Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition (2026) Review

The next-generation CX-5 is almost in SA but don’t discount the current model just yet. We took the keys to the Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition to see if it still deserves a spot on your shopping list.

We like: Resolved ride and drive; engaging steer; minimalist cabin; fit and finish; appealing Carbon Edition trim.

We don’t like: Naturally aspirated motor needs to be pushed to get the best out of it, at the expense of economy; infotainment system lags behind modern rivals.

FAST FACTS

• Model: Mazda CX-5 2.0 Carbon Edition
• Price: R688 400
• Engine: 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine
• Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission
• Power/Torque: 121 kW/213 Nm
• Claimed fuel consumption: 6.9 litres/100 km
• 0-100 kph: 10.4 seconds (claimed)/9.75 seconds (tested)
• Luggage capacity: 438-1 914 litres

Where does the Mazda CX-5 2.0 Carbon Edition fit in?

What you’re looking at is the last of this generation of Mazda CX-5, and what a legacy it has created. The 2nd-generation model launched locally in 2017 with both petrol and diesel engines, as well as the option of all-wheel drive. As is the case with most Japanese brands, product lifecycles are generally quite long between generations, with an assortment of small improvements, rationalisation and special editions introduced through a lifespan.

One of those iterations is Carbon Edition, which Mazda uses across its entire SUV portfolio. Carbon Edition is essentially a sportier-looking trim level with added content.

With the imminent arrival of the all-new 3rd-generation CX-5, the question is: should you consider the outgoing model as a purchase?

Read more: New-generation Mazda CX-5 fully revealed

How the CX-5 Carbon Edition fares in terms of…

Design & Packaging

Design is a subjective topic – after all, one person’s treasure is another’s trash – but we feel the Mazda CX-5 design (especially in its trademark Soul Red) has aged beautifully. It’s unmistakably Mazda and has kept pace with the times. It’s inoffensive and unpolarising, just like its target market.

Going for the Carbon Edition flagship adds additional content like front/rear parking sensors, a head-up display, adaptive LED headlamps and so on. We would have liked some form of semi-autonomous safety like forward collision warning, but as this vehicle’s on runout, we anticipate such features in the new-generation CX-5.

The infotainment offering lags behind its competitors, but that’s understandable given its age. The screen itself doesn’t offer touchscreen functionality, instead relying on the rotary controller located near the driver’s left leg. Initially a little unconventional in operation, you’ll soon get used to it.

As an added convenience, the vehicle is offered with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay, which allows for navigation and streaming audio apps. There are just a handful of USB ports dotted around the forward cabin.

The rest of the cabin is an exercise in Japanese class and ergonomics, blending functionality with pleasantly tactile materials. The switchgear for the climate control, for instance, feels reassuringly solid. The Carbon Edition adds some sportier touches like red stitching throughout the cabin which helps break the continuous black-on-black colour theme.

If you’re an audiophile, you’re in for a treat. The CX-5 Carbon Edition features a Bose audio system, complete with a subwoofer located inside the spare wheel. It’s one of the better systems, offering punchy bass and clarity without distortion.

The Mazda CX-5 has always been a genuinely spacious and practical family SUV – rear passengers benefit from not only ample space, but also proper seating. A number of cars prioritise the front two seats and neglect the ergonomics and shape of the rear seats, but this is not the case. Given the vehicle’s age, it comes as no surprise that creature comforts like USB ports are lacking.

Performance & Efficiency

The naturally aspirated petrol engine is something Mazda has become renowned for. While there are turbocharged powertrains in other markets, Mazda SA has stuck with what it knows. It has Skyactiv-G technology, which is Mazda’s proprietary name for its ultra-high compression ratio tech.

In a market saturated with punchy turbocharged compact engines, the CX-5 Carbon Edition is somewhat of an anomaly. With outputs of 121 kW and 213 Nm driving the front wheels via an old-school 6-speed automatic, performance is adequate rather than scintillating. Mazda claims 0-100 kph in 10.4 seconds, but our testing equipment confirmed it was a tad quicker than that at 9.75 seconds.

Activate the sport mode, which essentially instructs the gearbox to hold onto the ratios a little longer, and be prepared to exploit all of those revs… Thankfully, the gearbox is good at what it does, with shifts programmed to be as unobtrusive as possible. There are paddles, but we didn’t feel the need for them.

The downside of this vehicle’s powertrain is that, to make meaningful in-gear acceleration, you will be stretching that engine’s rev range. If you’re accustomed to turbocharged torque achieved lower down the rev range, overtaking will feel like a chore.

With the engine needing to work harder, fuel economy suffers. Mazda claims an optimistic figure of 6.9 L/100 km. Despite our best efforts and trying to be mindful, we couldn’t better 8.8 L/100 km. We do miss that defunct 2.2-litre diesel powertrain which would have been quicker and more efficient.

Ride, Handling & Comfort

The Mazda CX-5 was one of the original crew of legacy-brand SUVs that placed an emphasis on the ‘S’. With a product like the sharp-handling MX-5 roadster in its portfolio, Mazda made the CX-5 drive with more engagement than it needed to. This remains the case with the CX-5 Carbon Edition and expectations of the new one are high.

The wheels are finished in gloss black and look great. They’re 19-inch in size, which is smaller than you’ll find on some competitors, but the trade-off is higher side walls to aid ride comfort.

The composure and balance of the drive is impressive. While the CX-5 isn’t marketed as an overly sporty family SUV, you’ll find yourself taking corners a little quicker than normal, purely based on the grin-inducing factor. The steering is well weighted and direct, and you feel in total control of the vehicle.

Ride quality is an excellent blend of firm and engaging, without any of the harshness associated with such sportiness. If only it had the engine to back up the dynamics and those looks…

Price & After-sales support

The Mazda CX-5 is sold with a 5-year/unlimited kilometre warranty and a 5-year/unlimited kilometre service plan.

Verdict

With the all-new Mazda CX-5 arriving next month, this generation of CX-5 has finally come to an end, and what a legacy! From winning the Family Car category in our Consumer Awards not once but twice, the CX-5 has endeared itself to us on numerous occasions.

If you were to purchase this CX-5 right now, it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed. And, if you are shopping in this segment, it’s worth investigating whether dealers are keen to clear out old stock by offering generous discounts.

At this stage, pricing for the newcomer is yet to be confirmed, but we’re bracing ourselves for a substantial increase. The new engine will be a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre petrol, with mild-hybrid powertrains potentially on the cards.

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