Mazda has been hyping its new Skyactiv-Z engine and the associated in-house hybrid powertrain for a while. However, it won't arrive until toward the end of 2027 in the new CX-5, where an all-new 2.5-liter inline-four gasoline engine will sit at the heart of Mazda’s proprietary hybrid system.
In the meantime, Mazda has been testing electrified powertrains from rival brands and believes it has identified a key issue. According to CX-5 Project Manager Koichiro Yamaguchi, many of the hybrids he has benchmarked suffer from delayed throttle response. While he naturally didn’t specify brands or models, the man overseeing the third-generation SUV is determined to ensure Mazda’s own hybrid setup avoids any hesitation when accelerating:
