The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- New hybrid promises good mpg
- Standard AWD
- Some off-road utility
- Decent towing
Dislikes
- Infotainment can frustrate
- Base 4-cylinder’s a bit gruff
- Loud hybrid system
- Some styling quirks
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 has good handling, though the smaller CX-5 is a little sportier.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Mazda CX-50? What does it compare to?
The 2025 CX-50 is a five-seat compact crossover that compares well with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
Is the 2025 Mazda CX-50 a good SUV?
The CX-50 is an appealing compact SUV with classy styling, a clean cabin, and an available hybrid powertrain for the first time. Its luxury leanings come up short when it comes to a restrained infotainment interface and unrefined engine noise in the cabin. It earns a TCC Rating of 6.7 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Mazda CX-50?
Benefiting from its relationship with Toyota, Mazda has added a new hybrid powertrain to the CX-50 lineup with standard all-wheel drive and an EPA-rated 38 mpg combined. It slots in between the base 2.5-liter inline-4 and the available turbocharged 4-cylinder. Additionally, the automaker has tweaked the automatic emergency braking system to better detect pedestrians at night and it has added a few features to the base trim level.
The CX-50’s styling blends boxy SUV fenders with classic Mazda curviness to reasonable effect. Sure, there are some awkward touches like the tacked-on fender flares over wheels that are wrapped in tires with sidewalls too short for any real off-roading.
The interior works better, with upscale materials andminimalist design that softens Mazda’s premium pricing structure. Comfy front seats and competitive cargo area bolsters the CX-50, but there’s way too much road and engine noise.
Gas-fueled CX-50s have an impressive ride and terrific handling, plus they’re wonderful highway mile-munchers with terrific stability. The base 2.5-liter inline-4 that serves as the entry point to the lineup is a bit gruff and can run out of steam. Opt for the top-end turbo and you’ll find better acceleration but some lag, particularly away from a complete stop.
Mazda borrows Toyota’s three-motor hybrid system and pairs it with an efficient Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline-4, same as in the RAV4 Hybrid, to make 219 hp. It’s neither quick nor slow, but it lacks refinement when pushed. It can cruise around town at low speeds in electric mode, and Mazda separates it from the RAV4 with higher quality interior finishes.
Good crash-test scores and lots of standard collision-avoidance tech make the CX-50 a safe pick in the segment. Most versions have adaptive cruise control, too, while top-end models can be fitted with a useful surround-view camera system that can even display a simulated view of what’s underneath the vehicle for parking or light off-roading.
How much does the 2025 Mazda CX-50 cost?
The base CX-50 2.5S runs $31,720 (including a $1,420 destination fee) to start, including newly standard synthetic leather upholstery, LED headlights, and proximity keyless entry. It uses a 10.3-inch screen that becomes a touchscreen when Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are activated, but otherwise it’s controlled by a dial that requires far too many inputs for simple commands like tuning a radio station.
The Hybrid Preferred starts at a reasonable $35,390, and tops out at $41,470. The loaded 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus poses as a luxurious performance-leaning model, and it tops the lineup at $44,720.
Where is the 2025 Mazda CX-50 made?
In Huntsville, Alabama.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Styling
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 blends the automaker’s curvy lines with some rugged touches.
Is the Mazda CX-50 a good-looking car?
It’s handsome enough, if a bit awkward in the way Mazda has tarted up its standard curvaceous design language with some rugged styling bits. The CX-50 gets points above average for its exterior and its cabin.
The CX-50 has a wide front grille and high-mounted, simple headlights. Below, look for big vertical vents that contrast with the faux skidplate below. From the side, black fender flares break from Mazda tradition, but things are more in line with the rest of the automaker’s lineup in the pert taillights out back. Most versions have large wheels that certainly don’t beg to go off-road.
The CX-50’s low dash comes with either an 8.8-inch or a 10.3-inch screen. Don’t look for too many buttons or knobs on the dash. There’s a big rotary knob on the center console that handles most infotainment inputs. Mazda offers more interior hues here than in many of its other models; as with many SUVs, the CX-50 is best in a lighter shade.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Performance
A new hybrid powertrain adds some intrigue to the 2025 Mazda CX-50.
The CX-50 now comes in three configurations: a 187-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 that feels a bit gruff; a strong but laggy 256-hp, premium fuel-fed turbo-4; or a new 219-hp hybrid setup that slots right in the middle of the lineup.
Provisionally, we rate the range at 6 out of 10 on account of the CX-50’s above average ride quality and extra-granular, sporty steering.
Is the Mazda CX-50 4WD?
Yes, though it’s worth noting that the hybrid uses electric motors mounted at each axle to send power to all four corners while other versions rely on a conventional mechanical setup.
No CX-50 is really an off-roader, though some versions have as much as 8.6 inches of ground clearance and there’s an Off-Road drive mode. The CX-50 can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
How fast is the Mazda CX-50?
The base version is a bit pokey, hindered somewhat by its 6-speed automatic transmission. The turbo version is too slow to spool up, which makes it difficult to come away from a stop smoothly. Once it’s in the boost, it guzzles fuel and delivers smooth, strong acceleration. Note that the CX-50 is rated to make just 227 hp on regular unleaded. You’ll need 93-octane gas for the full 256 hp.
Generally, the CX-50 has a comfortable, relatively taut suspension that pairs well with sharp, well-weighted steering. It drives with an almost Germanic poise, which stands in marked contrast to the way some Japanese and Korean rivals can wander a bit. It’s fun enough to entertain on a winding road without being too stiff for day-to-day use.
How is the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid?
The 2.5-liter inline-4 pairs with three motors and a planetary gear transmission that’s similar to a CVT but, like the Atkinson-cycle engine, designed for efficiency. It’s calm and quiet when light on the throttle, but trying to tap into that 219 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque results in plenty of engine noise as it works to get to 60 mph in about eight seconds. The RAV4 Hybrid has nearly 100 lb-ft more torque, so it’s not built for power or performance, and six simulated gear shifts by notching over the gear stick into manual mode doesn’t add much.
Mazda claims the Hybrid has better weight distribution than the gas models, likely due to the motor on the rear axle, yet it feels nose-heavy and tends to plow when pushed through turns. Most hybrid drivers won’t care much about these quibbles, as the CX-50 Hybrid is designed to optimize fuel economy.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Comfort & Quality
If Mazda added more sound deadening, the CX-50 would have a home-run cabin.
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 has a stylish cabin with comfy front seats, a big cargo area, and nice materials, but it’s stuck at a 7 here due to just how loud this cabin is.
The CX-50 has supportive and well-shaped front seats with power adjustment on most trim levels. Rear-seat riders have decent legroom and headroom, giving them comfortable ability to haul four people and some utility for five in a pinch. The CX-50 rides on a longer wheelbase than the automaker’s CX-5, which affords it more overall interior space.
The 31.4 cubic-foot cargo area is pretty roomy behind the rear seats, though it grows to a somewhat small-for-the-class 56.3 cubic feet with the seatbacks down.
Nice materials even on the base version are in line with the CX-50’s hefty pricetag. This SUV is fairly lithe, for what it is, in part because Mazda was so stingy with sound deadening. We wish they’d tossed a bit more in, as the excessive road and engine noise make the CX-50 tiring on long trips.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Safety
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 boasts great crash-test results.
How safe is the Mazda CX-50?
It’s a strong choice. The 2025 CX-50 earns an 8 here thanks to the five-star rating from the NHTSA and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award bestowed upon last year’s model. It also comes with lots of standard safety tech. We’ll update this space if the 2025 model rates differently.
The CX-50 ticks most crash-avoidance boxes with its standard automatic emergency braking, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, and automatic high-beam headlights. Adaptive cruise control is optional, as are a surround-view camera system and parking sensors. Outward vision is so-so, so we’d strongly consider a version with parking sensors.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Features
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 comes in many configurations.
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 comes in a dizzying 10 trim levels, offering lots of choice. You’ll want to look through the spec sheets carefully if you’re after specific features, though, as not all CX-50s are built equally even if they have the same trim-level name.
The lineup scores an 8 here thanks to its standard features, its options, and its value.
The lineup kicks off at $31,720 for the base 2.5 S, which has synthetic leather upholstery, 17-inch alloy wheels, proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and all-wheel drive. Its 8.8-inch screen operable via a center console rotary knob unless hooked up to standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Then it’s a touchscreen.
The CX-50 has a basic 3-year/36,000-mile warranty.
Which Mazda CX-50 should I buy?
We like the idea of the hybrid, which starts at $35,390 in its base Preferred trim. That trim is nicely outfitted with AWD, a 10.3-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone mirroring, Alexa Built-In, a wireless device charging pad, a power tailgate, and heated front seats.
The Premium trim tosses in leather seats, Bose audio, and a big sunroof, plus adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go for $38,820.
Turbo models are expensive. Figure at least $42,220 for the Meridian Edition, which admittedly rivals some luxury cars for features. It comes with cooled front seats, navigation, heated rear seats, and a few other niceties.
How much is a fully loaded Mazda CX-50?
The lineup can crest $45,000 for a turbocharged model in Premium Plus guise. It’s outfitted with a surround-view camera system that can create a stitched-together, simulated view of the car’s underside, front cross-traffic alerts, and a system that can automatically steer a wandering CX-50 back into its lane if it detects an impending collision.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Fuel Economy
The 2025 CX-50’s new hybrid powertrain provides an appealing infusion of thrift.
Is the Mazda CX-50 good on gas?
Generally, no, though the new hybrid offers up to 38 mpg combined with AWD. That’s 1 mpg off of the most thrifty version of the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, but it’s still impressive.
We rate the lineup at 3 out of 10 based on the standard 2.5-liter inline-4, which is now estimated at 25 mpg city, 31 highway, 28 combined. That’s better than last year, but still behind the Subaru Forester’s 29 mpg combined. The turbo-4 guzzles at a rate of 23/29/25 mpg, and it needs premium fuel to unlock its best performance.