Believe it or not, this is the updated Mazda CX-5.

      Mazda

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      No need to check your calendar; this is not a drill or a joke. The vehicle depicted above is the completely redesigned—rather than merely updated or refreshed—2026 Mazda CX-5. It seems that the compact crossover’s design directive was something like “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” as you could easily confuse the new CX-5 with its predecessor.

      That isn't a negative aspect; the CX-5's aesthetics have consistently been a strong point. Upon closer examination, you’ll notice the subtle distinctions, which are especially evident on the sides and rear. The new CX-5 adopts a design that is more reminiscent of the CX-50's upright, boxier profile, moving away from the old CX-5's sloping beltline. The slightly more upright front end offers a hint of Nissan Rogue, but it’s not unappealing.

      The rear also sees some enhancements. The tail lights now have a more pronounced protrusion that tapers to a sharper point beneath the rear glass (slightly reminiscent of the Escape), maintaining the sloped rear greenhouse appearance without significantly infringing on rear headroom. While not immediately visible, the overall length of the car has increased by 4.5 inches, with 3.0 inches of that added to the wheelbase. This extended wheelbase should provide improved legroom in the back seat.

      Inside, the redesign is much more extensive—and not necessarily for the best. While the exterior of the old CX-5 aged well, its interior was held back by design limitations from a decade ago. The new dashboard is sleek and minimalist to a fault, eliminating physical controls. Both the audio and climate control systems are now integrated into the infotainment stack. The only remaining physical controls are the gear selector and the parking brake toggle.

      Indeed… Farewell, dial. Welcome, touchscreen. The new 15.6-inch display manages all these functions, featuring what Mazda refers to as “smartphone-like usability” thanks to its new Google Built-in operating system. This marks a significant change for Mazda, which had previously made an effort to ensure that its rotary-dial interface worked with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

      On the bright side, it seems there will be some dedicated controls on the steering wheel of the CX-5. However, it’s difficult to discern from the early images whether these will be full physical buttons or just haptic controls with printed functions.

      At launch, the 2026 CX-5 will solely feature a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (187 horsepower/185 pound-feet of torque) paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. A hybrid variant based on the company’s new “SkyActiv-Z” architecture will be introduced later, but won’t be available until 2027.

      You can view Mazda’s modest gallery below; the actual vehicle will reach dealerships in early 2026.