Mazda’s best-seller globally and in the US, the CX-5 compact crossover, is about to come in for a redesign, and the first photo of the new model has surfaced – though not via Mazda.
A single grainy photo was uploaded recently by a user of the Cochespias forum and shows the front-end design of the new third-generation CX-5, which is expected to debut later this year. A 2027 model year arrival is anticipated for the US, though this could be pushed back due to a range of industry-wide challenges, including the Trump administration’s import tariffs on cars and car parts.
New Generation Has Big Shoes To Fill
The leaked photo, plus our own snapshots of camouflaged prototypes testing in the wild, reveal that Mazda is taking an evolutionary approach to the design of the new CX-5. Given the strength of the current model in showrooms – which registered 345,209 sales in 2024 alone, including 134,088 in the US – Mazda was never going to rock the boat with the new design.
The general shape is close to that of the current model, though it appears to be slightly longer. The front end adopts Mazda’s latest corporate styling, as seen on the EZ-6 electric sedan and EZ-60 electric crossover launched overseas, with a notable update being the headlight design, which now features a teardrop-shaped element.
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The leaked photo also shows the final design Mazda has planned for the C-pillar, which maintains the clean, simple aesthetic seen across Mazda’s SUV lineup – apart from the MX-30, whose C-pillar features a horizontal split to create a floating roof look. There also appears to be more sculpting along the flanks of the vehicle – a signature element of Mazda’s Kodo design language, which dates back to the introduction of the first-generation CX-5 over a decade ago.
Hybrid Power Promised
Mazda hasn’t shared many details about what’s in store for the new CX-5, though the automaker has confirmed a hybrid powertrain will be available. The current model, on sale since the 2017 model year, offers a 2.5-liter inline-four rated at 187 horsepower and a turbocharged version of the same rated at 256 hp on premium gasoline.
Mazda announced last year that it is developing a new hybrid powertrain in-house, while still collaborating with battery suppliers like Panasonic and AESC. This marks a departure from the approach used in the current CX-50 Hybrid, which relies on Toyota’s hybrid technology.
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Mazda at the time also announced plans for a new family of four-cylinder engines called Skyactiv-Z, slated for release in 2027. There’s a chance that one or more of these Skyactiv-Z engines could be offered in the new CX-5 – potentially as part of the upcoming hybrid system.
Sources: Cochespias
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