There’s pressure, then there is whatever is being heaped upon the broad metallic shoulders of this all new Mazda CX-5, which has so many of the brand’s hopes and dreams riding on it that it’s surprising it hasn’t been crushed into a diamond by now. I won’t bore you with the backstory here, other than to say that the CX-5 hasn’t just been one of Australia’s best-selling medium SUVs, it is also the only survivor of Mazda’s 2023 (Soul) Red Wedding, which saw the also-popular CX-8 and CX-9 killed off in favour of a four-strong push upmarket through the more expensive CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 SUVs. Debate can rage whether that was the right call, but the fact that matters here is that none of the newcomers stormed their way to the top of the sales charts in the way the vehicles Mazda deleted had. Which leaves the CX-5. An Aussie favourite. A brand halo. And the first new-generation in the better part of a decade. And some very big shoes to fill. How much is the 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera? To see how big its feet are, we are spending three months behind the wheel of the Akera — the top of a four-strong model line-up that climbs from the entry-level Pure ($39,990) to the Evolve ($42,990), the Touring ($47,490), the GT SP ($51,990), and finally to our test car. {thumbnail="" description="Byron Mathioudakis reviews the all-new 2026 Mazda CX-5, which marks the third generation for this popular mid-size SUV. The Australian line-up launches with five distinct model grades including the entry-level Pure, followed by the Evolve and mid-spec Touring. Moving further up the range sees the return of the sporty GT SP and the flagship Akera trim, which remains the luxury-focused leader of the pack. The new generation features an evolved Kodo design language that results in a longer and wider body with a focus on premium aesthetics. Inside the cabin Mazda has introduced a minimalist layout dominated by a large 15.6-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display in higher variants. Practicality is improved through a stretched wheelbase that provides more rear-seat legroom and an expanded 466-litre boot capacity with a lower loading height. On the road the CX-5 utilises a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. While a hybrid powertrain set to arrive later, the current petrol engine delivers 132kW of power and 242Nm of torque with a focus on driver engagement. This setup allows the Mazda to maintain its position as a handling-centric alternative to key rivals such as the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. #Mazda #CX5 #Review -- Timecodes: 00:00 Intro 00:30 Pricing and features 03:26 Design 05:19 Practicality 08:48 Under the bonnet 10:11 Driving 15:01 Efficiency 15:41 Safety 16:19 Ownership 16:47 Verdict -- Read Byron's full review: Check out our Mazda CX-5 hub: Find more SUVs: Visit our FamilyGuide: -- CarsGuide - Go beyond the test drive Visit our website for News, Reviews, Advice and more: Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Like our Facebook page: Follow our TikTok profile: Follow our Instagram profile: Follow our X profile: Follow our Threads profile: Follow our LinkedIn page: " format=mp4} The first thing to wrap your head around here is the price. Our test car is not cheap, at $54,990 before on-road costs, or a smidge over $60k on the road. In its defence, it headlines a range that is now more expensive everywhere, not least of which because there is now a single motor (2.5L petrol) and an AWD powertrain from bottom to top, rather than opening with a budget-friendly front-wheel drive with a smaller engine. Mazda CX-5 Pure equipment: ・12.9-inch central touchscreen ・10.25-inch driver display ・17-inch alloy wheels ・Dual-zone climate control ・Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ・Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go ・Black cloth trim with eight-way manual driver’s seat adjustment ・Blind Spot Monitoring with Turn Warning ・Front and rear parking sensors ・LED headlamps with High Beam Control Mazda CX-5 Evolve equipment: ・Frameless rear-view mirror with auto-dimming ・Auto folding and heated exterior mirrors ・Heated front seats ・Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto ・Wireless smartphone charger ・Smart keyless entry ・Rear air vents 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera Mazda CX-5 Touring equipment: ・19-inch machined alloy wheels ・Black synthetic leather trim with synthetic suede inserts ・10-way powered driver’s seat with memory function ・Heated steering wheel ・Remote operated power tailgate ・Active driving display ・Roof rails ・Heated windscreen ・Exterior mirror memory function CX-5 GT SP equipment: ・19-inch black alloys ・Premium Bose audio system with 12 speakers ・Headlamp and tail-light signature illumination ・Ambient lighting ・Eight-way powered passenger seat ・Black leather seat trim ・Heated outer rear seats ・Rear USB-C ports ・Adaptive LED headlamps ・360-degree view monitor with see-through view ・Gloss black wheel arch mouldings ・Gloss black front and rear bumper finish Mazda CX-5 Akera equipment: ・Front seat ventilation ・15.6-inch central infotainment touchscreen ・Panoramic sunroof ・Remote operated power tailgate with hands-free function ・Steering wheel paddle shifters 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera It's worth pointing out that the cheapest AWD Toyota RAV4 (albeit with a hybrid powertrain) is more like $49,340 before on-roads, and even the two-wheel-drive version is $45,990. The flagship GR Sport? It's more like $66,340. Ok, so the price seems to stack up against its core rival (though far less so against its cheaper Chinese rivals). What else do we need to know? What’s actually new in this new-generation 2026 Mazda CX-5? Well, like the Toyota, this new-gen CX-5 isn't actually all that new. The engine carries over, as does the (definitely updated) platform. But it is bigger in the ways that matter. It's now 115mm longer at 4690mm, 15mm wider at 1860mm, and 20mm taller at 1695mm. The wheelbase is bigger, there's an extra 43 litres of boot space (now 466 litres VDA), and – in an apparent direct response to owner feedback – the doors are longer, and open wider at the rear. And all of that makes the family friendly CX-5 a little more family friendly. We have a two-year-old bub, and a giant baby seat that sits behind the front passenger seat, and we have found the wide-opening doors, and the space in the second row, very easy to live with. It immediately feels better suited to modern family life than the model it replaces. 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera Where is the Toyota-fighting hybrid engine? But does it feel more suited to modern motoring life? The lack of a hybrid powertrain is a glaring omission, and though one is coming in 2028 – built in-house by Mazda rather than borrowed from Toyota, like in the US-market CX-50 – it really needs to be here now. Petrol prices are through the roof at the moment, and in a world awash with hybrid, plug-in hybrid and full EV tech, the ICE-only CX-5 feels both old-school and expensive. Put it this way, I'm averaging about 10L/100km at the moment (which means it’s also costing more than $20 to cover the same distance), while hybrid SUVs are offering half that consumption. Also soul-destroying is the fact that, when I brim the tank, the on-screen range readout often promises less than 400kms. The CX-5 has a 58-litre tank, which as of today will cost more than $120 to fill, and seeing that I will only get that far makes my wallet weep. 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera The final catch is the ownership package. Five years for a warranty (with roadside assistance) isn’t exactly top of the class right now, and while the 15,000km intervals and $2200 full-term cost aren’t bad, seven-, eight- and 10-year warranties now abound. But there’s also little doubt that, in top-spec guise, the Mazda CX-5 Akera both looks and feels properly premium and plush. And if you subscribe to the 'if it ain’t broke' philosophy, the carryover powertrain blended with better tech and bigger dimensions could be a winning combo. How will it settle into family life? We’ll have to wait and see. 2026 Mazda CX-5 Akera Acquired: October 2026 Distance travelled this month: 680km Odometer: 5865km Average fuel consumption this month: 10.2L/100km Note: The author, Andrew Chesterton, is a co-owner of Smart As Media, a content agency and media distribution service with a number of automotive brands among its clients. When producing content for CarsGuide, he does so in accordance with the CarsGuide Editorial Guidelines and Code of Ethics, and the views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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