The Mazda CX-5 hits a milestone of selling 5 million units globally

The humble Mazda CX-5 crossover is a model beloved around the world for its combination of good looks, practicality, and great driving dynamics. It is now three generations old and has hit five million units of production and sales, following both the Mazda 323 and the Mazda 3, and is one of the first models from the brand to reach that milestone in the shortest time.

The CX-5 is being sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, which is a reason why it’s so popular. Initially assembled in Mazda’s Ujina Plant No.2 in 2011, the crossover has been assembled in other places, such as Ujina Plant No.1 (Hiroshima, Japan) and the Hofu Plant (Yamaguchi, Japan), China (Changan-Mazda joint venture), alongside local assembly in countries like Malaysia and Vietnam.

Some milestones of the CX-5 include the car winning the 2012 Japan Car of the Year award, followed by reaching 1 million units for cumulative global production in April 2015. In April 2022, the second-generation CX-5 earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (highest safety rating) for the 9th consecutive year.

The CX-5 has the honor of being the first full Skyactiv vehicle, meaning that the engine, transmission, body, and chassis were all developed independently under these new technologies. Other vehicles, such as the Demio and 2011 Mazda 3, did get Skyactiv tech prior to this, but this was still at a time when Mazda was transitioning from its Ford ownership.

READ: Mazda’s third-generation CX-5 glows up and loses its buttons

The third-generation CX-5 was revealed in Europe back in July 2025 and was previewed to the world at various motor shows. It will soon launch in North America and Japan this year, bringing the latest iteration of the Kodo design language, Mazda’s new Human-Machine Interface user experience, and eventually, a brand-new Skyactiv-Z engine with a self-developed hybrid system sometime in 2027.

Are you waiting for the latest generation of the CX-5 to arrive on our shores, or do you happily own one of the current or older ones?

^{Photos by Sam Surla}