First official pics! Mazda CX-5 2026 reveal locked-in for new Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and Nissan X-Trail rival

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Eight years after the second-generation ‘KF’ Mazda CX-5 launched in Australia, the Japanese brand will show off the third iteration of the nameplate. 

The reveal is set for 10 July, or next Thursday, but in the meantime Mazda has teased the new-look CX-5. We’ve brightened the images to better show the CX-5’s looks. 

Evolutionary rather than revolutionary, the new CX-5 looks to get a more chiselled, upright rear end design with fresh LED taillights. 

Up front, there’s a clear nod to the current CX-5 — which is generally accepted as a handsome car — in the daytime running light shape. 

A previous leaked image showed the new CX-5 in full, though it wasn’t a clear picture. Seeing the teaser images of the real vehicle shows sleeker proportions than the off-axis leak. 

Sources have indicated the new CX-5 could grow by as much as 100mm, which would see Mazda’s current small-for-a-midsize SUV measure over 4.65 metres long — improving cabin and boot space but also creeping closer to the premium CX-60. 

Many details of the CX-5 remain unknown, but we do know Mazda is developing its own, in-house ‘strong’ hybrid system to challenge the market leading Toyota RAV4, along with the Nissan X-Trail, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Haval H6, and many more. 

It is unlikely that will be detailed next week, though, with sources suggesting the CX-5 will initially launch with updated versions of existing powertrains. 

Platform information is also not confirmed. It may use a version of the Small architecture under the CX-30 and CX-50, perhaps a tweaked take on the Large Product of the CX-60 and CX-70, or a different construction entirely. 

READ MORE: Mazda CX-60 2025 review

New cabin technology, bigger touchscreens and cleverer storage solutions are all on the wish-list for the new Mazda CX-5. 

Pricing and Australian arrival timing for the new Mazda CX-5 has not yet been detailed. 

The current CX-5 range runs from $36,740 (G20 Maxx) to $55,150 (both before on-road costs) for the top-spec G35 turbocharged Akera. The freshly-updated CX-60 range starts at $50,240 for the new Pure with a six-cylinder engine.

Mazda will need to massage the CX-5 to make sure its line-up fits below the CX-60 with its premium intentions — so it might be the case its new model will keep steady on the price front. 

As Mazda’s best-selling nameplate globally and in Australia, the new CX-5 has big expectations on its shoulders.