Mazda is bringing back one of its most iconic and best-selling models in Europe with the third generation of the Mazda CX-5, taking to a new level the strengths that have made it famous worldwide.
Since its debut in 2012, with over 4.5 million units sold, the CX-5 has become a cornerstone of Mazda’s lineup. Today, it returns with a more refined design, advanced technologies including a surprise in the infotainment department, enhanced comfort, and a more engaging driving experience—still available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. All this without betraying the Jinba Ittai philosophy that has always bonded the car and driver in perfect harmony.
Mazda plans to offer a starting price slightly below €36,000, maintaining its strong value-for-money proposition. The range will include four trims: Prime-Line, Centre-Line, Exclusive-Line, and Homura, with availability set for the end of 2025. Production will begin in October 2025.
New Mazda CX-5: Kodo Design made “wearable”
The new CX-5 remains faithful to the Kodo design language but introduces a fresh reinterpretation with sharper proportions, a more confident road presence, and a stronger SUV identity. The front end has been raised, the wheel arches emphasized, and the body lengthened to improve both interior space and road presence.
The car has grown in size: 115 mm longer, 15 mm wider, and 30 mm taller than the previous model, which translates into more rear legroom and headroom, 61 liters of extra trunk capacity, and wider rear door openings.
Given its adventurous spirit, Mazda calls this new interpretation of Kodo on the CX-5 “Wearable Gear.” The Hiroshima-based manufacturer envisions this compact SUV as something to be worn like a piece of technical yet elegant clothing.
It’s refined and practical at the same time, capable of handling urban life effortlessly while also being ready for gravel roads, road trips, or family vacations.
The exterior design remains instantly recognizable but is now more dynamic. The new Signature Wing between the headlights accentuates the front’s character, while larger air intakes and a raised hood boost its visual impact. At the rear, new LED graphics and the embossed “MAZDA” lettering—borrowed from the Mazda 6e—replace the traditional logo.
There are two wheel size options: 17” for the Prime-Line and 19” (diamond-cut or black) for the higher trims. Mazda has also announced further wheel designs in development for European customers.
“Ma” philosophy for interiors
“Ma” refers to a Japanese artisan philosophy that Mazda loves to bring into its vehicles. It’s a principle that values space, balance, and moments of pause. The “Crafted in Japan” approach manifests through meticulous attention to detail that goes beyond mere assembly: every surface, interface, and material is designed to create both an emotional and physical bond between driver and car.
The horizontal dashboard flows seamlessly from door to door, enhancing the feeling of spaciousness and creating a clean, harmonious layout. At its center sits a touchscreen display available in two sizes—12.9” or 15.6”, depending on the chosen version.
The minimalist yet smartly designed center console houses a large Qi wireless charger—perfect for charging your phone without distractions. The new ambient lighting integrated into the front door panels offers seven selectable shades designed to accompany the mood of the journey, creating a relaxing “business class” atmosphere.
The lighting is indirect and soft, avoiding reflections and distractions, particularly at night. Materials are soft-touch yet durable, with high-contact areas finished in black to minimize wear from denim or abrasive fabrics.
Mazda offers various interior configurations matching the four trims:
- Prime-Line: Black fabric, both elegant and robust;
- Exclusive-Line: Black or two-tone black/white leatherette for a contemporary touch;
- Homura: Genuine black or sport tan leather, enhancing the top version’s sporty and sophisticated look.
The Exclusive and Homura trims come standard with a large panoramic sunroof, flooding the cabin with natural light and enhancing the feeling of space and comfort.
The Google Era
he new CX-5 features, depending on trim, a central touchscreen display measuring 12.9” (Prime-Line and above) or 15.6” (Exclusive and Homura). Integrated into the clean, horizontal dashboard, the screen serves as the heart of the infotainment and vehicle management system.
The smartphone-inspired interface is easy to use and highly customizable: the home screen can hold up to five favorite widgets including music, Google Maps, trip information, vehicle status, and calendar. The system has replaced many traditional physical controls—such as those for climate control—to simplify the layout and reduce distractions, aided by a 360° View Monitor for better environmental awareness.
For the first time, Mazda introduces integrated Google in the CX-5, offering a more connected in-car experience consistent with daily digital habits. The onboard ecosystem includes:
- Google Gemini: The next-generation AI assistant (coming soon) allows full control of vehicle functions via natural language, enabling fluid conversations for a smarter, distraction-free driving experience;
- Google Maps: Real-time navigation, traffic updates, and personalized routes automatically synced with the driver’s Google account. Destinations searched on smartphones appear seamlessly on the car’s display;
- Google Play: Access to a wide range of car-friendly apps—music, podcasts, video, and news—with future OTA updates from Mazda or third-party developers.
Every CX-5 features a fully digital 10.25-inch instrument cluster, customizable to the driver’s preferences: navigation directions, ADAS system status, multimedia information, and more, all clearly displayed.
Supporting the driving experience is a new 10×3-inch head-up display that projects essential information onto the windshield—such as speed, road limits, and navigation prompts. The improved voice recognition system lets you easily control climate, music, and navigation without taking your eyes off the road. The multifunction steering wheel integrates commonly used controls, including the Mi-Drive mode selector for a more personalized driving experience.
To complement the onboard experience with quality sound, Mazda offers as standard an 8-speaker audio system delivering clear and balanced audio. For those seeking a more immersive experience, top trims come with a 12-speaker Bose system, acoustically optimized for the CX-5’s cabin, delivering an engaging soundscape perfect for any journey.
e-SkyActiv G, waiting for the SkyActiv Z
he new 2.5 e-Skyactiv G 141 replaces the previous 2.0-liter engine. Designed in Hiroshima and fine-tuned for European roads at Mazda’s R&D center in Oberursel, Germany (where we saw the car), the new engine delivers 141 hp and 238 Nm of torque, offering smoother and more responsive performance, especially at low and mid-range speeds.
Torque at low and mid rpm has been significantly enhanced: below 4,500 rpm, torque has increased by between 8% and 19% compared to the old 2.0-liter unit, ensuring sharper response in city driving and on country roads. The front-wheel drive version accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.5 seconds, proving that efficiency and driving dynamics can go hand in hand.
Mazda remains true to its human-centric engineering and opts not to use turbocharging, maintaining a naturally aspirated architecture. This ensures linear throttle response, direct and natural feel, and a consistent relationship between driver inputs and vehicle behavior.
The electronic management continuously optimizes power delivery based on real-time driving conditions. Key technologies include:
- Active thermal management of the catalytic converter;
- Sequential variable valve timing (Dual S-VT);
- Automatic deactivation of two cylinders under light loads.
Mazda’s 24-volt M Hybrid system is the perfect partner for the new 2.5-liter engine: it combines an ISG starter-generator, a 24V lithium-ion battery, and a DC-DC converter to recover and reuse energy during deceleration. This energy powers the car’s electrical components and supports the petrol engine during starts, acceleration, and restarts after stop phases. The result is smoother, quieter driving with significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions.
Specific to the CX-5 is brake-by-wire technology, meaning the braking system is controlled electronically and works in harmony with the M Hybrid system to maximize energy recovery. Safety remains paramount: in case of malfunction, the system automatically reverts to traditional mechanical braking via an integrated fail-safe function.
With estimated fuel consumption of 7.3 l/100 km (FWD) and 7.7 l/100 km (AWD) under the WLTP cycle, and CO₂ emissions between 157 and 169 g/km, the new CX-5 is not only environmentally conscious but also already compliant with Euro 6e standards and ready for future Euro 7 regulations.
Driving pleasure remains at the core: the new six-speed automatic transmission has been recalibrated with smarter mapping and an updated torque converter, ensuring smoother or quicker gear changes depending on driving style. In every situation, the system aims to balance performance and comfort without sacrificing the direct feel that makes Mazda unique.
