2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV vs 2026 Mazda CX-5

The Chevrolet Blazer EV is a sporty counterpoint to the more affordable Equinox EV. It has more eye-catching style and the performance to back it up, too. This gives new-car shoppers more options at Chevy showrooms.

Verdict: Although the Blazer EV offers sportier styling, it doesn’t offer any clear advantages in range or interior space over its competing stablemate, the Equinox EV.

Mazda's compact SUV gets its first full redesign in nearly a decade, and the results are a mixed bag.

The 2026 CX-5 is longer, wider, more spacious, and more technologically advanced than its predecessor, with a striking new exterior, standard all-wheel drive (AWD) across the lineup, and Google built-in as standard. But the carried-over 187-horsepower engine and six-speed automatic transmission feel like relics from a different era, especially when every key competitor now offers a hybrid option with significantly more power and better fuel economy.

Verdict: The 2026 CX-5 is one of the best-looking and best-equipped compact crossovers you can buy, but its sluggish and thirsty powertrain and odd interior quibbles hold it back from greatness. Buyers who prioritize style, interior quality, and value will love it; those who want efficiency or performance should wait for the hybrid in 2027.