Mazda CX-5 Review (2026)

2026 Mazda CX-5 Review Overview

The new Mazda CX-5 remains one of the best-driving family SUVs in Ireland, combining classy styling, a comfortable ride and excellent handling with a more spacious interior than before.

The third-generation CX-5 is also more practical, with improved rear-seat space and a larger 583-litre boot. The range-topping Homura feels particularly well equipped, with features such as heated and ventilated seats, a Bose sound system, head-up display and wireless smartphone connectivity.

However, the new CX-5 isn’t perfect. Mazda has moved more functions into a touchscreen, which makes tasks such as adjusting the climate control less intuitive than they should be. The 2.5-litre mild hybrid petrol engine is smooth and responsive enough for most driving, but it’s harsh under strong acceleration, while fuel economy isn’t as impressive as some hybrid rivals.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent handling
• Stylish design
• Outstanding practicality

Cons

• Fuel economy
• No full hybrid powertrain at launch
• Cabin quality takes a step back

2026 Mazda CX-5 Video Review

I spent a week with the new CX-5 Homura in Ireland, putting it through its paces to see how practical it is and most importantly, how it drives.

In my video review, I take a closer look at the exterior and interior design, explore the technology and equipment, and share my thoughts on the 2.5-litre petrol engine, comfort, handling and real-world fuel economy.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Price and Specifications in Ireland

At launch, the new Mazda CX-5 is available with just one engine: a 2.5-litre, naturally-aspirated petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology.

Those are words you don’t hear particularly often in new car reviews these days. Mazda has always taken a different approach, preferring large-capacity, naturally-aspirated engines without turbos.

The idea is to deliver a smoother, more responsive driving experience and good fuel economy.

Prices start from €39,965 on the road for the entry-level Prime-Line,  and rise to €49,045 for the range-topping Homura specification. There are also Centre-Line and Exclusive-Line trim levels.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Design: A Classy Evolution

The Mazda CX-5 was always one of the most stylish SUVs on Irish roads and the new one continues that. Mazda has modernised it beautifully, though it’s still very much recognisable as a CX-5.

It’s handsome and classy, particularly finished in Soul Red Crystal paint, which emphasises its premium design.

17-inch alloy wheels kick off the range, while the Homura gets larger 19-inch alloys and contrasting gloss black trim.

The new CX-5 has also grown in size, which is good news for practicality. It has a longer wheelbase, is wider towards the rear and has a wider track than before.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Interior: Premium Feel with One Major Frustration

The previous Mazda CX-5 had one of my favourite interiors in this class. It always felt slightly more premium than many mainstream rivals, particularly when compared with SUVs such as the Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai and even the Toyota RAV4.

The new CX-5 is more of a mixed bag. There are some genuinely nice touches, but I think Mazda has missed an opportunity with the infotainment system.

The new touchscreen is a huge step forward in terms of functionality. You now get built-in Google Maps, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a multitude of apps. But there are hardly any buttons now so adjusting the climate control for example means using small touch-sensitive icons along the bottom of the screen.

I think Mazda could have found a better middle ground: a large touchscreen for the things a touchscreen is good at, but physical buttons and controls for frequently used functions such as the climate settings.

There are also some plastics lower down in the cabin that don’t look particularly impressive.

That said, the interior is generally a nice place to spend time. The way the doors are finished and the tan upholstery in the Homura specification do a good job of lifting the cabin above some of its mainstream competition.

The Homura is the range-topping version with a great spec including luxurious leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with power adjustment, heated steering wheel, Bose sound system, 360 parking camera, wireless smartphone charging and a head-up display.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Practicality

There’s good news for practicality. The larger dimensions make a noticeable difference inside, particularly in the back, with significantly more legroom than in the outgoing Mazda CX-5, thanks in part to the longer wheelbase. That makes the new CX-5 a much more attractive proposition as a family SUV.

Compared with rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Qashqai, there’s plenty of space for rear passengers. The rear doors also open exceptionally wide, there are air vents and USB ports, while you also get an armrest and Isofix points on the outer seats. The rear seats can also recline, which is a useful touch on longer journeys.

The boot is another area where the new CX-5 has improved. It’s now 583 litres, which is an increase of 61 litres over the previous model. That puts the CX-5 among the best in class.

The rear seats split-fold in a practical 40:20:40 configuration, giving you more flexibility, and there are levers in the boot to let them down.

The CX-5 can tow up to 2 tonne, which adds to its practicality.

What’s it like driving the 2026 Mazda CX-5 on Irish roads? 

Mazda has always put a lot of emphasis on driving dynamics, and the new CX-5 retains that focus with tweaks to the chassis, suspension and steering. It’s incredibly composed through bends with precise steering that makes it better to drive than most of its rivals.

Importantly, it doesn’t have the unnecessarily firm ride that disappointed me in the first-generation CX-60. The CX-5 strikes a much better balance between comfort and handling, though there is a firm edge to it.

Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine with mild-hybrid technology. It’s called e-Skyactiv G and is also used in models such as the Mazda3 and CX-30.

The engine produces just 141hp and 238Nm of torque and is paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox, with 0-100km/h in 10.5 seconds. On the road the lack of power is most apparent when accelerating hard as the engine gets very noisy. However when it’s put in Sport mode, this does go a long way to make the engine feel under less pressure. It is responsive to drive however, delivering power without any lag.

Front wheel drive variants and all wheel drive ones are available.

What’s the real-world fuel economy? 

One interesting feature of the engine is cylinder deactivation. Under low-load conditions, the system can shut down two of the four cylinders in the background to help reduce fuel consumption.

The official combined fuel consumption figure is around 7.0 litres per 100km, which is reasonable, although I think this is one area where the new CX-5 could be better. In real-world driving I managed to achieve 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres however a diesel SUV or a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is going to be better on fuel.

Mazda is expected to introduce a hybrid version of the CX-5 at some point, and that could make a lot of sense for Irish buyers who want the driving characteristics of the CX-5 but better fuel efficiency.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Review: Verdict

The new CX-5 remains one of the more interesting choices if you want a family SUV that feels a little different from the mainstream alternatives.

It looks great, particularly in Soul Red Crystal, there’s more space inside than before, the boot has grown to 583 litres and the interior still has enough quality and equipment to give it a more premium feel than its price might suggest.

Most importantly, Mazda hasn’t forgotten what made the CX-5 so appealing in the first place. It remains comfortable and practical, but it’s also genuinely enjoyable to drive. The steering is precise, the chassis feels composed and the suspension strikes a much better balance between comfort and handling than some of Mazda’s larger SUVs.

But I’m less convinced by Mazda’s decision to move so many controls into a touchscreen. The infotainment system itself is vastly more capable than before, but I would have preferred Mazda to retain more physical buttons for frequently used functions such as the climate controls.

The 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine is another area that could be improved. It delivers a smooth and predictable driving experience, but it can be noisy when pushed and fuel economy isn’t going to match the best hybrid alternatives.

For now, though, the new Mazda CX-5 remains a very good family SUV and one of the more enjoyable cars in its class.

If driving enjoyment matters to you as much as practicality, the CX-5 should definitely be on your shortlist