NEW Mazda CX-5 Review – Has Mazda RUINED its Family SUV?

The Mazda CX-5 has actually long been celebrated for having one of the very best, most premium interiors in the family SUV class. But for this brand name brand-new design, Mazda has taken an enormous threat: it's entirely gotten rid of the rotary infotainment controller and the physical air-con controls!

Have these controversial changes, in addition to a dip in interior material quality, ruined the brand's very popular car? In this detailed evaluation, we test the new Mazda CX-5 to learn if the bigger 583-litre boot and exceptional driving characteristics are enough to wait.

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In this video, we take a detailed browse the 2026 Mazda CX-5 to see how much it's grown and the impact on rear legroom. Up front, we check the brand-new 15.6-inch Google-based touchscreen, the brand-new digital motorist display and decide if there are a lot of tough and scratchy plastics in the interior.

Lastly, we take the 2.5-litre e-Skyactiv G gas version of the new CX-5 out on the roadway to see if 139bhp is enough power for a household SUV of this size.

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Video chapters:
0:00– Introduction: Mazda's Bestseller!
0:54– Outside Style & Bigger Dimensions
1:27– Boot Space
2:13– Rear Seats
3:10– Controversial Interior Modifications
4:00– New Google Infotainment
5:01– Driving Position & Exposure
5:59– Quality Downgrade: Scratchy plastics?
6:43– The Engine: The 2.5-litre Fuel & Optional 4WD
7:23– Handling, Ride Convenience & Performance
9:10– Cut Levels: Prime-Line to Homura
9:52– Rates, Warranty & Dependability
10:38– Euro NCAP Ranking & Security
11:02– Decision: Should you purchase the brand-new CX-5?

Comments

33 responses to “NEW Mazda CX-5 Review – Has Mazda RUINED its Family SUV?”

  1. @pocista Avatar
    @pocista

    I hate this trend that cars just become worse with each new generation.

    1. @IK47-d2l Avatar
      @IK47-d2l

      and more expensive! gotta please those shareholders

    2. @takuan650 Avatar
      @takuan650

      – – – and more expensive.

    3. @joffff Avatar
      @joffff

      Enshittification, Mazda-style

  2. @stevenjones916 Avatar
    @stevenjones916

    @6:52 *139 bhp from a 2.5 litre engine ? That can’t be correct.*

    1. @seancotter4610 Avatar
      @seancotter4610

      I thought the same and checked their website. It is 😮car takes over 10 seconds to hit 100!

    2. @georgevana Avatar
      @georgevana

      @seancotter4610 10.9 apparently. It’s absolutely horrible.

    3. @stevenjones916 Avatar
      @stevenjones916

      ​@seancotter4610 Maybe that is how Mazda achieve better reliability, by not stressing the engine.

    4. @mrMoon589 Avatar
      @mrMoon589

      That’s is the Japanese Engine “Tech”. Bigger Engines small power outputs.
      That’s why most of the Japanese cars are “underpowered”.
      10.9 sec to 100km. And full loaded (big family SUV), it will take ages to take over.

    5. @georgevana Avatar
      @georgevana

      ​@stevenjones916You’ll need to stress the engine more, because it’s so unserpowered.

  3. @johnnybgood7812 Avatar
    @johnnybgood7812

    I bought my CX-5 precisely because it was relatively small and looks to the eye even smaller than it is.
    NB car manufacturers; not everyone feels the need to boast about their size.

  4. @declanbrady5172 Avatar
    @declanbrady5172

    Disappointing compared to my current CX5. No separate heating controls. Bad Mazda, go and see the headmaster! And the 2.5 engine has 30 bhp less than the current 2.0 engine. How is this an upgrade???

    1. @James016UK Avatar
      @James016UK

      I noticed that. Only thing I can think of is it being down to emissions.

  5. @dcvariousvids8082 Avatar
    @dcvariousvids8082

    No matter how one feels about infotainment controls instead of real buttons and or real toggles and or real switches. Controls via a screen and menus, make a vehicle less safe to drive.

  6. @decker0373 Avatar
    @decker0373

    What I’m hearing is, if you want one, buy the last of the previous generation 😂

  7. @systemx4 Avatar
    @systemx4

    Dont like no buttons, what if you have gloves on? Also no badge at the back, cant tell apart cars now lexus and others all doing that, its worse for their brand image!

  8. @IK47-d2l Avatar
    @IK47-d2l

    I don’t understand why car manufacturers are removing their logos from the steering wheel and the back end of the car and replacing them with just text?!!

    1. @oldyellow8120 Avatar
      @oldyellow8120

      I agree! Mazda is now following the herd. The replacement of their elegant logo with block letters is a small thing perhaps, but it just looks cheap and would irritate me every time I would look at it. You lost me Mazda.

    2. @IK47-d2l Avatar
      @IK47-d2l

      @oldyellow8120 Yeah, it is very annoying

  9. @bluesmartroadster Avatar
    @bluesmartroadster

    Disappointing they’ve jumped on the spelling out name rather than use logo bandwagon at the rear. At least it doesn’t appear to be illuminated.

  10. @SalmanKandori Avatar
    @SalmanKandori

    Basically the new version is bigger but more crappy compared to the old version.. 🤦🏻‍♂️

  11. @mikadavies660 Avatar
    @mikadavies660

    Looking at prices…. I do not understand how Honda sell any CRVs…. They are eye-wateringly expensive.

    1. @stevenjones916 Avatar
      @stevenjones916

      £30k for the top spec CRV in Canada.

  12. @brewster_001 Avatar
    @brewster_001

    Summary : Worse than the previous generation, complete opposite of what the target buyers want.

  13. @lukedaunt4434 Avatar
    @lukedaunt4434

    Big downgrade by the looks of it. The accountants got their way here. Shame.

  14. @Dieu_regne Avatar
    @Dieu_regne

    Mazda: “Customers won’t notice areas where we cut costs.” Excuse me, what !?

  15. @hantuan107 Avatar
    @hantuan107

    glad I’ll keep my 2023 CX5 for quite few more years

  16. @juhan42 Avatar
    @juhan42

    I have turbo model . Was waiting for new model but no thanks 10.5 sec 100 km/h and definitely more for AWD . At least now I know to order New Subaru Outback turbo , thanks for the review 😇

  17. @shawnperry8578 Avatar
    @shawnperry8578

    Maybe Mazda was trying to figure out a way to discontinue the Cx5. Now when they see the numbers are not as high they will just get rid of the Cx5. I remember the Cx50 was made to replace the Cx5 but at the time when the Cx50 came out the numbers were too high for the Cx5. Now with this new version I doubt they will have high numbers.

  18. @Benjimikey Avatar
    @Benjimikey

    The hard plastic on the upper door panel, the big front room TV plonked on the dash, no dials and nobs. Mazda was always about driving dynamics and quality with little distraction. Cars are becoming appliances for the road

  19. @khimmy6171 Avatar
    @khimmy6171

    Whose brilliant idea is it to put a shiny plastic bumper? It will scratch and crack on a tiniest bumper touch.

  20. @aye3678 Avatar
    @aye3678

    LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT SCREEN! What were they thinking!?!?

    1. @oldyellow8120 Avatar
      @oldyellow8120

      Terrible. Its the single biggest reason I will look elsewhere.

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