Mazda’s SUV portfolio has earned a reputation for blending sleek design with driving pleasure, but in today’s hyper-competitive compact SUV segment, even a standout like the CX-5 eventually starts to show its age. After nearly a decade on the market, the second-generation CX-5 is preparing to hand over the baton, as Mazda gears up for a new chapter. A leaked image of the third-generation model has just surfaced—offering our first clear glimpse at what’s to come.
The leaked photo, shared by Car Design News via Instagram, appears to be a lower-resolution official image, but it confirms much of what industry watchers had already suspected based on recent spy shots of camouflaged prototypes. Mazda has opted for continuity over radical redesign, preserving the classic SUV shape while updating it with refined styling cues and new proportions.
Familiar DNA, Sharper Lines
Visually, the upcoming CX-5 retains Mazda’s design language—think wide, confident grille and sleek LED headlights—but evolves it with sharper boomerang-shaped light signatures and a redesigned front fascia. The vehicle is reportedly around 110 mm longer than its predecessor, yet still maintains a compact and athletic silhouette.
At the rear, major design changes include tail lights that stretch deeply into the fenders and almost reach the center of the tailgate, while the turn signals are now pushed further to the edges. The new model also introduces a distinctive C-shaped roof rack, distancing itself subtly from the more futuristic design of Mazda’s recent Arata concept shown at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show.
A Carefully Calibrated SUV Strategy
The CX-5 has long been Mazda’s best-selling model globally, but its dominance has recently been challenged by newer, larger, and more tech-savvy competitors. Mazda has responded with a significant overhaul of its SUV lineup. In North America, the brand has rolled out models like the CX-50, CX-70, and CX-90, while Europe received the two-row CX-60 and the three-row CX-80. Meanwhile, the CX-30 remains popular thanks to its urban-friendly footprint.
With this third-generation CX-5, Mazda is looking to reassert its position in the crowded compact SUV space, blending familiar appeal with new technologies.
New Tech Under the Bonnet
Details remain scarce for now, but Mazda has confirmed that the new CX-5 will debut with a hybrid version—developed entirely in-house. This marks a significant move for Mazda, which has typically partnered with Toyota on hybrid tech. The initial hybrid offering will rely on existing powertrain components, but a more advanced setup featuring Mazda’s new SkyActiv-Z gasoline engine is in the works. However, this next-generation powertrain is not expected to arrive before the end of 2027.
When to Expect It
Mazda has officially scheduled the global premiere of the all-new CX-5 for the fourth quarter of 2025. Until then, the leaked image offers an exciting teaser of what’s to come: a thoughtfully updated CX-5 that respects its past while inching forward into the future of sustainable, stylish mobility.
Source: Mazda; Photo: Car Design News via Instagram
