Revealed! New 2026 Mazda CX-5 medium SUV breaks cover, but where’s the hybrid to fight Toyota RAV4?

July 10, 2025August 16, 2025 Bruce Newton 7613 Views Mazda CX-5

If you want an electrified version of the new Mazda CX-5 medium SUV then you will be waiting until at least 2027.

Revealed Thursday evening Aussie time, the third-generation of Mazda’s biggest seller and one of Australia’s most popular vehicles goes on-sale locally in the second half of 2026.

At launch it will be powered only by a slightly detuned (132kW/242Nm v 140kW/252Nm) 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine petrol engine combined with a six-speed auto and all-wheel drive.

A 2.0-litre front-wheel drive entry-level powertrain has been dropped, as has a top-spec 2.5-litre turbo.

An all-new Mazda-developed Skyactiv-Z petrol-electric hybrid powertrain won’t debut globally until 2027. It is unrelated to the Toyota hybrid powertrain employed by the US-only Mazda CX-50.

Mazda also offers a plug-in hybrid powertrain with its Large Platform Group CX-60, -70, -80, -90 SUVs (not all of them in Australia) but that is a longitudinal design and there is no evidence it is being adapted to the transverse platform employed by the CX-5.

At this point Mazda Australia isn’t prepared to confirm when the Skyactiv-Z will be added to its local CX-5 line-up let alone reveal any performance parameters.

In Europe, a hybrid e-Skyactiv engine will be part of the new CX-5’s roll-out before the end of 2025, but that powertrain isn’t slated for Australia.

It’s a powertrain strategy that Mazda Australia simply has to grin and bear as rival medium SUV makers flood the market with hybrids and PHEVs.

The medium SUV segment is Australia’s biggest new vehicle segment by sales.

Market leader Toyota only sells the segment-dominating RAV4 as a petrol-electric hybrid.

Next year, when the new generation RAV4 rolls out, Toyota will add a plug-in hybrid at the top of the model walk.

Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi was putting a predictably positive spin on the CX-5 powertrain situation this week.

“Mazda continues to offer a multi-solution approach to reduce emissions and improve efficiency,” he said.

“The new 2.5L powertrain is an important component of this strategy, alongside Mazda’s new hybrid system, which will be revealed at a later date.

“Consumers continue to demand naturally aspirated engines, and we will continue to hone and enhance this technology as long as demand is there.”

Nevertheless Bhindi was willing to confirm that when the hybrid does arrive in Australia it will be spread widely across the CX-5 range and not just restricted to the top-end of the line-up.

He also confirmed Skyactiv-Z will attract a price premium over the 2.5-litre powertrain models, which are expected to go up from current pricing. He said it was too soon to forecast just how much interest the hybrid would attract.

“If the market demand is more hybrid and less non-hybrid powertrains, then we can change that mix very quickly and vice-versa,” he said.

“So it really depends on what consumers’ preferences are as opposed to restricted by what’s available.”

He also ventured a view on why Mazda had decided to develop Skyactiv-Z rather than expand the use of the Toyota hybrid system.

“Mazda engineers are proud and they want to have their version of hybrid,” he said

“My understanding, it will be totally Mazda, it will be designed in a way that delivers what Mazda wants it to deliver, the … Zoom-Zoom element.

“But I haven’t driven a car with that technology, it’s still under development.”

With or without electrification Bhindi is bullishly forecasting the new CX-5 will retain its top-selling position.

He points to an evolutionary exterior design, a more spacious five-seat cabin and uprated infotainment tech as key selling points.

“The strength of this car is its design from day one, so we did absolutely go out of our way to ensure that the design and the appeal of the design remains a key part of this program,” he said.

Bhindi confirmed Mazda Australia had input into the design direction and encouraged an evolution not revolution.

“I’m sure there’d be some people considering that it had to be something very different,” he said. “We felt just trying to be different for different sake wasn’t the requirement.”

Instead, the Australian focus was on more substantial interior change.

“From our point of view where there was opportunity was more in the interior in terms of materials, craftsmanship, updates in the technology … but also cabin room.

“We know this is a car not just for couples but also for family with smaller kids, and therefore packing around luggage whether it be prams or bags was critical, so comfort in the rear and also rear cargo space was critical.