Mazda had a tricky job with the third-generation CX-5. The compact crossover is the brand’s best seller, so any redesign risked breaking the thing shoppers already loved. Instead of tearing up the recipe, Mazda gave its most popular SUV more room and more presence while protecting the driving feel that sets it apart.
- The wheelbase grows by 4.5 inches, pushing rear legroom to 39.9 inches
- A 2.5-liter four making 187 horsepower is now the only engine choice
- Sharp steering and a multilink rear suspension keep the CX-5 fun to drive
A Familiar Shape, Smartly Evolved
Plenty of rivals treat a redesign as a chance to go wild. The Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Seltos have all chased dramatic new looks. Mazda went the other way and trusted a shape that has aged well. The CX-5 stays instantly recognizable, with the same clean proportions that have made it one of the better-looking crossovers in its class.
That doesn’t mean nothing changed. The new model is longer and wider, and it rides on that stretched wheelbase, yet it never looks puffed up. The profile stays tidy, with a long hood, a neat greenhouse, and a shapely rear end that reads as expensive without trying too hard. Black detailing runs across the trim line, showing up on the wheel-arch moldings, bumper trim, and side garnishes to give the SUV a more current, upscale edge. The boldest touches are the fender notches and the upswept taillights.
Room Where It Used to Pinch
The old CX-5 had one weak spot that owners noticed fast. Its back seat worked fine for kids and quick trips, but adults riding behind tall front passengers ended up folding themselves in. Mazda fixed that head-on by adding 4.5 inches to the wheelbase, and almost all of that benefit lands where people sit.
Rear legroom now measures 39.9 inches, a real jump over the last generation and enough to put the CX-5 near the front of the pack. It trails the Honda CR-V at 41.0 inches and the Volkswagen Tiguan at 40.2 inches, but it beats the Nissan Rogue at 38.5 inches and the Toyota RAV4 at 37.8 inches. Bigger rear door openings help too, which matters for anyone wrestling a car seat or helping older passengers climb in and out.
The Steering Still Matters
Mazda has always leaned on driving engagement as a selling point, and the redesign keeps that promise. The steering responds naturally, the body stays disciplined instead of floaty, and the suspension setup pairs front struts with a multilink rear. That combination gives the CX-5 both everyday comfort and the balance to hold a corner when you ask it to.
The engine story is more mixed. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder carries on with 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, and it’s a willing unit you can push harder than most competitors. But the old 256-horsepower turbo four is gone, so buyers who wanted extra muscle lose that option. What remains is the honest connection between the wheel, the chassis, the brakes, and your hands, which is the part longtime fans care about most.
Where the CX-5 Fits in a Crowded Class
Compact SUVs are the most competitive corner of the market, and most buyers start their search with the same two names. For shoppers weighing Honda CR-V vs. Toyota RAV4, the roomier CX-5 gives them a third choice that leans harder into driving character. It won’t out-space the CR-V on paper, and it drops the turbo that once let it punch above the segment. What it offers instead is a cohesive design, a genuinely useful back seat now, and steering that still rewards attention.
Worth a Look for the Driver Who Also Hauls People
The redesigned CX-5 reads like a careful update rather than a reinvention, and that’s the point. Mazda listened to the one complaint that mattered, added the space families needed, and refused to trade away the handling that earned the CX-5 its loyal following. If you want a compact SUV that feels engaging behind the wheel and finally treats back-seat riders like adults, this one belongs on the test-drive list.
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