The Mazda CX-5 is a sharp-looking and fun-to-drive compact SUV. 
There’s never been a question about that, and it’s true once again for the 2025 model year offering.

The question is whether to wait for a 2026 model, or pick up a 2025 model.

Read on to learn 5 things you need to know about the 2025 CX-5, which I recently tested, and some previews of what’s to come on the 2026 version of the CX-5, which is getting a major redesign that improves roominess, cargo space and tech features.

1. Upscale design, size will grow in 2026

One thing that Mazda has done in recent years is deliver a design that approaches luxury quality despite not being a luxury brand. Especially on the interiors, materials are of a quality that makes you feel like you’re in a much more expensive and upscale ride.

As the 2025 model year ends and the model prepares to launch in 2026, one change that we know is coming is that the CX-5 will be getting a bit longer, specifically gaining 4.5 inches in length. That’s a welcome bit of news, as any extra length is beneficial in the class of compact SUVs, where leg room is often hard to find in the back row. The current model is not super-tight, but I’ll always appreciate more space. And cargo space should also improve in 2026 due to the vehicle’s larger size.

Other exterior changes expected for 2026 include a 3-inch larger wheelbase, and an overall styling update that will draw inspiration from the looks of the larger CX-70 and CX-90 SUVs. Changes are coming to the lighting design, grille design and more. I was always a fan of the current generation of CX-5, but the updates promise an even sleeker and more stylish vehicle.

Whether you choose a 2025 or wait for the changes in 2026, you’ll be getting a vehicle that’s pleasing to the eye. And if you want for 2026, you’ll have a roomier interior.

Yes Virginia, there is an SUV that’s actually fun to drive.

In fact, as we celebrate the holiday season, there’s actually a brand that is fully embracing a lineup that is far from bland, and aimed at people who love to drive well-handling cars that have some power under the hood.

I’m talking about Mazda, and more specifically it’s CX-5 compact SUV, the brand’s best-selling vehicle. There’s a ton of competition in this category, including some major top-sellers, but none of the CX-5’s top rivals can hold a candle to the genuinely fun and sporty drive quality offered by the CX-5 (which, FYI, is different than the CX-50 model that was more recently introduced by Mazda, and exists alongside the CX-5 in Mazda’s lineup).

I recently tested the 2025 Mazda CX-5 (a Carbon Turbo trim offering), and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up against the other small SUVs of today’s automotive world.

Though the current design is starting to get a bit long in the tooth, the CX-5’s looks, performance and fun factor are strong enough to make it stand out in the crowd vs. other less daring competitors in the segment.