The third-gen Mazda CX-5 undergoes a premium-plus glow-up to punch above its weight
At any Mazda roundtable discussion, the first questions (and often the last) always relate to the brand’s automotive icons — the rotary RX-7 / RX-8 and naturally, the cult-classic Miata roadster – and their respective successors! However, there is nothing like a healthy dose of real-world economics to slap some reality into this petrolhead’s octane-fuelled fantasies.
Naohito Saga, managing executive in charge of Vehicle / Product Development, Design, and Cost Innovation, explains that relatively small-volume manufacturers like Mazda can’t indulge in wants, but must satisfy needs, which segues quite neatly into the third-gen CX-5 briefing.
With crossover-type vehicles continuing to trend worldwide, Mazda must focus on the segments that sell before considering the fun cars many of us are clamouring for, such as a rotary sports car or a compact roadster, for instance.
With the new wave of Chinese electric car brands nonchalantly cutting a swathe through legacy Asian and European carmakers, it is more crucial than ever for the latter to transform their offerings into something beyond mere mobility appliance status, as well as capitalise on their ability to serve up different powertrain solutions.
After all, trying to compete with the Chinese EV brands on cost and equipment levels is a zero-sum game for the legacy brands. When one churns out appliances and the other creates cars, the latter certainly won’t be able to offer more (equipment) for less (money).
The upside to this disruption is that the legacy automakers — or at least those who can — are forced to refine and streamline labour, as well as workflow and supply-chain processes, especially the ones saddled with overweight cost structures.
Saga-san (pictured above: Naohito Saga, managing executive in charge of Vehicle / Product Development, Design, and Cost Innovation) explains that this ties in with the brand’s “Mazda Monozukuri Innovation 2.0”, an ever-evolving theme since 2015 that underscores the brand’s commitment to delivering excitement of moving experiences, yet embracing a lean asset strategy, both within and outside the company.
More importantly, the brand is adopting a customer-centric approach. In these times, it is no longer enough to build a car according to one’s internal preferences and hope someone will buy it. Products have to be developed to enrich the motoring experience of its customers.
The third-generation CX-5 is all-new, and is expected to arrive in Singapore around Q3 2026.
An e-Skyactiv G 2.5-litre M-Hybrid engine will replace the outgoing model’s 2.0-litre — incidentally, Mazda has an in-house developed, full hybrid Skyactiv-Z powertrain in the works that should see light around 2027.
One of the key elements of any Mazda is the spirit of jinba ittai (horse and rider as one in Japanese), which is infused in its driving dynamics.
According to Koichiro Yamaguchi (pictured above extreme left), the new Mazda CX-5 programme manager, this spirit will also be present in the new CX-5. Since there are no test drives yet for the new model, we’ll just have to nod and smile until we can properly put it through its paces.
The sophisticated styling, with its distinct front/rear light signatures, is sharply contemporary, featuring all four tyres pushed to the four corners to reduce overhangs and achieve a sportier stance, while maximising interior space. At the rear, chief designer Takanori Tsubaki points out the muscular shoulder line and haunches, which give the CX-5 a prominent and powerful presence that transcends that of a mere utility vehicle.
The new model’s longer wheelbase sees more comfortable rear accommodation and better load-lugging ability. Thanks to the larger rear door aperture, ingress and egress are convenient for young and old alike. All this without risk of a head-bump as you are clambering in, which often comes with vehicles that feature a “dynamically sloping” rear roofline.
With the rear-seats folded, the loading space is uninterrupted from tailgate to rear head-rest. More intriguingly, it is level enough for you to recline on — one can even reverse the headrests to lie-on as you look out the rear glass-roof for a cosy bout of star-gazing.
Up front, the controls are positioned to reduce distraction from driving, yet remain within easy reach of the driver for intuitive and ergonomic operation. The dash architecture is cleanly styled, feels posh and tautly polished, and despite the oversized central tablet, doesn’t feel like it is built around it.
This CX-5 really glows-up in this third iteration and we reckon it has become more of a compelling contender in the fight against the usual Toyota and Honda suspects.
Chong Kah Wei, managing director at Trans Eurokars (Mazda), says: “The new CX-5 is an important model for Singapore. The current model accounts for close to 40% of our total sales volume. With the new model’s best-in-class features, we strongly believe that it will continue to increase our sales within the SUV segment in Singapore.”
