Mazda is on a push to expand its green ambitions and is slowly building up towards an all-electrified lineup of vehicles. However, the company is working with what it’s got and is currently expanding its lineup of hybrid vehicles. While the CX-90 and the CX-70 are the latest examples of models getting the hybrid treatment, the aging CX-5 has been bucking the trend with its engine choices.
While the current CX-5 will soldier on without a hybrid engine, that will be changing when the next generation model appears with Mazda quietly confirming that the next generation model will get a hybrid model to help the SUV branch out to buyers that want more fuel economy baked into their sporty Mazda purchase.
You’ll Need A Magnifying Glass to Find This CX-5 News
With Mazda making an announcement of this magnitude, you would think that the company would treat it with more urgency, but instead, Mazda chose to bury the confirmation in a document detailing the company’s financial results for the fiscal year. After you have your accountant help you translate the numbers, you eventually get to the good stuff and the CX-5’s entry into the hybrid club.
While the company didn’t reveal whether it will be a self-charging or plug-in model, look for Mazda to potentially learn some lessons from its collaboration with Toyota which has been letting Mazda use its hybrid technology for some of its international market models including the CX-50 Hybrid which is sold in China.
CX-50 Will Not Surpass CX-5
In addition to the CX-5 getting a hybrid model, the CX-5’s impending revamp also signifies that the model will not be fully replaced by the CX-50 as some in the industry thought. This move makes sense since the two target different customer demographics in the utility vehicle segment and the CX-5 still gets a respectable amount of sales with the model selling over 153,000 units during the 2023 model year.
This loyalty has allowed the CX-5 to endure for as long as it has in its current form and this has also indirectly benefitted the CX-50 since some of the CX-5 buyers coming into a Mazda showroom will see the 50 in the showroom and either recommend the CX-50 to a friend or family member (netting Mazda more conquest buyers in the process) or some of these CX-5 buyers could potentially switch to a CX-50 if their needs change.
Look For Mazda To Do More Actions Soon
With the company embarking on a very aggressive strategy of expanding its presence in the SUV wars, it has managed to produce a diverse range of SUV models for buyers to choose from. A side effect though is that some dealer lots will feel pretty crowded when trying to find a Mazda model that’s right for you due to the sheer amount of choice that Mazda is currently offering.
This glut can be a double-edged sword for an automaker with the wide variety of choice potentially being balanced out by some models potentially being overshadowed by more desirable ones. As a result, look for the company to perhaps do a streamlining process to simplify things especially as Mazda prepares for a “full-scale launch” of EVs between 2028 and 2030.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.