2026 Mazda CX-5 Interior: Dimensions, Passenger Comfort and Cargo Space

The redesigned cabin is one of the biggest talking points around Mazda’s best-selling crossover, and for good reason. With the third-generation model now on the ground, here’s what actually matters to Eugene-area drivers considering this SUV. Since its 2012 launch, the CX-5 has sold over 1.6 million units in the U.S. and 4.5 million globally. If you want to see these updates in person, you can browse the 2026 CX-5 inventory at our Eugene showroom.

What’s New Inside the 2026 Mazda CX-5

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 is an all-new, third-generation model, and the interior shows that clean-sheet approach everywhere you look. Mazda grew the overall length and wheelbase by 4.5 inches and added over half an inch of width compared to the outgoing generation, and that extra room shows up throughout the cabin. The rotary infotainment controller found on prior CX-5 models is gone, replaced by a touchscreen interface built for tap and swipe control, closer to how you’d use a phone.

A panoramic sunroof is now available, letting more light into the cabin, and Mazda gave the steering wheel a cleaner, less cluttered design. Door openings are also larger this generation, making it easier to get in and out, particularly for anyone loading kids or gear before a trip to the Cascades.

2026 Mazda CX-5 Interior Dimensions and Seating

Anyone comparing the 2026 CX-5’s dimensions against the outgoing model will feel the difference the moment they sit down. Mazda put its rear-seat gains specifically into legroom, knee room, and headroom.

Legroom, Headroom, and Shoulder Room

Front legroom measures 41.7 inches on both the 2.5 S Preferred and 2.5 S Premium trims. Front headroom comes in at 39.7 inches on the Preferred trim, dropping slightly to 39.2 inches on the Premium trim because the available panoramic moonroof eats into headroom clearance.

Front shoulder room holds steady at 57.6 inches across both trims. In back, rear-seat legroom lands at 39.9 inches, a meaningful gain that lets adults stretch out in the second row instead of just kids. EPA-rated passenger volume comes in at 106.5 cubic feet for the 2.5 S Preferred and 104.5 cubic feet for the 2.5 S Premium.

Seating Capacity and Configurations

Every trim level of the 2026 CX-5 seats five people. The rear bench folds nearly flat in a 40/20/40 split with one-touch release and reclining seatbacks, standard on all five trims, with a center pass-through that’s handy for skis or lumber runs. That flexibility matters for families and for UO students who need to fold seats down temporarily to haul boxes across town.

Passenger Comfort Features

Comfort upgrades scale noticeably as you move up the trim ladder. Mazda spread these features thoughtfully rather than bundling everything into the top trim alone.

Front Seat Design and Driver Ergonomics

The base 2.5 S comes with an 8-way manual driver’s seat and a 6-way manual passenger seat, along with dual-zone automatic climate control as standard equipment. The 2.5 S Preferred is where the comfort features start stacking up: a 10-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar and two-position memory, heated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. Move up to the 2.5 S Premium and the passenger seat gains 6-way power adjustment, and ventilated front seats arrive, a welcome addition for anyone who’s sat through a hot Willamette Valley summer in a parked car.

Rear Seat Comfort and Climate Control

Rear passengers benefit too. The 2.5 S Premium and Premium Plus trims add heated rear outboard seats, and dual-zone automatic climate control comes standard across the lineup starting at the base 2.5 S. Combined with the added rear legroom, these features turn the back seat into a real option for adults on longer drives, rather than just a spot for kids and cargo. If you want to feel the difference yourself, you can schedule a test drive at Kiefer Mazda.

Cargo Space and Storage Solutions

Cargo capacity is where a lot of Eugene-area buyers focus their attention, especially anyone hauling gear for a Cascades camping trip or helping a student move in and out of UO housing.

Cargo Volume Behind and With Seats Folded

Behind the rear seats, the 2026 CX-5 offers 33.7 cubic feet of space measured to the SAE standard, expanding to 66.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Using the EPA’s method, which measures only to the top of the seatback, that same behind-seat figure comes in at 30.7 cubic feet. These aren’t conflicting numbers, just two different measurement standards, and it’s worth knowing both when comparing spec sheets.

The redesigned cargo area runs nearly 2 inches longer and over an inch taller than the prior generation, with a lift-in height that’s dropped by over half an inch, making it easier to load coolers, hiking packs, or grocery hauls. For anything that won’t fit inside, the CX-5 is rated to tow 1,500 lbs, enough for a small utility trailer, a pair of jet skis, or a lightweight teardrop camper.

Liftgate operation varies by trim. The 2.5 S and 2.5 S Select use a manual liftgate, the 2.5 S Preferred and 2.5 S Premium get a power liftgate, and the 2.5 S Premium Plus adds a hands-free power liftgate that opens with a foot wave when your hands are full. A temporary spare tire comes standard on all five trims, a practical touch for anyone driving mountain roads around Eugene.

Cabin Storage Compartments

Smaller storage spots matter just as much on a daily basis. The base 2.5 S includes two USB-C ports and a 12-volt outlet. Step up to the 2.5 S Select and you also get wireless phone charging and keyless entry. A dedicated phone tray keeps devices charged and within reach during road trips, and door pockets give front and rear passengers a spot for water bottles or trail maps before a Cascades hike. Rear passengers on Premium and Premium Plus trims get their own two USB-C ports, so the front seats no longer have all the charging power to themselves.

Premium Materials and Interior Design

Material quality shifts noticeably as you move through the trim lineup, and Mazda has clearly aimed the upper trims at buyers who want a more upscale cabin feel without stepping into a luxury badge.

Upholstery and Trim-Specific Materials

The base 2.5 S sticks with cloth upholstery, while the 2.5 S Select introduces synthetic leather and happens to be the least expensive trim offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 2.5 S Premium Plus and the 2.5 S Premium both step up to genuine leather, with two-tone or Sport Tan leather available for buyers who want a distinctive, upscale cabin look.

Available Interior Color Options

Mazda offers Black, Pure White, and Sport Tan interior choices, though which pair with which exterior depends on the trim. The base 2.5 S comes in Black only. Exteriors run from Jet Black Mica and Machine Gray Metallic through Navy Blue Mica, Aero Gray Metallic, Polymetal Gray Metallic, Rhodium White Premium, and Soul Red Crystal Metallic, with the last three unavailable on the base trim. Premium and Premium Plus add selectable-color ambient lighting on the front door trims, plus front foot lamps and an overhead down light. Worth seeing in person, since screens render leather and lighting differently than daylight does.

Technology and Convenience Features

Technology is arguably the most visible change in the CX-5’s cabin, a clear departure from the previous generation’s control layout.

Mazda Connect Infotainment System

A 12.9-inch touchscreen comes standard across the lineup, running the updated Mazda Connect system with a tap, swipe, and pinch interface designed to feel more like a smartphone than a traditional car display. The 2.5 S Premium Plus steps up to a 15.6-inch touchscreen, the largest screen Mazda has ever offered in one of its vehicles.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard on every trim, though only the base 2.5 S requires a wired connection; every trim above that offers both wireless. Google built-in is also included, bringing Google Maps into the cabin, with the Gemini assistant arriving in a future update. Mazda mounted the screen slightly right of center to keep it in the driver’s peripheral vision without becoming a distraction.

Driver-Assistance and Comfort Technology

Standard ADAS features carry across the lineup, including blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist, radar cruise control with speed limit assist, driver attention alert, front and rear parking sensors, and traffic sign recognition. The Active Driving Display, Mazda’s full-color windshield head-up display, comes standard from the 2.5 S Preferred up.

The top-spec 2.5 S Premium Plus adds Front Cross Traffic Alert and Braking, Cruising & Traffic Support with lane centering and assisted lane changes, a driver monitoring camera, adaptive front lighting, and a 360-degree view monitor with underfloor and parking views.

Experience the 2026 CX-5 Interior at Kiefer Mazda

Reading through specs only tells part of the story. Sitting in the driver’s seat, testing the touchscreen response, and folding the rear seats yourself gives a much clearer sense of whether this cabin fits your daily routine.

See It and Sit In It

We’d rather show you every trim in person than just describe them. Stop by our Eugene location and spend time getting a feel for cloth versus leather, checking out the panoramic sunroof, and seeing how easily the rear seats fold down for a gear haul.

A No-Pressure, Local Approach

Our team at Kiefer Mazda takes a straightforward approach to helping Eugene-area shoppers, whether you’re a UO student weighing your first SUV or a family cross-shopping cargo space for weekend trips. We’re happy to answer detailed questions about trims, financing, or availability, and there’s no pressure to decide on the spot.

Plan Your Visit

Visit us at 383 Goodpasture Island Rd, Eugene, OR 97401, or contact Kiefer Mazda to set up a time to see the 2026 CX-5 in person. You can also browse the 2026 CX-5 inventory online before your visit to get a head start on which trim fits your needs.