Our Long-Term 2026 CX-5 Stumbles Out of the GateMichael Simari - Car and Driver (Michael Simari - Car and Driver)Historically, the Mazda CX-5 has been a Car and Driver favorite. It's always satisfied our desire for driving verve, packaging it into a compact SUV shape draped in stylish sheetmetal. For the 2026 model year, the CX-5 has been redesigned, marking the start of the crossover's third generation.The updated styling doesn't stray too far from the second-gen model's, and the 187-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, six-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive all carry over. But other parts—primarily the interior—have been given a significant overhaul. To see whether Mazda has put the third-generation CX-5 on the right path, we ordered up a $41,080 2026 CX-5 Premium Plus in Polymetal Gray Metallic (a $595 option) for a 40,000-mile test.Michael Simari - Car and Driver (Michael Simari - Car and Driver)Straight away, our staff has filled the logbook with complaints about the CX-5's tech setup, and rightfully so. One of the biggest changes Mazda has made for 2026 is to move most of the CX-5's controls to a large new touchscreen. Touchscreen controls often irk our editors, but the Mazda system made things worse by frequently glitching out, freezing us out of climate controls, maps, and the radio.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Premium Plus trim level upgrades the screen from the standard 12.9-inch display to a larger 15.6-inch one. It also adds a driver monitoring system and a driver personalization feature that allows users to set up individual profiles; the driver monitoring camera on the steering column identifies the driver and loads the correct profile. Those of us using the facial-recognition feature have reported fewer system outages, but even so, we needed to get this malfunctioning infotainment system working correctly.Our drivers also reported repeated warning messages regarding the i-Activsense driver-assistance features, especially the adaptive cruise control. If the message appeared, the radar-based feature would not operate, but again, there was inconsistency. Sometimes it would work, other times it would not. We took our car to the local Mazda dealer, reported the issues, and three and a half hours later, the CX-5 was returned to us with a software update and a completed multipoint inspection.Michael Simari - Car and Driver (Michael Simari - Car and Driver)From there, it went to our test track for our initial round of testing. At the track, the CX-5 managed an 8.0-second run to 60 mph and a 16.2-second quarter-mile at an 85-mph trap speed. It stopped from 70 mph in 173 feet, albeit with significant brake fade. Its Toyo Open Country H/T tires held on for 0.83 g on our skidpad.The CX-5's performance is par for the course among nonhybrid compact SUVs, but there has been some grousing that it's too slow. The CX-5 previously was offered with a much more powerful 256-hp turbocharged four-cylinder, an option that's been dropped with the new version—a shame, since that was our preferred powertrain last time around. Perhaps we should have waited for a CX-5 Hybrid, which Mazda says is launching for 2027 and may offer more power.Michael Simari - Car and Driver (Michael Simari - Car and Driver)More distressingly, our trip to the service bay does not appear to have solved the CX-5's issues. The error messages for the driver-assistance systems have continued, and the infotainment still glitches out. There's still some lag in the software too. It appears we may have to wait for future software updates from Mazda to get it all sorted. Meanwhile, we'll continue to yearn for the brand's previous-generation infotainment setup.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhether we yearn for the previous-generation CX-5 is something we'll determine over the coming months and miles.Months in Fleet: 1 month Current Mileage: 3063 milesAverage Fuel Economy: 24 mpgFuel Tank Size: 15.3 gal Observed Fuel Range: 360 milesService: $0 Normal Wear: $0 Repair: $0Damage and Destruction: $0You Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029
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