PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
If you’re in a hurry, and you just want to know if the 2026 Mazda CX-5 lives up to the hype, yes it mostly does. It’s an all-new model and it brings new technology and features to the brand. Mazdas have always had a fun-to-drive character in their DNA, and the CX-5 continues this tradition. But personally, as someone who has owned two Mazdas, I have mixed thoughts.
Give us the good news first.PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
Do you like the design? Good, because this first impressions review works better if you have a buy-in. And honestly, the new CX-5 design is a home run. The previous generation was already a handsome crossover, up until the day it was replaced. But the 2026 model evolves the look further by making the 3D mesh grille more prominent and making it ‘float’ using black trim. The back looks even better, with sleeker taillights and the Mazda name now spelled out.
PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
I actually think it looks better at first glance than when the CX-60 initially came out, the latter being a bit chunkier than usual for a Mazda. The CX-60’s stance grows on you after some time, but there’s no appreciation curve with the CX-5. It’s just wow at first sight. And despite being larger in terms of height, width, and length than its predecessor, the new CX-5 actually looks smaller thanks to its sleeker design.
Does the bigger body translate to a roomier cabin?PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
Glad you asked. It actually does. The second-generation CX-5, the one before this, was no slouch in the backseat department. I’ve actually been chauffeured in it, and I recall I had a good nap in the rear seat. But the third-generation CX-5 has more space in the back. And I slept in it again. (I should start measuring my sleep quality in the back of these cars for a better comparison.) I’m almost six-feet tall so most Asian men should feel comfortable in the second row.
PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
Golfers will also be glad to know that a standard golf bag can fit in the back crosswise. In terms of cargo, the CX-5 can comfortably swallow three adults and their overnight bags—four people if necessary.
The new CX-5 sounds promising.PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
It gets better. Mazda Philippines organized a drive for the media and content creators up to Baguio, for us to be able to try the new CX-5. On the way up, we took turns behind the wheel, and yours truly was lucky enough to drive on the last part via Marcos Highway. There was some trepidation from the organizers about using the more exciting Kennon Road because of weather concerns. It turns out they were right. From a dry drive on TPLEX it suddenly poured sheets of water while we were going up the mountain.
You know a car is good when it gives you absolute confidence within just a few minutes of settling down. The CX-5 is that kind of good. The steering feel is spot on, finding a good driving position is easy, visibility is good all around, and the beautiful leather seats hold you in place.
PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
Marcos Highway may not be as twisty as Kennon Road, but it still provided plenty of corners and turns to challenge any suspension system. But the CX-5 handled it all gracefully. Throughout the route I never felt it unsettled or unstable. You can aim for a corner, not brake, and let momentum guide you through the curve confidently. I never heard the wheels chirp or feel the rear slide. Of course I was still driving cautiously, never pushing the CX-5 to the limit—although I felt the limit was higher than I imagined, something to explore another time.
Then I just stopped analyzing the driving dynamics and just drove. The CX-5 felt good, like a companion that simply translates the input from your hands and right foot into direct vehicle movement, like a horse and rider…
But you discovered something else during the drive as well?PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
Where are you getting these questions? It’s like you’re in my mind. Yes, while enjoying the drive up Marcos Highway, you inevitably need to overtake. And that’s when we felt the CX-5’s powertrain struggle.
There is a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain under the hood that produces 179hp and 242Nm of torque. These are not bad figures. But place three adults, a golf bag, and overnight bags inside and you hear the engine strain when overtaking. The CX-5 can do it; you line up behind a truck, wait for a gap, and step hard on the gas, and you will be able to overtake. But I really floored it, pedal to the metal, and there was a noticeable drone from under the hood.
It would have been interesting to try the CX-5 going down Baguio, as there was little need for power and it was just suspension and handling doing all the work.
What else does the CX-5 have to offer?PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
The CX-5 heralds a new generation of Mazda models. Gone are the beloved tactile knobs and switches behind the shift knob, their functions transferred to the massive 15-inch Mazda Connect LCD display. It’s a stunning screen. And it’s fast, responding to touch input like a modern tablet, smooth and buttery. It’s complemented by a 12-speaker Bose audio system, as well as the expected Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.
The heads-up display is more advanced now, showing more navigation directions. Drivers will also be spoiled by a 10-way adjustable power seat, complete with dual memory functions. i-Activsense ADAS technology keeps risk at bay with the usual lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, driver monitoring system, and a driver attention alert. Adaptive cruise control is here to make driving easier on long stretches.
PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
The 2026 CX-5 is every bit the modern crossover that will transport you safely, enjoyably, and economically. I almost forgot to say our trip computer calculated that our last fuel economy reading was 12km/L by the time we pulled up to the Baguio Country Club driveway. Not bad for something we kept pushing up Marcos Highway; we definitely did not have fuel conservation in mind during that stretch.
What do you really think about it?PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
For a decade and a half, Mazdas have had a nice analog charm to them. They had modern features, but these felt necessary and genuinely helpful to the driver. And it’s the little things that, to me, truly elevated the driving experience above its competitors. Like the aforementioned rotary dial behind the shift knob. Or the leather patch beside your right knee that you can lean on when cornering.
Those wonderful details are gone in the CX-5. Perhaps even Mazda could not resist being drawn into the battle of big screens against the Chinese onslaught. I suppose this old editor just laments the slight shift in ethos from man and machine, to man and a bigger screen.
But don’t worry, the soul is still there. The driver involvement, the refinement, the quality—the Mazda CX-5 still has the traits we like about the brand. In the end, evolution has to happen for the market to be served.
Oh yes, the HEV Premium Plus spec goes for P2,495,000 and the AWD Sport gasoline is priced at P2,050,000.
PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco
PHOTO BY Carlo Chungunco