Mazda’s top-selling SUV hasn’t ripped up the rulebook for its third outing; instead, it treads carefully, sticking close to a formula that’s clearly worked for years.
The brand knows how hard it has fought to build a loyal CX‑5 following, so the brief here is continuity rather than shock and awe. Instead of a clean-sheet rethink, this is a thorough refresh: tidier styling, a new 2.5‑litre mild‑hybrid petrol, a roomier cabin and a big step up in dashboard tech.
Spend a week living with the CX‑5 Homura 2.5 141ps 2WD, though, and that cautious approach starts to look like a pretty shrewd call.
From the outside, you could mistake it for the previous CX‑5 at a glance, but the details tell a different story. The body is a little longer, wider and taller than before, and the wheelbase has been stretched, so it has more presence on the road without turning into a tank.
The long bonnet, slim headlights and gently tapering roofline still give it a more athletic stance than many boxier rivals. Homura trim adds a hint of attitude: black alloy wheels, darker exterior accents and that crisp Rhodium White paint give it a subtle, premium look that feels entirely in keeping with Mazda’s grown‑up, quietly confident image.
Step inside and you can see what Mazda means by “redefining the familiar”.
The cabin layout has been decluttered, with a broad, simple dashboard and a redesigned centre console that offers the sort of storage a family car actually needs.
The big change is the tech. Homura models get a sizeable central touchscreen with a phone‑like interface, backed up by integrated connected services, plus a 10.25‑inch digital instrument panel in front of the driver. The graphics are sharp and the menus mostly intuitive, and crucially Mazda has resisted the urge to dump everything on screen: physical knobs and buttons remain for the key climate controls.
Space and practicality are where this third‑generation CX‑5 really pulls ahead of its predecessor. The stretched wheelbase translates directly into more legroom in the back, so adults can now sit comfortably behind adults without knees brushing the seatbacks. Headroom is generous, even if you go for the panoramic roof fitted to upper trims, and the rear doors open wider than before. The boot is larger too, and in day‑to‑day use it feels broad, square and easy to load, with a low sill and a powered tailgate on Homura versions.
Under the bonnet, Mazda has simplified the engine range. Every CX‑5 now uses the same 2.5‑litre petrol with mild‑hybrid assistance, producing 141ps and 238Nm and driving through a six‑speed automatic gearbox. In this front‑wheel‑drive Homura, that translates to a 0–62mph time nudging the mid‑tens, so this is not a performance SUV by any stretch. What matters more is the character of the drivetrain. The 2.5‑litre engine feels relaxed and unstressed, with enough torque to pull cleanly from low revs without constant downshifts, and the mild‑hybrid system quietly tidies up stop‑start and low‑speed transitions rather than trying to impersonate a full hybrid. Press on and the engine makes itself heard, but the note is smooth rather than strained.
Choosing 2WD rather than the available all‑wheel drive suits the way most British buyers actually use their SUVs. On dry and damp tarmac the CX‑5 never feels traction‑starved, and the lighter, simpler front‑drive setup brings a small benefit to economy and running costs. The six‑speed automatic is old‑school in a market now crowded with eight‑ and nine‑speed boxes and CVTs, but it gels with the car’s easygoing nature. It shifts smoothly and, left to its own devices, is usually in the right gear.
Only on steep hills or when you ask for sudden bursts of acceleration does it occasionally hesitate or hold a lower ratio a touch longer than you’d like.
The steering is light enough for town work but has a reassuring weight as speeds rise, and there’s more sense of connection to the front tyres than many rivals offer. Body roll is kept neatly in check, so the CX‑5 feels composed through faster bends.
Mazda CX-5 Homura
POWER: 141ps
TRANSMISSION: 2WD Auto
PRICE: £31,237
ENGINE: 2.5‑litre four‑cylinder petrol with 24V mild‑hybrid assist
POWER: 141ps
TORQUE: 238Nm
0–62MPH: 10.5 seconds (claimed)
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