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Mazda has cut costs from the next-generation CX-5 in areas it claims customers are unlikely to notice.
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Mazda has implemented cost-cutting measures in its next-generation Mazda CX-5, but it claims customers are unlikely to notice.
In an interview with Automotive News, Mazda's chief financial officer Jeff Guyton said there are "many, many, many" cost cuts in the 2026 CX-5 in areas "the customer doesn't value as much or won't see it".
For instance, the company has reverted to angled stitching for the CX-5's steering wheel, rather than horizontal stitches along the curves of the steering wheel similar to the outgoing model – or the more-premium box stitching of the CX-60, CX-90 and other models.
"That’s great attention to detail from Mazda, but when we look at it, our customers are not really valuing that approach more than our competitors, but it costs us more money," Guyton said.
"Our competitors have an angled appearance to the stitches [on the steering wheel] but the same leather.
"Simply, we put money where the customer is going to see it, and we’ve tried to find big cost efficiencies where the customer doesn’t value it as much or won’t see it."
Mazda also cut costs from the new CX-5's steel body structure, according to the report, working with supplier Nippon Steel "early in the development process" to cut cost and weight, despite its larger body.
However, added costs include the CX-5's larger 15.6-inch infotainment system, which includes Google built-in functionality and improved voice recognition claimed to be better appreciated by customers.
Mazda has removed many physical controls from the CX-5, including the rotary dial for the infotainment system, air conditioning buttons, and the media volume dial.
In the US, the 2026 CX-5's starting price has increased by 3.2 per cent, from US$29,050 to US$29,990.
A similar increase for Australia would translate to AU$41,750, but the new model will exclusively be offered with all-wheel drive and the 2.5-litre engine, which is likely to result in a larger increase over the current front-wheel drive 2.0-litre G20 Maxx grade.
Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro confirmed the brand delayed the start of production of the new CX-5 by six weeks to improve the quality of its new software system.
"We made the decision to delay the start of mass production for Europe by six weeks to ensure that we deliver the vehicle to markets with uncompromising quality," Moro said.
"This had a short-term impact on earnings, but we are currently working on the final confirmation to deliver the new model with reliable quality."
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is due in Australia in the middle of this year, with local pricing and specifications set to be confirmed closer to its launch.
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Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
