Mazda CX-5 hybrid plans: no PHEV, Skyactiv-Z HEV due by 2027
Mazda says the CX-5 is not planned as a PHEV. A full hybrid with the new 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z engine is due by the end of 2027.
Mazda does not plan to offer the CX-5 as a plug-in hybrid, even though one of its main rivals, the Toyota RAV4, already has such a powertrain. Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi confirmed the decision in an interview with CarsGuide. CX-5 buyers will keep petrol options, while a full hybrid that does not need to be plugged in is planned for later.
The company has chosen to spread different forms of electrification across separate models. The larger CX-60 retains a PHEV powertrain, while the fully electric alternative is the CX-6e. A dedicated PHEV system for the CX-5 is not currently part of the plan. Bhindi's comments reflect Mazda's current strategy rather than a permanent ban on such a version.
The CX-5's main technical update is still ahead. Under Mazda's official strategy, the new generation is expected to receive a full HEV system with the new 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z engine by the end of 2027. In Australia, its arrival is expected in 2028. This setup should not be confused with Mazda M Hybrid, the mild-hybrid system already used on the European CX-5.
The difference is significant. An HEV recharges its small traction battery through braking and engine operation and does not connect to the grid. A PHEV can be charged from an outlet and can travel much farther on electric power alone. For the new Toyota RAV4 PHEV, for example, Toyota claims up to 137 km of electric range under WLTP in European specification.
That leaves CX-5 buyers with three distinct configurations to keep in mind: today's petrol model, the European mild-hybrid version and the upcoming full HEV. A plug-in PHEV is not part of the approved CX-5 range at present, while timing and pricing for the new hybrid will depend on the market.