Mazda's popular CX-5, which has consistently sold over 100,000 units annually in the U.S. since 2015, is set to receive a new hybrid variant later this year.
This development is detailed in Mazda's Q1 2024 financial results, which also mark the end of the company's 2023 fiscal year. Among the announcements is a plan to equip the next CX-5 with a Mazda-developed hybrid engine. This news comes as part of Mazda's broader strategy to electrify its lineup, including a hybrid version of the CX-50 in the latter half of the year.
Mazda already offers plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) with the CX-90 and CX-70 PHEV models. The forthcoming CX-50 hybrid, which will use a powertrain sourced from Toyota, is expected to mirror the setup found in the Toyota RAV4 hybrid, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined output of 219 horsepower. This model will be built at Mazda's Alabama plant, a facility jointly operated with Toyota.
In contrast, the CX-5 hybrid will be an in-house development, likely based on Mazda's SkyActiv four-cylinder engine. CEO Masahiro Moro has described the design as "original," with the internal combustion component being an "enhanced SkyActiv engine." The CX-5 currently uses the 2.5-liter SkyActiv engine in the U.S. market, and it is expected that the hybrid variant will retain this displacement. The naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine currently produces 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged version delivers 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid's combined output is anticipated to fall between these figures, offering better fuel efficiency than the current 26 city/31 highway mpg achieved by the naturally aspirated version with cylinder deactivation and auto stop/start enabled.
For comparison, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid starts at around $33,000 and boasts 41 city/38 highway mpg, while the Honda CR-V Hybrid begins at just over $35,000 with ratings of 43 city/36 highway mpg. The CX-5 hybrid's pricing and fuel economy figures will likely be competitive with these rivals.
A reveal of the CX-5 hybrid is expected either late this year or early next year. Looking further ahead, Mazda's financial report also hints at a new all-electric vehicle on a dedicated platform, slated for 2027.