with 256 horsepower. It was genuinely quick. Buyers who want that punch are out of luck .
• The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth. It feels a bit old compared to the eight-speed units in rivals. But it works fine .

What is missing: No hybrid option. Mazda says a hybrid CX-5 is coming for 2027. But for now, you cannot get one .

Fuel Economy

The CX-5 gets 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined . That is not great.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid gets 41 mpg combined. The Honda CR-V Hybrid gets around 37 mpg. Even the non-hybrid CR-V gets 28 mpg combined .

If fuel economy matters to you, the CX-5 is behind. There is no way around it.

Inside the CX-5: The Good and the Bad

The Good

• The cabin is gorgeous. Mazda uses class-above materials. Leather seats. Leather doors. A steering wheel that feels like it belongs in a luxury car. The new "Mazda" script on the wheel looks premium .
• The rear seat is finally usable for adults. The longer wheelbase makes a real difference. Your passengers will thank you .
• The infotainment screen is huge. The base trims get a 12.9-inch display. The Premium Plus gets a 15.6-inch screen . Google built-in is standard. That means Google Maps and Google Assistant work natively. The graphics are crisp. The system is fast .

The Bad

• Mazda removed almost every physical button. Volume is now an on-screen slider. Climate controls are on the screen. Seat heaters are buried in menus. Even the steering wheel buttons are capacitive touch, not real buttons .
• Consumer Reports called the controls a "usability nightmare" . MotorTrend said the steering wheel controls require you to look down because they are not intuitive .
• The old CX-5 had one of the best button layouts in the business. You could change the temperature or volume without looking. That is gone.
• This is a deal breaker for many buyers. If you value simple controls, the Honda CR-V is better. It still has knobs and buttons .

How Does It Drive?

Here is the good news. The CX-5 still drives like a Mazda. The steering is sharp. The chassis is balanced. The ride is comfortable. It handles better than almost any compact SUV .

• MotorTrend praised the suspension tuning. The CX-5 delivers "excellent seat-of-the-pants feedback" on curvy roads. It feels planted and confident .
• The steering is a weak point. It feels heavy and does not communicate much to your hands. MotorTrend compared it to "reading braille while wearing gloves" .

The ride is quiet at highway speeds. The cabin is well insulated. Road noise is low.

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Reliability and Safety

The CX-5 has a strong safety record. Euro NCAP gave it 5 stars. Adult protection scored 90%. Child protection scored 89% .

• One KBB reviewer survived two serious accidents in CX-5s. A rollover and a rear-end collision. They walked away without injury .
• Reliability ratings are high. Drive Arabia gave it 5 out of 5 stars. No known problems . The warranty is 6 years or 100,000 miles. That is better than average .

Some owner complaints exist. Windshield fogging. Weak paint. Key fob battery issues . But no major mechanical problems reported.

What Owners Say?

Kelley Blue Book has 6 owner reviews for the 2026 CX-5. The average rating is 4.2 out of 5. 100% of owners recommend it .

One owner praised the price-to-performance ratio. Another complained about cheap tires from the factory. One long-time Mazda owner said the new seats in lower trims are "repulsive" .

The feedback is mixed. People love the value. Some hate the new touchscreen controls.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Reviews and Complaints: The Bottom Line

Buy the CX-5 if you want:

• A premium interior at a mainstream price
• Sharp handling and a comfortable ride
• More rear seat space than before
• Standard all-wheel drive

Skip the CX-5 if you want:

• Physical buttons for climate and volume
• Strong acceleration
• Good fuel economy
• A hybrid option

The 2026 CX-5 is a good SUV with one major flaw. The touchscreen-only controls will frustrate many drivers. If you can live with that, the CX-5 offers a lot of value. If you cannot, the Honda CR-V or Toyota RAV4 are better choices.

Test drive it. Play with the screen. Try to change the temperature while driving. If that does not bother you, the CX-5 is a solid pick.

FAQs

1. What is the price?

Starts at $29,990. Top trim hits $38,990. Add $595 for premium paint. Same ballpark as the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

2. What engine is under the hood?

One option. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder. 187 horsepower. All-wheel drive on every trim. The old turbo is gone. Want more power? Look elsewhere this year.

3. Is it quick?

No. It weighs 3,856 pounds. That is heavy for this class. You get around 8 seconds to 60 mph. The old turbo did it faster. That engine no longer exists.

4. How is the fuel economy?

24 city. 30 highway. 26 combined. Not great. The RAV4 Hybrid gets 41 combined. The CR-V Hybrid gets 37. If you watch fuel costs, the CX-5 loses here.

5. What is the cabin like?

Beautiful. Leather seats. Leather doors. A wheel that feels luxury-grade. The back seat finally fits adults. That is a real fix from the old model.

6. What do owners complain about most?

The screen. Mazda killed almost every button. Volume is on the display. Climate too. Seat heaters buried in menus. Consumer Reports called it a "usability nightmare." If you like knobs, this will drive you mad.

7. How does it drive?

Sharp. Balanced. Comfortable. Better than most rivals. The steering feels heavy and numb. But the chassis is planted. One of the best-handling compact SUVs out there.

8. Is it reliable?

Yes. Five stars from Euro NCAP. One owner walked away from two serious crashes. Warranty runs 6 years or 100,000 miles. No major mechanical issues reported. Minor gripes about paint and key fob batteries. Nothing serious.