2026 Mazda CX-5 Teases Sharper Styling; Full Reveal July 10
The "all-new" CX-5 looks to get sharper styling, but keeps a familiar shape.
Mazda's best-seller is coming in for a substantial update. The Japanese brand on Tuesday gave us our first, very shadowy look at the 2026 CX-5 ahead of a full reveal next week.
There are just a trio of images here, but it gives us a good idea of the direction of the next iteration of Mazda's compact SUV. We see headlights with a stacked remix on the current model's twin-element LED light signature, framing a tall, upright grille. At the back, wide L-shaped taillights mirror those found on the recent CX-90. The one image of the entire model showcases a profile that looks similar to the current model, but we suspect sharper body lines a la the more recent additions to the Mazda SUV family.
While Mazda has been slowly replacing its SUVs with the double-digit models, the CX-5 has remained the brand's best-seller in America. It sells alongside the CX-50, which keeps a wider, more rugged feel—a distinction we expect Mazda to maintain for this new model.
What we don't know—yet—is what will show up under that long hood. Mazda already announced the next-generation Skyactiv-Z engine, though that was expected to arrive in the "next-generation CX-5" in late 2027. It will also be offered in a hybrid format, not with a Toyota-sourced setup like the CX-50 but a uniquely Mazda-designed one instead.
We won't have long to find out, however. Mazda has confirmed that the 2026 CX-5 will debut in full next week, July 10, at the bright-and-early time of 4:00 AM Eastern. Stay tuned for more details then.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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I have a 2023 CX-50 and I love the styling. It's an interesting balance between feminine and masculine. The Mazda lineup is like no other brand.