Mazda CX-5 Third Generation: A Bigger, Better SUV That Struggles to Win Over Fleet Managers
Mazda has long punched above its weight in the crowded SUV segment. The CX-5 has been a consistent critical favourite since its debut, praised for its driving dynamics, premium interior feel, and sharp Kodo design language — all at a price point that undercuts many European rivals. Now, with the arrival of the third-generation model, Mazda is doubling down on those strengths. But as our first drive reveals, the new CX-5 has a significant Achilles heel that could prove costly when it comes to fleet and business car appeal: its powertrain lineup.
A Grown-Up CX-5 in Every Sense
The first thing you notice stepping up to the new CX-5 is its sheer presence. This is a larger vehicle in every meaningful dimension compared to its predecessor. Mazda's designers have stretched the wheelbase, widened the track, and given the body a more muscular, planted stance. The result is an SUV that now competes more directly with the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson, and Kia Sportage in terms of footprint and visual impact.
Inside, the extra size pays immediate dividends. Rear passengers benefit from noticeably more legroom, and the boot has grown to a genuinely practical size that makes family loading duties far less of a chore. Materials quality remains a Mazda hallmark — soft-touch surfaces dominate the cabin, the infotainment screen is neatly integrated rather than bolted on as an afterthought, and the driving position feels naturally commanding without tipping into the artificially elevated SUV stance that some buyers find off-putting.
Refinement levels are high throughout. Wind noise is well suppressed at motorway speeds, the suspension absorbs urban imperfections without crashing harshly, and the steering has that characteristically precise, slightly weighted feel that Mazda engineers spend so much time calibrating. If you care about how a car feels to drive on a daily basis, the new CX-5 continues to reward in ways that many competitors simply do not.
Driving Dynamics: Still the Class Benchmark
Take the CX-5 onto a winding B-road and it continues to distinguish itself from the mainstream. Body roll is kept admirably in check for a vehicle of this size and height, the front axle responds to steering inputs with real accuracy, and the chassis feels genuinely balanced rather than artificially flattened by electronic intervention. This is an SUV that communicates with its driver in a way that feels analogue and authentic — rare qualities in a segment increasingly dominated by numb, electric-feel steering and over-assisted dynamics.
Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus system continues to work quietly in the background, subtly shifting torque to improve cornering stability and post-corner traction. It is the kind of technology you only notice when you push the car harder than everyday driving demands, which is precisely how the best chassis engineering should function.
The Powertrain Problem: Where the CX-5 Loses Fleet Favour
This is where the optimism dims considerably — particularly for the fleet and business car market that Mazda is clearly hoping to attract with a larger, more premium CX-5.
Fleet operators and company car drivers in the UK and across Europe increasingly make powertrain decisions based on Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax efficiency, CO2 emissions figures, and fuel economy under real-world conditions. In this context, the absence of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option is a glaring omission. Rivals such as the Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid, Kia Sportage PHEV, and Hyundai Tucson PHEV all offer meaningful electric-only range that pushes their official CO2 figures low enough to make them genuinely attractive on a company car tax spreadsheet.
The CX-5's engine range, while competent, leans on conventional mild-hybrid technology and traditional petrol and diesel units. Mazda's e-Skyactiv mild-hybrid system provides a degree of efficiency improvement, but it does not offer the electric-only driving capability that generates low BIK percentages. For a business driver choosing between a CX-5 and a PHEV rival, the monthly tax bill difference can be substantial — sometimes hundreds of pounds per year — making the Mazda a difficult choice to justify on purely financial grounds.
What Engines Are Available?
- 2.0-litre petrol mild-hybrid: Smooth and refined but CO2 emissions are not fleet-competitive.
- 2.5-litre petrol: More performance-oriented but less appropriate for high-mileage business use.
- 2.2-litre diesel: Efficient and well-suited to motorway fleet use but increasingly unattractive from a taxation and public perception standpoint.
The lack of a full hybrid or PHEV option is the single biggest barrier between the new CX-5 and fleet success. Mazda has announced intentions to expand its electrified lineup, but until those models arrive, fleet managers are likely to look elsewhere.
Should Private Buyers Still Consider the Mazda CX-5?
For the private buyer who pays their own fuel bill, cares deeply about driving quality, and values interior refinement over badge prestige, the new CX-5 makes an exceptionally compelling case for itself. It is genuinely larger and more practical than before, it drives with a clarity and involvement that the competition rarely matches, and it presents a premium experience at a price that remains honest relative to German alternatives.
Residual values for Mazda have also improved considerably over recent generations, which reduces the total cost of ownership gap versus rivals with stronger perceived brand equity. Combined with Mazda's well-regarded reliability reputation, the CX-5 is a smart long-term purchase for the right buyer.
Verdict: Excellent SUV, Incomplete Lineup
The third-generation Mazda CX-5 is a genuine step forward in almost every measurable respect. It is more spacious, more refined, and no less satisfying to drive than the model it replaces. As a private ownership proposition it deserves serious consideration against class leaders from Volkswagen, Hyundai, and Kia.
However, the absence of a PHEV powertrain option means that fleet buyers — a crucial segment for volume sales in this class — will find it hard to justify the CX-5 over tax-efficient rivals. Until Mazda addresses this gap, the new CX-5 risks being admired widely but chosen narrowly. That would be a shame, because on almost every other measure, this is one of the most complete mid-size SUVs on sale today.