(Savagegeese) 2026 Mazda CX-5 | What's the Problem Now?
Posted by markyymark13@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 94 comments
We discuss the new 2026 Mazda CX-5, starting at $30,000, to see how it compares to the old car and what it fixes. This is a highly competitive market, and, as usual, we talk about the engineering changes and the tech they pumped in. Others to consider are the Toyota Rav4, Honda CRV, VW Tiguan, and Chevy Equinox.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjBnQq_2bmo
Mazda stood apart from the rest of the competition by having better driving dynamics, attractive styling, and a more upscale interior - despite being worse on paper than most of its competitors. While they improved the usability of the car, unfortunately Mazda decided to cost cut and cheap out on their biggest selling point: the interior.
NormanQuacks345@reddit
I might have considered a 2026 CX-5 when I bought a new vehicle last month, unfortunately they put the HVAC controls in the screen. Instant no-go. I did test drive a 2026 CX-50 which had the old system, but decided to go another route.
Why couldn’t they have put the new screen in, but kept the buttons? I probably would have bought the CX-5 had they done that.
snweasel@reddit
I know people will downvote me into abyss, but i think this discussion regarding the climate controls not being physical is so, so exaggerated.
I mean, how many times do you people change the climate while you drive, 200 times per drive ? In my car the climate is also integrated in the main screen, and i change the climate temperature maybe 2 or 3 times per year, and i live in a country with 40°C summer and -10°C winter, i have it set at 22°C and that's it.
Isn't the whole point of AUTOMATIC climate so that the driver does't need to fidel with it ?
SophistXIII@reddit
I've owned 4 new cars in the last 8 years from 4 different brands and I've yet to have one where the auto climate control works in our climate (-30c/+30c). In moderate temps it doesn't really matter, but in the extreme cold I don't like having cold air blown at full blast in my face while the system tries to warm up the car (never).
Plus using any touchscreen with gloves sucks.
Also, if the screen malfunctions, I can live without music, etc. but I can't live without HVAC.
Astramael@reddit
Yep, I live in +30/-40 and there is no way auto HVAC can keep up.
aprtur@reddit
This is something where I was kind of surprised in my old IS350 - it would not run the fan at all until the coolant got to a certain temperature, which I'm assuming was to avoid the typical cold air blast in winter. I haven't messed with it much in the GR yet (thus far, the car has always been in the garage before I run out somewhere), but do you find the auto climate does the same behavior on really cold days?
Astramael@reddit
Your IS350 probably also did that because the cabin actually gets warm faster.
If you’re bleeding off heat from the coolant as it’s trying to warm up, it warms up more slowly. You have cold air blowing on you for longer.
If you let the coolant just heat up for a bit. Then you engage the heat when there is actually heat in the coolant, you get warmer sooner.
The GRC is kind of a weird case because it can overcool itself, the water cooling system is way overspec for normal use. The car will actually cool back down below thermostat threshold in chilly weather. It also has an oil-to-coolant heat exchanger, so the coolant pulls the oil a bit under optimal temp as well. This means it doesn’t get the super roasty toasty heat of a GM product in really cold weather. Along this same thread the AC system can’t turn the cabin into a freezer on really hot days like GM products can, undersized compressor?
In my experience the auto HVAC in the car tries to do the right thing and hold the fan speed low (not off) until it ticks above a coolant temp threshold. Then it adds fan speed. It also seems to start hot to race to the set point then blenders to milder temps as it gets close. All of that is normal and fine.
Where it can’t keep up is the defrost configuration across the various pieces of glass. It also can’t keep up with what I’m wearing, I will want different temp settings depending on the jacket that I’m wearing, which depends on what my job will be that day (as an example). So between the electric heated elements, managing fan speed and temp and air split to keep the windows in check, and calibrating what I’m wearing, and matching external preceip, you fiddle quite a bit with the HVAC, with gloves on!
I’ve owned BMWs and driven in Mercedes and VW products, and I’ve owned GM and Ford stuff, none of the auto stuff can keep up in this climate. I’ve also lived in a much milder climate and yes, in those cases I just left it on auto and never used the heated seats and I wouldn’t have cared.
Slight rant that was a bit more than your question, sorry.
aprtur@reddit
Nah man, you're good - that's pretty much exactly the kind of detail I was curious about. The clothing thing is something no manufacturer can plan for, but the little conscientious things like not ramping up fan speed until certain system parameters are met to avoid uncomfortable situations is the kind of stuff that I think defines whether an auto system sucks or not. Apparently the "climate concierge" system in the LC and LS goes a step further by also managing the heated steering wheel and seats. But to your point, those clothing variability situations are why we need good physical controls for HVAC - it should be second nature to adjust, and not require any screen use to accomplish. Subaru's outgoing system is a good example of how badly that can go wrong.
craiggers14@reddit
It's a definite safety and reliability issue. It's equally as distracting to the driver as cell phone usage. It literally requires you to take your focus off driving to manage anything in the touchscreen.
Then - it's less reliable than a button or knob would be. If I don't hit the on screen icon exactly it just won't do what I'm asking, making me distracted for a longer period of time. If it was a real knob or button, it's going to do what I want when I touch it the first time.
RookieOfDaY3ar@reddit
I mean, I feel like the fact that most car manufacturers in this segment who had gone all touch (Subaru and VW are most recent I can think of) have reverted back to physical knobs for climate controls indicate the opposite. Honda had that touch-driven volume knob and quickly reverted after complaints. The rest seemed to have kept physical controls.
I get what you’re saying though, people complain about it online a lot, and online doesn’t always indicate real life. Legitimately curious, besides Tesla, is there another brand/model in this class that has all touch inputs that’s kept it?
snweasel@reddit
In Europe at least, (where i live) i cannot think of a brand that has absolute all controls on the screen like Tesla, but the most of European car brands are sold in US, so you know that the trend is for the majority to have some physical buttons and the rest to be integrated in the main screen.
Don't get me wrong, i'm not a fan of every function of the car to be controlled via a touchscreen, i was just referring only to the climate control, for example in the Tesla is just crazy having the gear selector is in the screen and the blinkers on the steering wheel, that's just madness in my opinion, and for me to be honest would be a major question mark if it was on my list, blinkers and gear selection it is something that you use like every drive you make.
Toyota for example has go all in with touch screen in the Rav4, Honda still has i think the most physical buttons from the most known brands.
HTTP404URLNotFound@reddit
This is an anecdote but for me at the very least I use the temperature knob, seat heat and ventilation controls, defrost buttons, and air recirculate buttons often enough that I want those to be physical.
bananatacos@reddit
I have auto on both cars. Mess with it nearly daily. Maybe I just want to turn it off. Maybe I'm want the temp to be lower than my usual. Maybe its a really hot day so the usual setting feels too cold in contrast. Maybe I just want to bake in the heat for a bit. Maybe I want more fan just to feel more flowing air than what auto decided is needed. Maybe a software update changed my fucking settings so recirc isn't on any more. Maybe I'm wearing a coat that's designed to keep me warm when its -10C and I neither want to take it off or want to sit there sweating once the car gets up to temperature.
AdmiralZassman@reddit
I change it twice per drive in the winter minimum. Goes from defrost to 21, and then down to 19 if I'm wearing a jacket for a long drive
ghostogresnowrabbit@reddit
Its not the HVAC controls necessarily but the seat controls and heated steering wheel.
My car has heated steering wheel right on the wheel. I mess around with that a lot when I'm driving. Same with heated seats.
Astramael@reddit
If it’s more than zero times per drive, having to mess with the screen sucks.
I think there’s an effort here by Mazda to recognize that with the defrost button still being physical. That’s not enough for me, I interact with the HVAC more than just defrost on/off. For example heated seats are also in the screen now.
DroppinLoad5@reddit
Agreed 100%. Just left my own comment saying what you said. This sub is full of people who think the average driver is adjusting AC temperature eight times a drive.
markyymark13@reddit (OP)
While I do agree that most of the time you're not fiddling with things, the point to why many don't like shoving everything into the touchscreen comes down to one thing: does it make the interior better, or worse? And for me, it's worse. I hate having to look down at the touchscreen to tap around, and visually confirm the action im trying to preform. I don't care how small, or simple said action should be. People are driving more and more like maniacs, the less time I spend having to look away from the road, the better.
markyymark13@reddit (OP)
Cost cutting
NormanQuacks345@reddit
I mean, yeah obviously.
RogerTheAlienSmith@reddit
Then why ask?
Joker8891@reddit
Their comment on the seat bottom cushion being rock hard is honestly one of my biggest gripes. Riding in my friend's cx-5 always hurts because I can never get comfortable on the wooden seat.
Saskatchewon@reddit
When I was cross-shopping two years ago, I test drove the CX-30 and came up to the same conclusion. It had a more peppy drivetrain and handled better than my Crosstrek does, but those seats were ridiculously firm. That along with the crampt interior, poor sightlines and so-so ride eliminated it from contention for me.
You buy a crossover to have a do-it-all appliance vehicle, and the CX-30 kind of sacrifices a lot of that practicality to feel "sporty". If I wanted "sporty", I'd get the Mazda 3 Turbo, or any hatchback or sedan, not a CUV.
Joker8891@reddit
Same with respect to the CX90. Seats were better in that but my wife was getting car sick in the second row bc of the ride.
kevinstu123@reddit
Love your vids brotha! Big fan
HamsterCapable4118@reddit
I did the Mazda thing for a long time (over 10 years). The whole under-powered but "pure driving experience" thing is cool for a while, but honestly, in this day and age, they should just catch up. There isn't that much benefit to having such low power figures. Ten seconds to 60 with the technologies available today is a joke. A Honda CR-V is three seconds quicker? We can sit here and talk about how "real drivers" don't care about raw numbers like that, but there's a limit.
aprtur@reddit
The turbo was in the low 6s to 60, but if we believe the marketers, Mazda didn't sell many, and that's why they axed it. The question is whether or not the new hybrid will have enough of a power boost to meet the old turbo power figures or better.
HardLithobrake@reddit
How many times do we need to teach you this lesson old man
Whatcanyado420@reddit
I didn’t buy Mazda specifically because of the knob.
East-Independent6778@reddit
I bought a CX-9 in spite of it and I hate it. I shouldn't have to scroll 12 times just to get back to the CarPlay home screen.
BryanxMetal@reddit
just use the home button
aprtur@reddit
Yeah, despite never owning a Mazda with the commander for daily use, I personally find their system is incredibly intuitive. The only "negative" is that you have to glide the wheel around the options in Android Auto or CarPlay, but even in the time I've had rentals with it, this became muscle memory for how many clicks it took to get somewhere. Personal preference for everyone, I guess, but I like the physical controller because I can concentrate on driving and instinctively click to what I need after taking a quick glance at where the pointer is currently selecting.
AdmiralZassman@reddit
You don't use the knob, carplay is all touch screen. Honestly the knob is great for navigating menus and shit when you aren't using music or nav
Whatcanyado420@reddit
That’s for this newest model. Wasn’t true for 2024. Maybe implemented in 2025?
AdmiralZassman@reddit
I drive a 2024 and it's true
Skensis@reddit
The knob is just bad for selling a new car, good or bad, but when someone is getting a few minutes driving a car on a test drive, throwing in a new tool and UX experience is a recipe for disaster.
Everyone knows how touch screens work because we all have phones, so fat fingering through things while annoying still feels intuitive.
markyymark13@reddit (OP)
Mazda swears up and down that they were losing customers because they didn't like the command knob. While I bought my CX-5 for basically that exact reason, we'll see if this works out better for them.
Jdslogin@reddit
Mazda should also realize theres definitely a large middle ground between command knob only and removing all physical controls lol.
markyymark13@reddit (OP)
Yeah they easily could have followed Hyundai/Kia and kept the physical controls (and the command knob in the case of Genesis) but while also bringing the screen forward and making it bigger for easier touch use.
Genesis GV70 Hyundai Tuscon
At this point the Koreans are the only ones blending the two well. But Mazda is a smaller company and doesn't have the resources/sales of the larger brands so they probably decided to just go all out on cost cutting, shame.
Shitadviceguy@reddit
Rogue does a nice job if maintaining physical everything without looking like a 90s Volvo
turbo-toots@reddit
This is the middle ground I hope they figure out. I'd love to replace my cx5 with another one when the time comes, but the interior on the new generation makes it a no go.
DriveRightCarBuying@reddit
In part, it's true. There's a learning curve to the knob and it turns away buyers.
It's akin to trying to get someone to switch off Windows. MacOS may be objectively better for their use case, but the learning curve is annoying/disruptive enough it holds people back.
I do wish they went the BMW route and kept the command knob for those that prefered it.
geokilla@reddit
It's true. My friend was shopping for his first car and he ended up going with the last generation RAV4 despite agreeing that the Mazda had a significantly nicer interior and driving experience. His fiancee also didn't like the small, hidden screen and the knob. They wanted a large touch screen and while the base RAV4 doesn't have that, at least it didn't have the knob. Screens sell and the CX-5 is going to be a huge hit.
avoidhugeships@reddit
They interpreted the data wrong. More people they surveyed said they liked the touchscreen. The thing is they had 100% of the knob people since there was little competition. Now they will do worse with a much smaller percentage of a slightly larger pool.
Sad-Anteater-2908@reddit
I had a BMW 530 loaner and it had the same stuff. It was an absolute nightmare and I couldn't figure out how to work things even after 7 days. The crazy part is I have an iDrive 8.5 M240i but it still has buttons rather than haptic everything. Completely pleasant and usable. The same thing in the 530 was the exact opposite just because its haptic.
SolShadows@reddit
I sold my CX-5 last year for a Giulia (insert reliability joke here). You know what those cars have in common? Rotary knob to control the screen. I hate driving cars without them. It's so much easier to operate while driving as opposed to taking your eyes off the road to touch something. Definitely a massive step backwards for Mazda. I hope we don't see this in a future Mazda 3.
opportunptr@reddit
My man
Bradymyhero@reddit
Nice garage. I have a Giulia Ti
opportunptr@reddit
They’re fantastic cars.
Astramael@reddit
I’m not sure the Mazda 3 will continue to exist.
klowny@reddit
I think it'll just be a Corolla rebadge in the future. I'm not confident Mazda will continue the develop their small platform other than for the CX-5/50 since it's not on their roadmap.
Astramael@reddit
Following the Mazda 2/Yaris situation?
klowny@reddit
Yep, small cars continue to decline in sales and profitability so I think the consolidation of platforms will continue.
SolShadows@reddit
Better to die a hero than live long enough to become a villain.
hoxxxxx@reddit
man those computers are pricey
StoneWolf@reddit
Touch screen issues aside, I’m surprised they launched this without a hybrid.
aprtur@reddit
They can't afford to get it wrong on the CX-5 - after the teething issues with the CX-70/CX-90, I'm sure they're a little more gunshy, at least for the immediate future.
Hnry_Dvd_Thr_Awy@reddit
The CX-50 already has the Toyota hybrid 2.5L, no?
aprtur@reddit
Yes, but Mazda's not implementing the Toyota HSD system in the CX-5, they're releasing their own. I have a feeling it'll be more akin to Honda's old IMA or what they implemented in the CX-70/90, as their focus is driving dynamics and involvement - a place where HSD doesn't really shine, but those pancake-style hybrids would.
mkcoia@reddit
One of the many issues with the new gen.
Skensis@reddit
No hybrid or turbo option is a shame, car is carrying more weight with the same low power engine.
klowny@reddit
No turbo at launch is kinda expected, the last gen turbo debuted a couple years later too. Lack of hybrid is the surprise, but they did say it's coming next year so I think they're just behind schedule.
BryanxMetal@reddit
Don’t worry, there’s a current known issue with the screens going black while driving. No drive info will be displayed. Completely black screen. Mazda’s fix? Nothing, just give it back to the customer and have them come back once there’s a fix.
yobo9193@reddit
I don’t expect to see this type of interior proliferate through their lineup and I believe the only reason they did this is to boost profit for the company.
CX-5 is built on the last gen Skyactiv platform and has no other platform mates. The tooling and R&D for this platform has likely long been amortized, so (on paper) this is already their cheapest car to make. By refreshing it in the cheapest way possible (big screens and haptic controls are far cheaper on a per-unit cost than dedicated buttons), they increase their profit margins even more while still keeping it competitive.
I’m sure they’d love to deprecate the platform entirely, but when it’s your #1 selling vehicle (or close to it, don’t quote me), you can’t get rid of it without seriously pissing off your shareholders
klowny@reddit
They've also stated that the CX-5 really is targeting the European market more anyway, and they really were focused on cutting costs for that market and other obvious NA political reasons.
For NA, they really want to instead funnel sales to the CX-50, which they have been doing. Especially with the CX-30 also being scaled back for the same political reasons (it's MiMexico).
I predict the CX-50 refresh will basically be to move to the updated CX-5 platform, but everything else being kinda the same. That gives the CX-5 a platform-mate again, and then Mazda can happily phase out the 3/CX-30 platform that they don't seem to want to invest in.
takao-obi@reddit
Not sure how many years the new CX 5 can stay competitive in the European market. The interior update makes it look more modern, but Mazda real had to gut the 2.5L to make it emission compliant and gained nothing in fuel economy. This really is now a family transporter nothing more.
But I suspect for the European market the CX-6e can perhaps come to the rescue until a new Mazda 3 arrives.
AdmiralZassman@reddit
The cx-50 is us only. Not north american
klowny@reddit
It's available to Canada and Mexico as well, what else is missing for North America?
AdmiralZassman@reddit
No, they are not available in Canada because of tariffs. They are selling any old models. Not sure if you opened the links in your post at all, but you'll see that it's for the 2025 cx-50 and the current year is 2026
klowny@reddit
Which is supposed to be temporary, but yes up for uncertainty like everything imported. But the intention is to sell the 50 in Canada when the politics stabilizes.
yobo9193@reddit
I’m with you until the last paragraph: the CX-50 is on the newer platform so there’s no reason to get move away from that. Both platforms share drivetrains.
klowny@reddit
The CX-50 was on the newer platform until they put a whole lotta effort into updating the CX-5 platform.
They won't be sharing drivetrains next year, the CX-5 will be on a Mazda hybrid system and Skyactiv-Z engine. The CX-50 will still be on the old Skyactiv-G engines and Toyota hybrid system.
I think the CX-50 will be due for a refresh around 2028, so that seems like an appropriate timeline for the CX-5 to iron out any issues with the new platform and powertrains before the CX-50 adopts them.
Ok_Field_5701@reddit
This guy auto industries
I enjoy reading comments from people who actually understand how these things work as a procurement professional working for a global tier 1.
turbo-toots@reddit
I hope you're right. Please leave the Small Car Platform alone. It would also be nice if they bring the 60 to the NA market to give buyers an option that don't want this interior/want to upgrade without sizing up to the 70/90.
rewardingsnark@reddit
No Turbo and no power.
leebe_friik@reddit
All controls on touchscreen is one thing, but what's up with the INSANELY small icons on the big screen when trying to adjust the seat heating and stuff?
It's like the designer never imagined it could be used in a vehicle that is moving, possibly even on a less than ideal road.
post_break@reddit
Wife took one look at the touch screen controls and said no thanks. We sat in the CX-50 and the cup holders are right in front of the hvac controls made zero sense, she said nope to that too.
TrueSwagformyBois@reddit
I had a rental one of these (prior gen) and really disliked it. Loud interior, engine was rattle-y. The AWD system was slow, b/c on demand. I drove it like it had better rubber on, or was full time AWD and it didn’t like that at all. Scrabbling for grip and then huck.
Overall, not a refined experience.
Alive_Internet@reddit
That’s really surprising to me, as the previous gen CX-5 was praised for feeling more refined than the RAV-4 (which I found noisy, rattly, and unrefined). Have you driven the previous gen RAV-4? If so, how does it compare?
TrueSwagformyBois@reddit
I have not - that’s what I was supposed to be in on that trip actually, to see what all the fuss was about. The new ones look really good. I have driven a CRV and that was just a really nice experience for what it is
AdmiralZassman@reddit
That's nuts, I was just test driving the whole class, and of the highly reviewed compact SUVs the CRV has the loudest and rattliest engine
TrueSwagformyBois@reddit
Could be a new engine vs one that’s had its break in too. Hybrid vs non. COULD also be that my ears and your ears, expectations, and what we’re dialed into are different :). I didn’t drive very far in one, <5 miles.
jakeuten@reddit
I’ve put 200K miles on between 2 different CX5’s and their AWD system has never left me wanting. I live in northern Minnesota and spent a lot of time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan as well. Sounds like the rental had bad tires. Modern AWD systems are “demanded” a lot more than prior generations. I was nervous about my FEH having a disconnect clutch on the AWD system but so far it has not shown to be a problem.
TrueSwagformyBois@reddit
Yeah. I think because one of my cars is FWD on skinny tires and another is full time AWD on meaty ones, I’m used to a bit of a scrabble for grip or always having it. The progression on my FWD from limited grip to enough is also fairly linear.
Having that almost kick when the AWD system engaged was jarring.
I bet you’re right re: tires.
SavageGooseJack@reddit
Thanks for posting Op. we spent a decent amount of time with some of the team members behind the cx5. Here to answer questions per usual
markyymark13@reddit (OP)
I know you guys mentioned that ultimately their decision to go all touchscreen/haptic is cost cutting driven. But did Mazda give much insight into their reasoning/thought process? Especially when considering how proud they were of their current interior design.
LunaticCalm29@reddit
The problem I have with the mazda lineup is interior driver / passenger space that is to cramped up for bigger / taller people. It just feels uncomfortable to drive compared to some of the competitors.
Ok_Field_5701@reddit
Yeah, I had a ‘25 CX-5 carbon edition and traded it in after a year. I’m 6’3 and it was just a mistake purchasing it. It had less second row space and cargo space than most sedans. I genuinely dont know who these appeal to, unless you only want a cheap vehicle that looks cool.
klowny@reddit
Mazda's core demographic seems to be DINKWADs.
My rear seat passengers don't use the legroom because they're dogs. Otherwise it just needs enough room for my dogs, snowboards, or Costco runs.
It's a bit more practical than a Macan and a whole lot cheaper which makes me feel bad for it getting a beating from the dogs, but it's all I need and any bigger would make it a pain to fit in city parking spaces.
Ideally Mazda would have something Cayenne sized, and it's baffling how the CX-70 wasn't that. But that sized vehicle is also more of a very nice to have more than "my stuff doesn't fit" need to have.
Whatcanyado420@reddit
The problem with the knob is you are only gonna potentially attract buyers who like/tolerate the knob.
On the other hand, people who hate the knob will refuse to buy the car.
You cannot run a business with such a divisive decision.
Lorenzo_Blow@reddit
It's not a Honda?
DroppinLoad5@reddit
Just leased one of these for my wife a few weeks back. She needs an appliance car, and she's absolutely in love with this one (coming from a '23 CX-30). I know the sub hates on the screen-only interface, but it's snappy. The HUD and digital dash are able to show relevant info when she needs it, and we're not exactly adjusting the AC every five minutes. I think the screen controls work for 95% of what the average driver uses their daily for, and the sub is a little hyperfixated on fringe use cases. But that's just my two cents. Great car.
DaBombDiggidy@reddit
That steering wheel single membrane button is disgusting.
Astramael@reddit
I got to play with one of these yesterday when I was in for service.
Sharp looking car, continues to have packaging issues and less glass, but it isn’t dealbreaker. Did not like the interior. There is a good compromise to be had and this isn’t it. It does have hard buttons for defrosting and stuff. Dislike the lack of Mazda logo, even the steering wheel has Mazda written out.
We wouldn’t buy another Mazda based on this interior.
-Olive-Juice-@reddit
I haven't owned a Mazda since 2022 but they hold a special place in my heart (ND Miata was an amazing car to own)... so this is a bummer.