Mazda CX-5 Hybrid could be coming to take on Toyota’s dominant RAV4
Mazda is readying a hybrid version of its CX-5 SUV as it watches arch rival Toyota’s RAV4 sales soar, according to reports in Japanese media.
According to local reports, the next Mazda CX-5 will pair Mazda’s upcoming inline six-cylinder SkyActiv-X engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system to reduce fuel use and emissions.
Mazda’s SkyActiv-X is already a fuel-saving measure, using compression-ignition technology to deliver the drivability of a petrol engine and the low-end torque of a diesel, while lowering fuel use by up to 30 percent.
Want the latest EV news and reviews delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!
The new powertrain is said to generate around 220kW and 345Nm, and use just 6.6L/100km, which makes it less fuel efficient than the Toyota RAV4, but also more powerful.
According to the reports, which are yet to be confirmed by Mazda in Australia, the new CX-5 is expected to touch down in 2023, with revisions to the current model expected to carry the brand towards that date.
