2024 Mazda CX-5 update confirmed, no news for Australia

The updated 2024 Mazda CX-5 mid-size SUV has been announced overseas, with local details expected in the coming months.

Announced this week for the Canadian market, the updates applied to the CX-5 are minor as the second-generation family SUV approaches its seventh year of sale.

The updates are headlined by the addition of second-row USB-C charge ports, replacing USB-A outlets, an ‘off-road’ mapping function for the built-in satellite navigation, and touchscreen functionality when connected to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

While a Mazda Australia spokesperson was unable to comment on future model plans, precedent suggests it could arrive in local showrooms between November 2023 and March 2024, in line with the past five updates for the CX-5 since late 2018.

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Other updates include a minor styling change for the Akera-equivalent Signature variant, matching the chrome look already seen on flagship variants of the related, three-row CX-8 in Australia.

This includes a new mesh-pattern grille finish similar to the more-premium CX-60 and chrome accents for the lower front and rear bumpers, while silver-painted side mirror caps and more-prominent white stitching for the brown Nappa leather upholstery are unique to the CX-5.

A brown-on-brown ‘suna’ or ‘carbon turbo’ variant similar to our blacked-out GT SP, but exclusively painted in ‘zircon sand’ with a new terracotta leather and black suede upholstery, is added for model-year 2024 overseas.

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In addition, the GT SP-equivalent variant has lost its ‘classic red’ grille accent introduced for the mid-life facelift in 2022, while the naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre petrol engine has gone from 252Nm to 250Nm with a carryover 140kW – but both changes could be market-specific to North America.

For now, another market-specific update unlikely to feature in local CX-5 variants is mild-hybrid technology, which became available in Europe at the start of this year.

The mild-hybrid 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol is fitted with cylinder deactivation, a belt-driven integrated starter-generator motor and a small 24-volt lithium-ion battery pack, resulting in a power boost to 121kW and 213Nm – up 6kW and 13Nm.

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A nine-gram saving in combined CO2 emissions per kilometre and minor fuel consumption improvements are claimed.

The naturally-aspirated 2.5-litre petrol has similar fuel consumption reductions and a power boost to 143kW and 263Nm for the mild-hybrid version in Europe – up 3kW and 11Nm over current, non-hybrid Australian examples.

VFACTS new-car sales data reveals the Mazda CX-5 is the second-best-selling mid-size internal-combustion SUV in Australia to the end of June with 11,607 registrations – down 17 per cent compared to 2022.

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This places the CX-5 behind the Toyota RAV4 (13,523) but ahead of the Mitsubishi Outlander (11,342), Hyundai Tucson (10,749), Subaru Forester (8321) and Kia Sportage (6584).

It is Mazda Australia’s top-selling vehicle, ahead of the BT-50 ute (9605), CX-3 light SUV (8030) and CX-30 small SUV (6098).

The updated 2024 Mazda CX-5 is expected to arrive in local showrooms between November 2023 and March 2024, with local details – including pricing and features – to be announced closer to the time.

Mazda has yet to announce details for the third-generation CX-5 due in the coming years, or if it will instead be superseded by an updated version of the CX-50 mid-size SUV offered overseas.

The not-for-Australia CX-50 will soon become available with a vital hybrid powertrain tipped to be shared with the Toyota RAV4, joining the familiar 2.5-litre non-turbo and turbo engines.

Mazda Australia’s marketing boss Alastair Doak told Wheels the CX-50 was “still on the wish list,” as it is currently limited to “left-hand drive production in Huntsville, [United States]” and China.