2026 Chevrolet Trax vs 2026 Mazda CX-5

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax emerged as a more stylish and appealing option compared to its predecessor. It adopted car-like proportions while maintaining enough SUV styling elements to satisfy its target market. The design featured Blazer-like headlights, a wide grille, and a tall front end, giving it a distinctive personality. The sides were defined by chunky wheel arches and a pronounced rib in the doors, while the laid-back windshield and upward arc of the rear side windows contributed to a sleeker appearance. Despite its small size, the Trax exuded a sense of SUV toughness, thanks to its wide stance and imposing grille.

In contrast, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 was celebrated for its striking design, which was considered one of the best in its segment. The evolved Kodo design language, known as "Wearable Gear," gave the CX-5 a sculpted and purposeful appearance. The front featured a Signature Wing grille seamlessly integrated with new LED headlights, while the rear boasted angular lighting that tied it to Mazda's larger models. The new "MAZDA" script badge replaced the traditional logo, enhancing its premium look. However, the wheel designs were underwhelming, with the base 17-inch wheels appearing small on the larger body, and the black-painted rims on the high-end GT trim not meeting expectations.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax was equipped with a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, offered a spirited driving experience. Despite its small size, the Trax accelerated confidently and maintained power at higher speeds, thanks to its turbocharged engine. The conventional automatic transmission contributed to its drivability, providing smoother shifts compared to a CVT. While not designed for performance, the Trax handled twisty roads with poise, offering a stable and car-like feel. The suspension effectively absorbed bumps, ensuring a comfortable ride, although some tire noise and engine drone were noticeable.

In contrast, the 2026 Mazda CX-5 featured a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, delivering 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. While these figures were adequate on paper, the CX-5's increased weight, due to its larger body and standard i-Activ AWD system, made the engine feel underpowered. Merging onto highways required careful planning, and passing maneuvers demanded patience. The six-speed automatic transmission, though smooth, lacked the responsiveness of competitors' eight-speed units. The absence of the previous generation's turbocharged engine was notable, leaving the CX-5 with a performance disadvantage. However, Mazda's hallmark handling remained intact, with direct steering, well-managed body roll, and a sense of agility. The ride quality was comfortable, and improved insulation reduced road and wind noise.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax offered competitive interior space for its class, with headroom comparable to the Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek. While the Subaru provided more front legroom, the Trax excelled in rear-seat legroom, offering an additional 5.5 cm compared to the Subaru and a 10 cm advantage over the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks Play. With 725 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, the Trax matched the utility of a Honda Civic hatchback. The tall seating position facilitated easy ingress and egress, and forward visibility was impressive. However, the front seats' inboard position limited covered centre console storage, though large door pockets and cup holders compensated for this.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5's dimensional growth translated into a more spacious interior. The extended wheelbase improved rear knee clearance by nearly 6 cm, addressing a common complaint of the previous model. Rear headroom was a standout feature, offering the best figure in its class. Cargo space also improved, with 954 litres behind the second row and 1,882 litres with the seats folded. Larger door openings facilitated entry and exit, and the available hands-free power liftgate added convenience. However, towing capacity decreased to 680 kilograms, trailing competitors like the Tucson and Sportage.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, and a four-speaker audio system as standard on the 1RS base model. Higher trims featured an 11-inch touchscreen, an all-digital 8-inch instrument cluster, and a six-speaker sound system. The digital cluster provided clear information, while the touchscreen had a sensible layout. However, the touchscreen's driver-oriented angle made it less accessible for the front passenger, and the volume knob's placement was awkward for both driver and passenger.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 received a significant infotainment upgrade with a 12.9-inch touchscreen on all trims, and a 15.6-inch unit available on the GT trim. The system featured Google built-in, offering native Google Maps, Google Gemini AI voice assistant, and access to the Google Play Store. A year's free data trial was included, with a subscription required thereafter. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available, with wireless connectivity on higher trims. The 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster was standard, though its execution left room for improvement. The absence of a physical volume knob was a drawback, and the climate control interface was not intuitive. Higher trims added features like a Bose 12-speaker audio system and a 360-degree View Monitor.

The 2026 Chevrolet Trax offered a range of standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, and a following distance indicator. Adaptive cruise control was available on higher trims. The Teen Driver monitoring system provided additional safety features for young drivers. However, full safety ratings were not available at the time of writing, and the Trax received a "Poor" rating in the IIHS's updated moderate overlap front crash test.

The 2026 Mazda CX-5 boasted a comprehensive standard safety suite, including adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot monitors, vehicle exit warning, driver attention alert, traffic sign recognition, and parking sensors. The GT trim added an adaptive front-lighting system, while the Premium Package included advanced features like front cross-traffic alert and a 360-degree View Monitor. Although crash test results were not available, the outgoing CX-5 had a strong safety track record, and expectations were high for the new model.