Mazda has one key model coming that will set the tone for the rest of the brand, but it won’t be alone with a range of supporting models to incrementally boost sales volumes.
Mazda’s firm hold as the second-biggest selling brand in Australia has started to slip, threatened by Ford and its success with the Ranger, but in 2026, Mazda will be looking to push itself ahead with a vital new model.
With a new CX-5 on the way, Mazda will have a fresh take on its top-selling model, but it won't be alone.
A supporting cast of models from across the Mazda range will help the brand build sales, to new and old customers alike.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 will arrive with a crucial new feature that’s been missing from the current generation: More interior space.
Based on feedback from customers, Mazda has made the new CX-5 115m longer, and extended the wheelbase by the same amount, dedicating the growth spurt to more rear passenger space and a larger boot.
It’s hard to undersell the importance of the CX-5. The medium SUV is Mazda’s biggest seller, followed by the CX-3 small SUV.
Both models are getting long in the tooth, but for Mazda, the sales volumes and higher margins of CX-5 make it the priority.
Mazda has also revamped the CX-5’s interior, with a clean new design and new 12.9- or 15.6-inch touchscreens as the centre of operations for the new model, mirroring the high-tech systems found on a growing number of Chinese rivals.
Under the skin, the third-generation CX-5 uses an evolution of the chassis and engines found in the second-gen model, itself an evolution of the first-generation CX-5.
In line with tightening regulations around the work, the popular 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine will see outputs reduced slightly, but efficiency enhanced to carry the model over until the expected 2027 arrival of a hybrid model for the first time in the CX-5.
Mazda won't be alone in the segment, however, with a new Toyota RAV4 aiming to maintain its position as the top-selling medium SUV in Australia.
Already on sale, the introduction of a range of four-cylinder CX-60 models is designed to fill the gaps as one generation of CX-5 rolls over to the next.
The CX-60 offers a slightly larger, but still five-seat, medium SUV positioned above the CX-5 range.
While the new range is less powerful and less fuel efficient than the six-cylinder model, and the entry-level Pure is a lower trim grade than the launch-spec Evolve, it’s clear that Mazda has switched from chasing prestige with its CX-60 and has started hunting for volume.
With two of the three four-cylinder CX-60 models starting under $50,000, Mazda is leaving no stone unturned as it courts Australian family buyers.
Despite an unusual design and a cabin loaded with eco-friendly credentials, Mazda’s first electric vehicle, the MX-30 was a forgettable small SUV that barely made an impact alongside more serious EV competitors.
Mazda is determined not to make the same mistake again as it prepares to launch the Mazda 6e, the brand's first dedicated electric vehicle.
This time, rather than developing the vehicle in-house, Mazda has turned to the expertise of Chinese automaker Changan, with which it has a long-running partnership in China.
Designed as a continuation of the well-regarded Mazda 6 range, the Mazda 6e features a Mazda design inside and out, handling finessed by Mazda engineers, but battery and motor tech provided by Changan.
Set for a launch in the second quarter of 2026, the 6e promises around 550km of driving range and a starting price under $55,000, pitting it directly against vehicles like the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3.
While Mazda knows the sedan segment is a small one, and the range of similarly priced electric models means it faces stiff competition, the brand will rely on its recognisable identity and reputation in Australia as a major selling point for the 6e.
Sales expectations are modest, but the 6e could also be a trial program for future co-developed electric models from its Chinese partner.
Mazda recently introduced an upgraded 2.2-litre engine to its entry-level BT-50 range, boosting power and torque over the 1.9-litre engine it replaced.
While the new engine is only available in the base-model XS grade for now, it plays a bigger role in Mazda’s commercial vehicle aspirations.
Mazda wants to push its fleet operations harder, offering tailored fleet programs for big business buyers with 25 vehicles or more, medium businesses with over 10 vehicles, and small businesses, ABN holders, and primary producers.
Fleet discounts will be available to buyers across the different program tiers, and large fleets will gain access to priority stock allocations and loan vehicles for trial purposes.
Mazda recognises the importance of fleet operations, which have long formed a cornerstone of the operations of rivals, and along with the fleet program, the brand continues to establish Mazda Ute Centres at select dealers, specialising in the support of trade and fleet customers.
Despite sharing its underpinnings and engine with the Isuzu D-Max, in the 4x4 ute class, the BT-50 has only sold roughly half as many vehicles as the D-Max 4x4, and sits outside the top five on the ute sales charts.
While it maintains a lead over the faltering Nissan Navara, the new Mitsubishi Triton, BYD Shark 6, Toyota Hilux, and Ford Ranger all sell in far greater amounts, and with an increasing threat from cheaper Chinese utes like the GWM Cannon, Mazda will be chasing any opportunity to improve its position.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
