This Is The Next Mazda CX-5 Before You’re Supposed To See It

It doesn’t feel like it’s been nearly a decade since the current Mazda CX-5 debuted, but that speaks volumes to the refinement of the design. We’re talking about a crossover that’s handsome, restrained, tasteful without being expensive, all attributes that will make it a tough act to follow. However, it’s almost time for a new CX-5, and we just got our first good glimpse of what it’ll look like.

It’s a single blown-out photo posted to the CocheSpias forum with credit to the Car Design News Instagram page, although it appears to have been taken down from Instagram. Regardless, this certainly looks like a photo of a monitor, and not only does the crossover on the monitor line up with spy shots of the next CX-5, all of the set design is very on-brand for Mazda. There’s an overwhelming likelihood that this is a leak of an official photo, so let’s dig into what we’re looking at.

Right out of the gate, this is an extremely evolutionary design, although it does appear to show significant changes compared to the current CX-5. The arc over the front fender has been flattened out, with a single character line running the entire length of the profile.

The biggest changes are up front, where an entirely new down-the-road graphic featuring L-shaped headlights that flow into a filler panel around the grille might take some getting used to. Admittedly, the filler panel is a way of allowing for a narrower grille without making the front end look too tall, and it serves as a place to put the headlight washers. As for the bumper cover of the new CX-5, it features corner reliefs and a far larger lower grille than the outgoing model, although much of that bottom opening is blanked off. Keep in mind, the low-hanging front fascia that may not be used in the U.S. market, as EPA light truck classification requires an approach angle of 28 degrees.

While the limited resolution of this leaked photo blows out details on the hood and in the wheels, there appear to be small rectangles atop the glossy fender cladding, a strong diagonal character line on the lower part of the front door, and play in overlapping the painted and plastic surfaces.

While we don’t know much about what’s under the skin of the next Mazda CX-5, widespread reports suggest a hybrid variant is in the cards. Considering many competitors already offer hybrid variants, and that Mazda’s offering Toyota’s hybrid system in the Alabama-built CX-50 and sells plug-in hybrid variants of the CX-70 and CX-90, it makes sense for electrification to come to the brand’s bread and butter compact crossover.

Given that this looks to be a leak of an official shot, don’t be surprised if we learn more about the next Mazda CX-5 over the coming months. Considering the current model’s been on sale for eight years and is still a competitive product, expect the next one to be a fixture on our roads for a relatively long model cycle.

Top graphic credit: Instagram/cardesignnews

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