What comes standard for every 2026 CX-5 trim? And which one would we recommend?
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After years of the same old compact SUV, the new 2026 Mazda CX-5 hopes to distinguish itself in a field of more than a dozen direct competitors . Part of what makes the CX-5 different is its focus on driving fun and design, but for 2026 it has more space inside than ever before.
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Even so, we come back to design. Whether you choose from the 2026 CX-5’s base trim or the fully loaded Premium Plus, Mazda aims to provide a clean and premium feel inside and out, and we think it’s largely succeeded. But there’s no denying: Some 2026 Mazda CX-5 trims are better values than others.
We’ve thoroughly evaluated the 2026 CX-5 and currently have one in the MotorTrend long term fleet as a daily driver . If you’re curious what’s standard across trims, keep reading for highlights on Mazda’s long-running SUV.
2026 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S: Pros and Cons
Every 2026 CX-5 is motivated by a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with 187 hp. And it’s ... fine. At least the smartly tuned transmission keeps the engine in the right gear most of the time. A quicker hybrid powertrain is coming but not until 2027, which should help it match other competitors that already offer hybrid-powered models.
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Standard features include AWD, a leather-wrapped steering wheel (thank you, Mazda), and a leather-wrapped shift knob. Also thrown in on every 2026 CX-5 are 17-inch alloy wheels and a large 12.9-inch touchscreen. The new CX-5’s display is one of the biggest standard units in the segment, though in our experience the functionality could be improved.
That’s because in Mazda’s effort to keep the 2026 CX-5’s interior from looking cluttered, it removed most of the physical buttons. If you want to adjust the temperature or fan speed, you need to tap an on-screen button. We’ve seen similar controls employed by other brands like Toyota, but they’re more intuitive than what we’ve found so far with the Mazda setup.
One highlight: One year of Google built-in is included before $15/month subscription fees begin for the 2026 CX-5’s Premium Plan. This means you can sidestep the above issues through smart voice commands.
Standard driver assists include:
Adaptive cruise control
Blind-spot monitoring
Front and rear parking sensors
Rear cross-traffic alert
Vehicle exit warning, which aims to prevent opening a door into the path of an oncoming cyclist or car
Pricing on the 2026 CX-5 2.5 S base model begins at around $31,500 including destination.