Mazda’s uncertainty about whether the CX-5 will get a next-generation grows even though it sold 365,135 units, making the CX-5 by far Mazda’s most popular product last year when total deliveries went down by 13.3 percent to 1,116,107 vehicles.
Even though sales of the crossover declined by 4.4 percent year over year, the volume it generated was still more than double compared to the Mazda3, which came in second at 173,619 cars. Despite being the company’s best-selling product, it might not live to see a third-generation model.
When asked about what the future has for the CX-5, the model’s product manager Mitsuru Wakiie gave a surprising answer saying, “I’m not sure whether we are going to introduce a CX-5 or not, so I can’t give you any details.” The model’s product manager meanwhile declined to elaborate, with many analysts saying discontinuing the model after the current generation runs its course would be a surprise seeing as how it’s number one in sales by a significant margin.
That being said, there is a slightly larger and more spacious CX-50 that joined the lineup at the beginning of the last year 2022. In addition, 2022 saw the unveiling of a CX-60 riding on a newly developed rear-wheel-drive platform with inline-six engines and support for plug-in hybrids. Not only that, but the CX-60 will spawn a CX-70 version for the United States later this year.
The CX-5 received a nip and tuck for the 2022 model year, which implies it’s going to stick around for at least a couple of years. However, Mazda could be concerned about an internal clash between three similarly sized SUVs that might cannibalize sales. It is worth remembering that the Zoom-Zoom company already sells the CX-3 and CX-30 while a CX-80 will join the CX-8. So, depending on the region, Mazda has more than a few SUVs available.
Elsewhere, cars have been put on the back burner since the prospects of a next-gen Mazda6 are not looking great. The Japanese marque has already ruled out the idea of using its RWD architecture with six-cylinder engines for an all-new midsize sedan. Launched a decade ago, the current-gen model is still being sold in some markets in both sedan and wagon flavors but its future doesn’t look bright.
Speaking of cars that are getting a bit long in the tooth, the Mazda2 has been on sale in its third iteration since 2014 and was recently given a facelift. It means the supermini will remain on sale for a while in its current form and will be sold in some markets such as Europe alongside a rebadged Toyota Yaris Hybrid.
The CX-50 and the CX-5 have a tremendous amount in common, despite the newer model riding on a version of the CX-30’s platform. Shared power trains, infotainment systems, driving characters, and overall design ethos mean that Mazda hasn’t made the same generational leap as its competitors. While the CX-5 easily exceeded its rivals in drivability, composure, and style, the gap between the CX-50 and entries from Japan, Germany, the United States, and Korea is far narrower.
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