The 2026 Mazda CX-5 Just Showed Up and It’s Doing a Lot

We recently had the chance to walk around the CX-5 in the stunning new Aero Gray Metallic finish, and let’s just say the photos don’t do it justice.

The Interior Got a Serious Upgrade

Step inside and the first thing you notice is the panoramic sunroof, which is a first for the CX-5 nameplate. It opens the cabin up completely and makes an already well-designed space feel genuinely airy. Mazda kept the clutter down, so the interior reads clean and intentional. Leatherette with microsuede inserts comes standard on the Select trim; real leather shows up on Premium and above.

Depending on trim level, you’re looking at either a 12.9-inch or a 15.6-inch center touchscreen. The Premium Plus gets the larger display, and it’s hard to overstate how good it looks integrated into the dash. Google built-in is standard across the lineup. That means Google Maps, Google Assistant, and Google Play are all native, not mirrored.

In our walkaround, we tested it live: “Hey Google, change the temperature to 70 degrees”, and the front climate adjusted immediately without touching a button.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard on every trim, with wireless connectivity starting at the Select. The 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and the available full-color Active Driving Display round out the tech stack without feeling overdone.

The 360-Degree Camera Situation

The Premium Plus gets Mazda’s 360 View Monitor, and it goes beyond a standard backup camera. You get underfloor view, parking view, and a mirrors-folded view, which makes tight lot parking dramatically less stressful. Pair that with front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert, and you’ve got a vehicle that practically coaches you into spaces.

What’s Under the Hood

The CX-5 runs Mazda’s proven SKYACTIV-G 2.5 four-cylinder, 187 horsepower, 186 lb-ft of torque, 6-speed automatic with a manual-shift mode. i-ACTIV AWD is standard across every trim in the lineup. Fuel economy sits at 24 city, 30 highway, 26 combined. The suspension setup (MacPherson struts up front, multi-link in the rear) has been tuned specifically to improve ride comfort on rough roads while keeping the steering feel Mazda drivers expect. The longer wheelbase compared to the outgoing model adds real stability on the highway.

Key Specifications

Safety That Actually Does Something

Mazda loaded the standard i-ACTIVSENSE suite across the entire lineup. Blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, emergency lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, rear smart brake support with pedestrian detection, and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with speed limit assist are all in there regardless of which trim you choose.

The Premium Plus steps it up further with driver monitoring, front cross traffic alert and braking, and Cruising & Traffic Support with lane change assist.

Come See It

The 2026 CX-5 starts at $29,990 and tops out with the Premium Plus, which stacks on the 15.6-inch display, Bose 12-speaker audio, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, hands-free liftgate, and the full 360 camera system. There’s a trim for most budgets here, and every single one comes with AWD and the full safety suite.

We have the CX-5 in Aero Gray on the lot right now. Stop by Lou Fusz Mazda and see it in person. The color alone is worth the drive!