Skip advert
Advertisement

New Mazda CX-5 revealed – Mazda’s small SUV gets a sharp new look

Mazda’s most popular car in Europe gets a redesign and shows off a new colour too

Mazda has shown an all new CX-5 at the Los Angeles motor show. The CX-5 is currently Mazda’s best selling model in Europe, this new version follows the same principles as its successful predecessor but with sharper looks and improved refinement.

Mazda’s new compact SUV shares the proportions to the old CX-5, but with far more extravagant styling. The new CX-5 has design elements similar to Mazda’s RX-Vision concept that was shown at the Tokyo motor show. Admittedly, the CX-5 isn’t as elegant as the coupe concept but it’s a handsome car nevertheless.

Mazda’s new CX-5 will be available with a choice of two petrol engines and one diesel. Both of the petrol motors are from Mazda’s Skyactiv-G family of engines. The two four-cylinder petrol engines are naturally aspirated, they use an extremely high compression ratio of 14:1 instead of turbocharging to achieve both respectable power and fuel economy. The CX-5 will be available with either a 2 or 2.5-litre petrol engines. The smaller petrol engine produced 163bhp in the old CX-5, while the 2.5-litre 189bhp. The diesel alternative is a 2.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder which produced 148bhp in the previous model. We expect the engines to produce the same, or similar, amounts of power in the new CX-5.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The new CX-5 has been designed with a focus on refinement and ride comfort, but driver enjoyment hasn’t been totally forgotten. The CX-5 will feature Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control, a system that subtly uses the front brakes to shift weight forward to improve the car’s turn-in ability. It will also have a head-up display.

The CX-5 is also a canvas to display Mazda’s new colour and painting processes. Soul Red Crystal is a new deeper more radiant red than its old Soul Red. The new paint is also applied in three coats in a process that Mazda calls ‘Takuminuri’ and says it can replicate the quality finish of hand painting but in a mass production environment.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Cupra Leon VZ review – Spain’s Golf GTI is better than Germany’s
Cupra Leon
In-depth reviews

Cupra Leon VZ review – Spain’s Golf GTI is better than Germany’s

The choice of full-sized front-drive hot hatches now doesn’t include the Civic Type R. Can the Cupra Leon VZ take the top spot?
25 Aug 2026
Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money
Lotus Exige S V6
In-depth reviews

Lotus Exige V6 (S3, 2011-2021) review – a mini supercar for Golf GTI money

For the S3 generation the Lotus Exige got a lot brawnier, trading the four-cylinder engines it had hitherto utilised for a supercharged Toyota V6
21 Aug 2026
The 2-litre Mazda MX-5 has officially been axed in the UK, for good this time
Mazda MX-5 front
News

The 2-litre Mazda MX-5 has officially been axed in the UK, for good this time

As emissions regulations close in, Mazda has announced the discontinuation of one of our favourite current sports cars on sale: the 2-litre MX-5
25 Aug 2026