Sport Mazda South · Orlando, FL · Mazda Research Hub
Last updated July 27, 2026 · Written and reviewed by the Sport Mazda South product team, Orlando, Florida
The all-new third-generation Mazda CX-5 gained roughly five cubic feet behind the second row. Below you will find every measurement Mazda publishes, the two it does not, and what the space does once you start loading it.
33.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats, up from roughly 29 on the previous generation Mazda CX-5.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 has 33.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats and 66.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.1 That is about five cubic feet more behind the rear seats than the previous-generation Mazda CX-5 carried. The gain comes from the all-new third-generation body and the longer 110.8-inch wheelbase. Because the Mazda CX-5 is a two-row, five-passenger SUV, those two figures describe it completely. There is no third row to measure behind.
Every trim holds the same amount. The 2.5 S at the bottom of the range and the 2.5 S Premium Plus at the top are identical back there. What changes with trim is how you get the liftgate open, not how much fits through it.
You will see two different cargo numbers quoted for this vehicle. Both are correct. They measure different things, and the gap between them catches people out when they are cross-shopping.
| Measurement | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Behind the rear seats (SAE) | 33.7 cu. ft. | Volume behind the upright second row, measured to the roof by the SAE method. This is the figure Mazda and most publications quote. |
| Maximum, seats folded (SAE) | 66.5 cu. ft. | Volume behind the front seats with the 40/20/40 rear seat folded flat, measured to the roof. |
| Behind the rear seats (EPA) | 30.7 cu. ft. | The EPA measures to the top of the seatback rather than to the roof, so it always reads lower. Use it against another vehicle's EPA figure. Never against an SAE one. |
If a competitor quotes 39 cubic feet, check which method produced it before you conclude the Mazda CX-5 is smaller. Against SAE figures, 33.7 is the number to use.
Every 2026 Mazda CX-5, including the base 2.5 S, has a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat with a center pass-through and a recline function. That three-way split is the practical advantage over a conventional 60/40 bench, and it gives you four usable configurations rather than two.
40/20/40 split with the center section down.
Folding the middle 20 percent is the configuration most owners end up using without ever planning to. Two passengers keep their seats and their belts, and anything long travels between them instead of diagonally across a folded bench.
The rear doors also open close to ninety degrees. That is not a cargo specification, but it is why loading a car seat or a bulky box through the side of this vehicle is easier than the cargo figures suggest.
Cubic feet are a poor unit for a decision most people make with their hands. A plainer translation, with a caution attached to it:
Two checked bags and two carry-ons, rear seats upright, cargo cover in place. Photographed on our lot rather than supplied by Mazda.
Published volume will not tell you whether your stroller, wheelchair, golf bag or cello case fits. Bring it to the lot and we will load it into a Mazda CX-5 before you commit to anything. Call (321) 235-6764 and we will have one waiting.
Lift the cargo floor panel and you will not find a large hidden bin. The space underneath holds the temporary spare tire, which is standard on all five trims: a T155/90D17 compact spare inflated to 60 psi.2
Temporary spare, inflated to 60 psi.
A T155/90D17 temporary spare, standard on all five trims, sitting where several rivals now put a storage tray and a can of sealant. It must not be fitted to a front wheel, so a front flat means moving a rear wheel forward first.
That is a deliberate trade, and in this market we think Mazda got it right. Several competitors have deleted the spare in favour of a sealant and compressor kit and a deeper underfloor bin. On a wet Central Florida road with construction debris in the travel lane, we would take the spare. Loose small items are better handled by the center console, the door bins and a cargo organizer from our parts department.
Mazda publishes no load floor height, no cargo floor length and no width-between-arches figure for the 2026 Mazda CX-5, and we will not estimate them. If your use case depends on lift-over height or on a flat length, our team will measure a car on the lot with you standing there. Call (321) 235-6764.
Volume is identical across the range. Access is where the trims separate.
| Trim | Liftgate | Rear seat |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 S | Manual | 40/20/40 split-fold with pass-through and recline |
| 2.5 S Select | Manual | 40/20/40 split-fold with pass-through and recline |
| 2.5 S Preferred | Power liftgate | 40/20/40 split-fold with pass-through and recline |
| 2.5 S Premium | Power liftgate | 40/20/40 split-fold with pass-through and recline |
| 2.5 S Premium Plus | Hands-free power liftgate | 40/20/40 split-fold with pass-through and recline |
Hands-free operation is exclusive to 2.5 S Premium Plus.
The top trim opens the liftgate from a foot motion under the rear bumper. In an afternoon storm with a child on one hip and shopping in the other hand, this is the feature people come back and thank us for.
Roof rails become standard at 2.5 S Preferred. If your plan for overflow cargo involves a roof box or a bike carrier, that is the trim to start at. Roof rail maximum load is 165 pounds.1 Genuine Mazda roof racks, cargo carriers, organizers and all-weather liners come through our parts department at (407) 851-8510.
Four things about this market change how the back of the car gets used.
The first is rain. Between June and September the liftgate spends a lot of its life open in a downpour, which turns the power liftgate on 2.5 S Preferred and above, and the hands-free version on 2.5 S Premium Plus, into a feature you use daily rather than a luxury you show people.
The second is heat. A closed cargo hold in August gets hot fast, so groceries coming from the Publix on Hunter’s Creek Boulevard do better in the cabin than in the back. An insulated bag and the cargo cover both help. The third is that beach and lake gear arrives wet and sandy, which is why a Genuine Mazda all-weather cargo tray is the accessory our Orlando customers add most often. It lifts out and hoses off.
The fourth is the airport. If you are regularly running four people and their bags to MCO, load your actual luggage into a Mazda CX-5 on the lot before you choose between it and a larger Mazda CX-50 or Mazda CX-70. Fifteen minutes here beats a year of regret.
Cargo volume is not this vehicle’s strongest category, and we would rather tell you that here than have you discover it in the showroom. The Honda CR-V offers more maximum cargo volume, and several compact SUVs in the class carry more than 33.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats.3
What the Mazda CX-5 gives you at that size is standard i-Activ AWD® on every trim, a 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award,4 and the driving character the model has been known for since 2012. If maximum cargo volume is the one thing you are optimising for, we will say so and point you at a Mazda CX-50 or a Mazda CX-70, both of which we also stock. If you want a car that carries a family’s worth of gear and is good to drive, this is the one.
Parking them next to each other settles it faster than any table. We can do that here.
Materials by trim, head room and leg room, seat features and the redesigned cabin architecture.
Length, width, height, wheelbase and whether the Mazda CX-5 fits a standard Orlando garage.
The 2026 Mazda CX-5 has 33.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats and 66.5 cubic feet with the second row folded down.1 Those are SAE measurements. The EPA figure, measured to the top of the seatback rather than to the roof, is 30.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
No. All five 2026 Mazda CX-5 trims hold 33.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 66.5 cubic feet maximum.1 Trim changes liftgate operation only: manual on 2.5 S and 2.5 S Select, power on 2.5 S Preferred and 2.5 S Premium, and hands-free power on 2.5 S Premium Plus.
Yes. Every 2026 Mazda CX-5 has a 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat that folds to create a 66.5 cubic foot load area.1 The three-way split includes a center pass-through, so long items travel down the middle while two passengers stay seated on either side. The rear seatbacks also recline.
No. The space beneath the cargo floor of the 2026 Mazda CX-5 holds the temporary spare tire, which is standard on all five trims. Mazda publishes no load floor height for the 2026 Mazda CX-5; the Sport Mazda South team can measure a vehicle on the lot for you.
Yes. The 2026 Mazda CX-5 carries 33.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats against roughly 29 cubic feet on the previous generation, a gain of about five cubic feet.1 It comes from the all-new third-generation body and the longer 110.8-inch wheelbase rather than from any change to the seats.
Sport Mazda South stocks the 2026 Mazda CX-5 across all five trim levels at 9786 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837.5 Bring the luggage, stroller or equipment you are worried about and our team will load it into a vehicle before you buy. Call (321) 235-6764 to have one ready when you arrive.
1. Dimensions, weights and cargo volumes are manufacturer-published figures and may vary by trim, optional equipment and measurement method. Cargo capacity and passenger volume vary with configuration. See dealer for complete details.
2. Recommended cold tire inflation pressures are those shown on the tire and loading information placard on the driver’s door jamb of your vehicle, which is the controlling source. “Cold” means the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours, or driven less than one mile. Check pressures when tires are cold; pressure rises as tires heat up.
3. Competitive vehicle information is based on publicly available manufacturer-published data for 2026 model-year vehicles as of the last-updated date of this page and is provided for general comparison purposes only. Competitor specifications, pricing and availability are subject to change without notice by their respective manufacturers. Sport Mazda South is not affiliated with, and does not represent, any competing manufacturer. Verify competitive information with the respective manufacturer or dealer.
4. 2026 IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award as published by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Awards are model-year specific and subject to change as IIHS tests additional vehicles during the model year. See iihs.org for complete and current ratings.
5. Vehicle availability, trim availability and color availability are subject to current inventory and change without notice. Contact Sport Mazda South at (321) 235-6764 to confirm availability of a specific 2026 Mazda CX-5 configuration.
6. Dealership hours shown on this page are accurate as of the last-updated date above and are subject to change without notice, including on holidays and during special events. Call Sport Mazda South at (321) 235-6764 or visit sportmazdaorlando.com to confirm current hours before visiting.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only. Information herein is subject to change without notice and does not constitute an offer to sell. Specifications, features, pricing and availability are based on manufacturer-published data available as of the last-updated date shown at the top of this page. Confirm all details with a Sport Mazda South representative before purchase.
