New 2026 Mazda CX-5 Interior: Cargo Space, Design & Tech
With the arrival of the third generation of Mazda’s top-selling SUV, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 interior gets an all-new look. It’s roomier, with increased rear legroom and maximum cargo space, and a simpler design and layout with an uncluttered dashboard and center stack now housing a larger touchscreen interface.
Join us on a deep dive into the new Mazda CX-5 interior.
New CX-5 Interior Changes at a Glance
- There’s greater maximum cargo space and rear legroom than before
- A new touchscreen interface replaces the physical knob and button controls of previous CX-5 models
- It’s the first Mazda featuring Google built-in technology
New Mazda CX-5 Interior Design & Layout
The new CX-5 interior unveils an uncluttered layout, dominated by a larger touchscreen interface. With nearly all switchgear controls now built into the center display, there are far fewer buttons and knobs, resulting in a minimalist design aesthetic.
The area surrounding the gear selector is also simplified, as it no longer houses the MazdaConnect commander control interface. Gone are the central rotary dial, knobs, and buttons, as all of those functions are now built into a touchscreen interface mounted across the center of the dashboard. Only the gear indicator and switches for the electronic parking brake and brake hold accompany the shift knob.
The redesigned Mazda CX-5 interior also sees its cup holders move forward, like other modern Mazdas, placing your drinks ahead of the shifter and just below the center-dashboard-mounted air vents and new touchscreen.
The previous positioning (just in front of the driver and front passenger center armrest) provided more vertical space for the tallest of beverage containers. However, the new front placement of the cup holders makes it easier to grab one of the up to two drinks without reaching your hand back away from the steering wheel.
A storage tray with an available wireless charging pad lies just in front of the beverage holders.
New, Larger CX-5 Touchscreen Interface and Included Technology
You’ll also be reaching above the cup holders more frequently than in previous CX-5 models due to the switch to a new touchscreen interface.
The touchscreen design brings the center screen closer in reach of the driver than the previous MazdaConnect screen, which was mounted more forward on the dash and accompanied by tactile physical buttons and knobs of the commander control interface between the front seats.
Motorists can choose from one of two touchscreen sizes inside the new CX-5 interior, depending on the selected trim level. The standard screen measures 12.9 inches, while the available option is a larger 15.6-inch display.
Both are touchscreen-enabled only and no longer operated by a rotary dial like previous CX-5 SUVs and other recent Mazda models.
We prefer the size and more central placement of the smaller 12.9-inch touchscreen compared to the oversized 15.6-inch option (see comparison below).
But as cabin displays continue to increase in dimensions and have become a selling point for many buyers (bigger is better, right?), we’re sure the upsized screen will have plenty of takers.
The new CX-5 interior introduces the first Mazda model with Google built-in, giving drivers fully integrated functions and easy access to essential apps (Google Gemini, Google Maps, and Google Play are all included). Stay connected with your Google mobile device through Android Auto or your iPhone via Apple CarPlay.
New Mazda CX-5 Interior Materials & Amenities
The more spacious CX-5 interior promotes an airy feel with its available panoramic roof overhead, its expanded second-row legroom, and available light-and-bright cabin colors. Of course, a classic, sporty black interior is also offered in multiple materials, including leatherette and real leather.
The standard sound system inside the new CX-5 interior is a generous eight-speaker unit. Once again, an upgraded audio system developed by Bose is available and comes with additional speakers (12 in total), plus greater wattage for more power and higher-fidelity sound.
Mazda has been partnering with Bose as its premium audio system provider ever since the two companies fitted the Bose Acoustic Wave Cannon technology inside the compact cockpit of the third-generation RX-7 rotary-powered sports car, well over three decades ago.
2026 Mazda CX-5 Interior Dimensions: More Rear Legroom & Max Cargo Volume
Backseat guests will appreciate the new Mazda CX-5 interior’s growth spurt, resulting in second-row legroom increasing by about 2.5 inches over the previous model.
The enlarged 2026 CX-5’s rear cargo hold behind the second row actually isn’t any more spacious than the model it replaces. However, this slightly larger compact SUV becomes substantially more versatile than its predecessor once the split-folding bench seating is lowered, expanding the CX-5’s cargo area to a greater volume than ever before.
2026 Mazda CX-5 Cargo Space Behind the Second Row
Starting out with all five seats upright, 2026 CX-5 drivers will have over 20 cubic feet of cargo volume to work with. While this completely reimagined model is longer – including a stretched wheelbase and overall length from bumper to bumper – much of the added dimensions are initially felt in the second row, where the automaker expanded rear legroom substantially.
So, the more spacious second row actually translates to less cargo room behind it than what the CX-5 has had previously.
The New CX-5’s Maximum Cargo Capacity Tops Previous Models
Cargo-carrying capabilities become more flexible once you lower all or a section of the rear seating, which Mazda has graciously once again bestowed with a 40/20/40 split. We’ve always appreciated that CX-5 SUVs feature this three-piece layout over the 60/40 split that’s more common in the compact crossover class.
Transporting longer items, such as a set of skis or home improvement supplies, is possible through the center section while still providing seating spaces behind the driver and front passenger.
Folding flat the entirety of the 2026 CX-5 interior’s 40/20/40-split rear seating uncovers a cavernous cargo hold measuring more than 71 cubic feet.
How the New 2026 CX-5 Cargo Space Compares to Past Editions
For reference, the previous-generation 2025 Mazda CX-5 offers 29.1 cubic feet of standard cargo room behind its second row and a maximum of 59.3 cubic feet with rear seating lowered. The original CX-5, produced from the 2013 to 2016.5 model years, reaches 34.1 and 65.4 cubic feet of standard and maximum cargo capacity, respectively.
The distance between the liftgate and the back of the front seats is longer than ever in the redesigned 2026 CX-5 interior (about 72 inches). Still, the second-row seatbacks are placed farther back than in previous models, creating a greater difference between the standard and maximum cargo volume.
So, with more rear legroom comes less space behind the back seats but greater overall cargo-carrying capabilities when rear seating is lowered.
For more details on the new Mazda CX-5 SUV in its entirety, see our first impressions of the redesigned 2026 model.
Join Our Newsletter
Never miss a Mazda when you sign up for our email list:
Frequently Asked Questions About the New Mazda CX-5 Interior
How big is the new Mazda CX-5 cargo space?
The new Mazda CX-5 cargo space on the 2026 (and future) models measures over 71 cubic feet at its maximum with the split-folding second-row seating lowered. When all seats are upright, you’ll find more than 20 cubic feet of space in the rear cargo hold behind the generous legroom of the second row (increased by about 2.5 inches over the previous model).
Are the 2026 Mazda CX-5 interior dimensions larger than the 2025 model?
Yes, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 interior dimensions are significantly larger than the 2025 model and all previous iterations of this popular compact crossover SUV. The new third-generation CX-5 cabin boasts substantially more second-row legroom (increased by about 2.5 inches) and maximum cargo space with the rear seats folded (expanded by over 10 cubic feet) than the model it replaces.
What are the biggest changes to the new Mazda CX-5 interior?
The biggest changes to the new Mazda CX-5 interior for 2026 and beyond include:
- A new touchscreen interface replaces the physical knob and button controls of previous CX-5 models
- There’s more rear legroom and maximum cargo space than before
- It’s the first Mazda with Google built-in