REPORT 1 (21st October 2026)
We have a new extended-review car, but we're also back in very familiar territory... in more ways than one.
You might remember we ran a 2nd-generation (then-current, of course) Mazda CX-5 GSX from late-2025 through to May this year. The model was getting towards the end of its life then, but that was really the impetus for having it.
The imminent arrival of the new 3rd-gen CX-5 made it an interesting exercise because the car has always had such a loyal Kiwi following. Even at the end of its run, the previous CX-5 was Mazda New Zealand's most important model, accounting for 40% of sales. The new one is expected to achieve the same.
While it's not top-tier in terms of overall SUV sales, the CX-5 inspires fierce loyalty in its owners and many will be transitioning from the previous model to this one. So we thought we'd join in on that experience.
Oh yeah, the car. Last time, we chose the mid-grade GSX because it was the most popular variant of Mazda NZ's most popular model. We've done the same thing with the new one, except the model names have been realigned and the GSX-equivalent is now called the SP. This $49,990 model fits in above the Touring, below the Homura and Takami. And our new SP25 is actually $300 cheaper than the previous GSX.
RWE522 is actually the very same vehicle we drove on Mazda NZ's media launch programme for CX-5 and 6e back in August, so we're already kinda familiar with this particular car. And already responsible for a few of the kilometres on the clock.
What are we hoping to discover on our second CX-5 journey? We've covered the ICE issue previously (hybrid a year away, CX-6e BEV alternative on the way this year), so it's a given that if you're buying a new CX-5, you've accepted it's petrol only. The revised 2.5-litre is slightly less powerful but more economical than the previous model, so we're keen to find out what that means in terms of real-world fuel use. We'll commute and we'll road-trip.
We're also keen to get to grips with Mazda's complete about-face on cabin ergonomics. It's gone from one of the most button-centric models on the market (we loved that in our old GSX, by the way) to more extreme minimalism than many Chinese new energy vehicles. The only physical controls on the dashboard are for demisting and the hazard flashers, and even the steering wheel functions have haptic touch surfaces.
Whether this proves an excellent interpretation of this touch-trend or an ergonomic nightmare remains to be seen. Although the launch-drive experience and some road-test time with the flagship Takami has been pretty positive.
What is the Mazda CX-5?
Still Mazda's core SUV and its most popular model in NZ. This is the third generation of the CX-5 since 2012.
Why are we running it?
To experience Mazda's remimagining of a very familiar formula. It keeps the family look, but CX-5 has stepped up in size and infotainment technology.