Mazda’s Best-Selling Model in May Wasn’t The CX-5

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has released sales results for May 2026, and it was a strong month for the Japanese brand. It sold a total of 39,066 vehicles, a 35% increase over May 2025. It was Mazda’s best sales month since July 2025, although year-to-date sales are still 6.9% lower than they were in 2025. There were a few surprising results from Mazda’s May sales: Mazda 3 and MX-5 sales surged, while the CX-5 wasn’t the brand’s top-selling model. 

Mazda’s May Sales Results

The best-selling Mazda in May was the CX-50, which totaled 14,897 units, a 107.2% increase over May 2025. That total includes sales for the CX-50 Hybrid, which achieved its best-ever sales month. For years, Mazda’s CX-5 was the brand’s top-seller in the USA, but only 7,805 CX-5s were sold last month, a 17.9% decline. However, Mazda is in the midst of introducing an all-new CX-5, and transitioning to a new generation typically impacts sales. It will be interesting to see if the CX-5 regains the top spot once more or if buyers indicate a preference for the CX-50’s more rugged positioning.

Here’s a look at Mazda’s full lineup sales last month.

The Mazda 3 and MX-5 Miata are two of the automaker’s oldest products, yet sales soared for both compared to a year ago. Miata sales were up by 196.6%, continuing its strong year, with 627 of the total sales being for the regular convertible. Mazda 3 total sales went up by 68%. The total was divided between the Mazda 3 Sedan (2,781, +66.5%) and Mazda 3 Hatchback (1,340, +71.1%). 

The MX-5 and Mazda 3 have not received any major updates recently, so it’s difficult to explain this increase. However, with many Americans looking for more efficient models, it’s possible that the 3’s sales bump came from buyers who would otherwise have considered a larger SUV.

Related: Mazda’s CX-5 and CX-50 Are Pulling Shoppers From Toyota, Jeep, and Lexus

What It Means

Mazda said recently it’s chasing annual U.S. sales of 500,000 units, which would be a big jump over the record 424,382 cars it sold here in 2024. It aims to achieve this by building a stronger brand identity, as Mazda means many things to many different people. It lacks a strong focus, such as Subaru, which caters to people with an outdoorsy lifestyle. 

May’s performance is promising, though, and sales are expected to increase once the all-new CX-5 fully kicks into gear. While Mazda remains far off Toyota and Honda’s figures, there’s a sense that the full potential of this Japanese household name is yet to be realized.

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