Mazda's plan to smash RAV4

Mazda’s new CX-5 family SUV is coming next year, but it is missing a key ingredient.

The Japanese brand is launching the new Toyota RAV4 rival without hybrid power. It will use the same version of the petrol engine found in the current CX-5, until the hybrid arrives late in 2027.

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That gives the all-new Toyota RAV4, which launches early in 2026 with either hybrid or plug-in hybrid power, a nearly two-year head start.

Mazda has previously used Toyota’s hybrid tech in its cars, but has gone it alone and is developing its own petrol-electric set-up for its next-generation cars.

Mazda’s Managing Executive Officer in charge of Vehicle Development, Product Development, Design and Cost Innovation Naohito Saga said there were no technical issues developing the new hybrid tech but the delay was due to regulatory reasons both within Mazda and global markets.

“We need a certain period of development timing, that is why,” said Saga through a translator.

“Basically CX-5 will be introduced in Europe and US, so those stringent [emissions] regulations we need to comply with."

Mazda is also aiming to make the new CX-5 Hybrid sweeter to drive than any Toyota.

“[It will have] Different characteristics [from Toyota’s hybrid]. Because what we aim for is the Mazda driving feeling, which is the good feeling when you drive. That is what we are aiming for, so it will be different,” said Saga.

Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi backed up that statement.

“In the US we’ve got CX-50 with Toyota Hybrid, and that could have been one path — borrowing or taking someone else's technology. But our engineers felt that would possibly not be right for the new generation CX-5, because one of our strong pillars is the zoom-zoom driving feeling, and the only way to preserve that is to dial in your own,” said Bhindi.

Mazda is promising big things with the new CX-5.

The brand said the new hybrid set-up — dubbed Skyactiv-Z — will clear Euro 7 and US Level 4 emissions standards. 

It's claimed to deliver excellent fuel consumption and driving performance, while also being affordable.

The benefit of Skyactiv-Z is it can keep the same power/torque outputs even with the stricter emissions while the current petrol engines — called Skyactiv G — have to drop outputs to meet the stricter regulations.

The company said the new Skyactiv-Z engine will be the core of Mazda’s line-up in the electrification era.