What Car Shoppers Need to Know
- The Mazda CX-50 is one of two compact SUVs in the Japanese brand’s lineup.
- Three powertrain choices include a four-cylinder engine, a powerful turbo-four and an efficient hybrid.
- Pricing starts at $31,395 (all prices include $1,495 destination).
The CX-50 is similar to Mazda’s other compact SUV, the CX-5, but with lower, longer and wider proportions that give it a sleeker, sportier profile. Mazda positions the CX-50 as a more off-road-oriented, adventure-focused SUV than the CX-5 — at least in the CX-50’s unique Meridian Edition trim, which includes all-terrain tires. The CX-50 debuted for the 2023 model year, and it continues to use Mazda’s unloved console-knob-based infotainment interface. The CX-5 was redesigned for 2026, switching to a more modern touchscreen infotainment system.
Unlike the CX-5, the CX-50 offers both a hybrid powertrain and a more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The CX-5 lost its turbocharged engine option with its 2026 redesign, though it’s slated to get a Mazda-developed hybrid powertrain for the 2027 model year. The CX-50’s hybrid powertrain is made by Toyota and shared with the Toyota RAV4; it greatly improves the CX-50’s efficiency but saps some of Mazda’s trademark sportiness.
What’s New for 2026?
The off-road-inspired Meridian Edition is now available with the base powertrain. There’s also a new 2.5 Turbo trim, available black badges on some variants and a new white interior option. In addition, the CX-50 2.5 S Premium trim adds more features, including ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and memory for the driver’s seat.
Pricing
The CX-50 has a varied lineup that includes 2.5 S, Turbo and Hybrid versions across several trim levels. The following prices include a mandatory $1,495 destination fee and are correct as of June 2026 (manufacturers sometimes change a vehicle’s pricing over the course of a model year):
- 2.5 S Select: $31,395
- 2.5 S Preferred: $33,895
- 2.5 S Meridian Edition: $34,645
- 2.5 S Premium: $36,395
- Hybrid Preferred: $36,245
- Hybrid Premium: $39,645
- Hybrid Premium Plus: $41,945
- 2.5 Turbo: $39,395
- 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition: $41,895
- 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus: $44,395
Trims and Features
Every CX-50 comes standard with Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of safety equipment. It includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, a driver-attention monitor, lane departure steering assist, rear cross-traffic alert, rear-seat alert, vehicle exit warning and automatic high-beam headlights.
The CX-50 progresses through several trim levels across the 2.5 S, 2.5 Turbo and hybrid powertrains. Not every powertrain comes in every trim level, but the trims are equipped the same except where otherwise noted.
Select
Available only with the base gas engine, the Select marks the entry point to the CX-50 lineup. It comes standard with cloth and synthetic leather upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Alexa Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 7-inch driver information display, a wireless phone charger, keyless entry, push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control and an eight-speaker audio system.
Preferred
The Preferred trim is available with the base four-cylinder (2.5 S) and hybrid powertrains. It adds a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, a power rear liftgate and a panoramic moonroof. It also adds front and rear parking sensors.
Meridian Edition
Available with the base engine or the turbo four-cylinder, the Meridian Edition comes with black exterior badges, black roof rails and black 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. The Turbo Meridian Edition adds a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats and navigation.
Premium
The Premium trim is available with the 2.5 S and hybrid powertrains. It gets leather upholstery, driver’s seat memory, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, satellite radio with a three-month trial subscription, a 12-speaker Bose audio system and 20-inch wheels. On the safety front, it adds traffic sign recognition.
Turbo
The base 2.5 Turbo trim is equipped like the Premium, but adds black roof rails, paddle shifters and a head-up display.
Premium Plus
The hybrid and turbocharged powertrains are available in the Premium Plus trim. The turbo version adds a variety of safety features, including steering support for the blind spot warning system, front cross-traffic alert and braking, rear automatic emergency braking, traffic jam assist and a surround-view camera system. The hybrid is equipped like the Turbo Meridian Edition, but with 19-inch wheels.
Powertrains and Fuel Economy
The base 2.5 S powertrain features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 187 horsepower and 185 pounds-feet of torque. Turbo models get a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder that makes 227 hp and 310 pounds-feet on regular gas or 256 hp and 320 pounds-feet on premium gas. These gas-only engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and come standard with all-wheel drive. The Hybrid variants use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, two electric motors up front and another on the rear axle to provide AWD, and a continuously variable automatic transmission. This powertrain makes a total of 219 hp.
The base engine is rated 24/30/26 mpg city/highway/combined, while Turbo buyers pay little penalty for the additional power, losing just 1 mpg across the board. The hybrid is far more efficient, at 39/37/38 mpg.
| Trim | Powertrain | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG |
| Turbo | 2.5-liter turbo | 23 | 29 | 25 |
| 2.5 S | 2.5-liter | 24 | 30 | 26 |
| Hybrid | 2.5-liter hybrid | 39 | 37 | 38 |
Interior
The CX-50 starts out with cloth and synthetic leather upholstery and manually adjustable front seats. A power driver’s seat and heated front seats come just one step up the trim ladder, and the Premium trim level adds a power front passenger seat and ventilated front seats. Heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel are available further up the lineup.
While its low profile gives the CX-50 a sporty look, it also compromises visibility and interior room compared with other compact SUVs; this Mazda’s backseat is particularly cramped, and cargo space is small for its class. According to Mazda’s measurements, there’s 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded down.
Versus the Competition
One of the CX-50’s key rivals is its sibling: the stalwart Mazda CX-5. The CX-5’s excellent 2026 redesign gives it a new touchscreen-based infotainment system and an upsized backseat that ranks among the most spacious in the class — but it removes the previously available turbocharged engine. The CX-50 also offers a hybrid powertrain that isn’t available in the CX-5 (yet). The two titans of the compact SUV class are the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4, which has been redesigned for 2026 as a hybrid-only model. The CR-V comes close to the CX-50 in terms of driver engagement, and it offers a hybrid powertrain that’s even more efficient than the Mazda’s. The RAV4 has both conventional hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains, both of which are highly efficient, and while it’s traditionally been less fun to drive than the Mazda, a new GR Sport trim level firms up the suspension for better handling.
Do We Like the Mazda CX-50?
While we like the CX-50’s engaging driving character and alluring styling, there’s little to recommend it over the CX-5. It gets curvier lines and more powertrain choices, but its awkward infotainment interface — which can only be used as a touchscreen when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto — has been surpassed by a real touchscreen in the redesigned CX-5. Its available hybrid powertrain isn’t as efficient as the powertrains in rival hybrids, and it dulls some of this Mazda’s typical sportiness.
