The Mazda CX-5 Is Not Dead After All

According to a report from the Australian publication Drive, another generation of the Mazda CX-5 is coming, putting to rest fears that the nameplate would be killed off. The reason for the uncertainty over the SUV's future comes from comments made by CX-5 program manager Mitsuru Wakiie, who said in February that he was "not sure whether we are going to introduce a CX-5 or not." We don't blame him for being uncertain, as the Japanese automaker has introduced the more spacious and more capable CX-50 as it pivots toward a more premium image.

But the CX-5 is Mazda's best-selling model globally, so it has decided that a third generation is worthwhile.

"Senior management [has] confirmed there will be a next-generation CX-5 - that's coming," Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak told Drive.

If the SUV will soldier on, will it be hybridized to keep it alive longer?

"That would be telling, wouldn't it?" remarked Doak. "But as I said before, there's a new-generation car eventually coming. But it's not next year; it's [further away]." It seems that the new CX-5 will only arrive in 2025 at the earliest, whether hybridized or not.

Despite its age (the second-generation CX-5 was introduced in 2017), the SUV still looks fantastic, a testament to the longevity and style that characterizes Mazda design. The previous-generation Toyota Prius is an excellent example of how decent cars can be overlooked based on their appearance. Still, there's more to Mazda's success than just how handsome its cars are. BMW makes some truly hideous cars at the moment, yet it continually posts record sales.