2025 Mazda CX-50

Price Range: $30,300 - $43,300 ^{Price range reflects Base MSRP for various trim levels, not including options or fees.}

Great

8.1

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 is comfortable, spacious and well appointed, with an interior that looks and feels a cut above anything else in this class. It's quick and fun to drive, too, though somewhat heavy steering and a firmer ride than some rivals are the price you pay for the engaging handling. The CX-50 commands a bit of a premium, too, but if you're looking for a small utility vehicle, it doesn't get much better than this.

#1 out of 14

Small SUVs

33 Owner Reviews

Pros

Pro:Quick acceleration from optional turbocharged engine
Pro:Enjoyable handling around turns
Pro:Upscale interior design
Pro:Better-than-average off-road capability for a small crossover SUV

Cons

Con:Slightly more expensive than rivals
Con:Infotainment system is touch-sensing only for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Con:Middling cargo capacity for the class

What’s new

Hybrid powertrain joins the lineup
Turbo trim level is no longer available
Part of the first CX-50 generation introduced for 2023

2025 Mazda CX-50

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2025 Mazda CX-50 Review

by Jared Gall^{Correspondent
Jared Gall started his career in the auto industry in 2001 with an internship at Car and Driver. He has written and edited many thousands of car reviews, technological deep-dives, industry analyses, and personality profiles. He is a correspondent at Edmunds and still has the 1969 Chevrolet C20 he dragged out of his parents' barn and drove until Car and Driver started giving him cars to evaluate.}

rating written by Reese Counts^{Vehicle Test Editor
Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at Edmunds in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.}

Overview

This compact crossover adopts a more rugged look than the other compact Mazda crossover with which it shares 80% of its name. Longer, lower and wider than the CX-5, the CX-50 is clad in black lower-body plastic to give it a more off-road-ready look. But don't think "off-road-ready" means "spartan" since the CX-50 is more of a budget Land Rover. Mazda is trying to push its brand upmarket, and that means the CX-50's interior is handsomely designed and rendered in upscale materials.

Edmunds spotlight: The coming hybrid

As a small, independent automaker, Mazda has been slow to develop electrified models. New powertrains are expensive to develop, and Mazda has done a commendable job of wringing every last mpg from its existing internal combustion engines. The plug-in CX-90, new for 2024, is the brand's first hybrid, but that didn't last for long. A hybrid powertrain is available in the CX-50 for 2025. To save on development costs, Mazda uses a hybrid setup from Toyota, with power specs that mirror those of the RAV4 Hybrid. Generating 219 horsepower, the system neatly bisects the CX-50's 187-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 256-hp turbocharged 2.5-liter.

Competitors to consider

Compact crossovers are one of the most hotly contested classes in the automotive market. As such, there are a lot of excellent choices. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, as well as the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage twins, are all enticing packages. The CX-50 has one of the tighter back seats in its class, as well as a snug cargo hold, and is pricier than most competitors. But it has a more premium feel, both in interior finish and in driving dynamics, which makes it seem worth a little extra. Read our Expert Rating below to see exactly where the Mazda CX-50 shines.

Which CX-50 does Edmunds recommend?

Mazda offers the CX-50 in a bewildering array of 10 trim levels, four with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, three with a four-cylinder hybrid, and three with a turbocharged engine. The new hybrid certainly wins in terms of fuel economy. Still, the turbocharged motor is a peach, and each Turbo trim includes slightly more standard equipment than the equivalent non-turbocharged model. We recommend the Turbo Meridian trim, which includes leather upholstery, heated front seats and a panoramic sunroof. These complement the CX-50's high-class style while leaving some money in the bank.

Compare 2025 Mazda CX-50 trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Mazda CX-50 models

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 is a compact crossover SUV with five-passenger seating. It comes in 10 trim levels: Select, Preferred, Premium, Premium Plus, Hybrid Preferred, Hybrid Premium, Hybrid Premium Plus, Turbo Meridian, Turbo Premium and Turbo Premium Plus. The CX-50 Select, Preferred, Premium and Premium Plus have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (187 horsepower, 185 lb-ft of torque), while the CX-50 Hybrid variants use a 2.5-liter four-cylinder matched to three electric motors (219 hp combined). The upper three Turbo trims use a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder. It makes 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas and 256 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane premium fuel. All gas-only CX-50s have a six-speed automatic transmission, and the CX-50 Hybrid uses a continuously variable automatic (or CVT). All-wheel drive is standard across the board. Keep reading for a breakdown of the significant standard and optional features you get with each trim level.

Select
The Select trim is the base version of the CX-50. It has:

17-inch black alloy wheels
LED headlights
Roof rails
Remote keyless entry and keyless start
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Partial synthetic leather upholstery
60/40-split folding rear seats
Partial digital instrument panel
10.25-inch infotainment display
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (both with wireless connectivity)
Eight-speaker audio system

Standard advanced driver assist systems include:

Forward collision warning with automatic braking (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning (alerts you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)

Preferred
Consider the Preferred trim if you live in a cold-weather region thanks to:

Power liftgate
Heated exterior mirrors
Windshield wiper de-icer
Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats

Premium
This version lets extra light shine in and improves the infotainment system with:

Panoramic sunroof
Auto-dimming rearview mirror
12-speaker Bose premium audio
Wireless smartphone charger

Premium Plus
This is the best-equipped version of the non-turbocharged models, adding:

20-inch alloy wheels
Power-folding mirrors
Leather upholstery
Ventilated front seats
Memory for the driver's settings
Power-adjustable front passenger's seat
Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)

Hybrid Preferred, Hybrid Premium and Hybrid Premium Plus
These trim levels have content that generally mirrors their non-Hybrid counterparts, though Hybrid Premium Plus receives 19-inch wheels.

Turbo
The more powerful Turbo trim includes the Preferred trim features, plus 20-inch alloy wheels.

Turbo Meridian Edition
Mazda positions the Meridian Edition as the outdoorsy model that can handle moderately challenging terrain. It starts with Preferred trim features, with upgrades that include:

18-inch black alloy wheels
All-terrain tires
Unique styling treatments and decals
Self-leveling adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves)
Paddle shifters
Towing mode
Panoramic sunroof
Power-folding mirrors
Heated steering wheel
Ventilated front seats
Memory for the driver's settings
Power-adjustable front passenger's seat
Leather upholstery

Turbo Premium
This trim adds several desirable features such as:

12-speaker Bose premium audio
Head-up display

Turbo Premium Plus
At the top of the lineup, the Turbo Premium Plus trim is the fully loaded version of the CX-50 with:

Heated rear seats
Navigation system
Surround-view monitor (gives you a top-down view of the vehicle and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
Front and rear parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible in front of or behind the vehicle when parking)
Reverse automatic braking (applies the brakes automatically to avoid an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
Blind-spot intervention (automatically steers the car back into its lane if you try to change lanes while a car is in the vehicle's blind spot)

2025 Mazda CX-50

At a Glance:

$30,500starting MSRP

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Excludes taxes, title, license fees and $1,420 destination charge (Alaska $1,465). Vehicle shown may be priced higher. Actual dealer price will vary. See dealer for complete details.

Mazda CX-50 Owner Reviews

3.9

5(46%)

4(18%)

3(24%)

2(6%)

1(6%)

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Know what you want and you won't be disappointed.

Braden, 09/23/2024

2025 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A)

Mazda isn’t a luxury brand. Its four-cylinder engines aren’t racers. A vehicle like this—in this price range with the above-mentioned caveats—isn’t going to introduce a new paradigm in any single automotive category. The CX-50 takes everything that every other manufacturer has already done with smaller-sized crossover SUVs for two decades now, distills them down to their desired … functions, separates the chaff, then weaves it all back together with only the positive aspects remaining—and it manages to sell it for under $40k. I love my CX-50. I won’t pretend to be an objective auto-guru giving you my professional, dispassionate opinion. I had my last vehicle for 14 years and have been saving and searching for a replacement for the last five. I had a big list of five-seater SUVs I spent months researching and paring down. The CX-50 was at the top. There’s many reasons for that: The cost — I bought a brand new Premium model. $35k. You can get a lower trim for less, or a Turbo for more if you want the extra power. I struggled with the Turbo desire. Even though I don’t have one, I’m not upset after the time I’ve spent with mine. The safety — Check the NTSB reports and videos yourself. It’s phenomenal. The comfort — Premium trims and below come with 17” wheels instead of larger. These wheels combined with the higher suspension make for a stable ride without removing the feel of being connected to the road. Some want none of that feel, and that’s fair. I’m not like that. I need to feel what and how I’m riding. This vehicle allows that without making it uncomfortable. The interior seats and positions make it easy to enjoy the ride. The driver and passenger seats are bucket-style, my favorite. Being a small-not-mini cSUV, the seats may seem narrower than some might like—curved on each side, the actual space to "sink" into is more limited than it first appears. If you’re a bulkier person, you may want more room. But I’m skinny (and tall, yet I’ve never felt vertically cramped), and the seats provide me ample room and cradle my frame very naturally. Despite the Premium trim not sporting the premium leather that I've been used to for years now—they're a combo of synthetic leather and fabric weaved vertically down the center—I haven't felt a moment of discomfort, even on long drives. Most (maybe all?) trims feature power lumbar support, too, and that significantly increases the number of viable seat-and-back positions for your chair. I'm excited to try the seat warmers this winter, too, which will be a first for me. I will level some criticism at the placement of the front seat cup holders, though. You do get the option of holders placed in both the front driver and passenger doors, but your primary cup holders are located right under the dashboard instrument panel—directly in front of the shifter, tucked into a nook-like space. My initial fear was that it would be possible to easily nudge the shifter when you very much don't want to, which turned out to be overblown. But if you step out of your car and reach back in to take your cup of coffee with you, prepare to lean over the console awkwardly and then cautiously weave your arm (and coffee!) backwards to avoid snagging the steering wheel. It's a minor complaint, but one I deal with typically at least twice a day. The power — It’s a four-cylinder engine. This is why I say “know what you want” in the title. You’re not gonna win drag races (unless maybe you splurge for the Turbo), so if that’s your thing then look elsewhere. But it DOES have the giddy-up I need to feel safe overtaking and entering busy intersections and freeways. Unlike many fours, Mazda’s Skyactiv engine is naturally aspirated, drawing more power from ambient airflow, and combines it with a very active cylinder shutoff strategy that compensates for the more aggressive use of fuel, maintaining a balance of power with satisfactory fuel economy (but in 2025, the combined 28mpg average is admittedly leaning more to the lower end of acceptable). The tach kicks up higher than I expected, but nowhere near the redline. The actual output surprised me; it reaches 0-60 in 8 seconds, better than the spec sheet claims. I honestly expected weaker. Bonus! I also want to give special attention to Mazda's decision to include multiple drive modes that can be toggled on-the-fly with the MiDrive switch: Normal keeps the above-mentioned balance of responsiveness and fuel economy, Off-road appropriately summons the U in the SUV moniker and allows this vehicle a very satisfying drive experience on backroads and in inclement weather, and Sport mode (which I guess invokes the S?) keeps the engine running at a higher RPM to allow for more active shifting and decreases the latency between the clutch and the shift input. Plus, you have the option of manually controlling the gears with a simple lean of the shifter to the left; suddenly you're driving a standard without the clutch! (Or more accurately, you're getting about 65% of the manual transmission experience since you don't have to downshift.) The manual control significantly increases the control I have over the vehicle—but only when I want it. The tech — Lots of driver-assist features, but a lot of them feel like more basic versions of advanced systems other higher-tier vehicles offer. They’re still useful, though I don’t really feel that I “need” them. However, the Infotainment interface is wonderful! The screen IS touch-capable, but I hate touchscreens in cars, and Mazda offers Commander control knobs within arms’ reach of the center console. Adapting to them only took a couple hours, and I have touched the screen one time since first setup. I LOVE the Commander knobs and dials so much, and I know others don’t like them despite not giving them a chance. Give them a chance! They’re game-changers! The only tech I would advise on is the radar cruise control: It’s nice to have it and works well as long as you keep an active eye on it during drives with traffic that tends to exit in both directions frequently, and on stretches of hilly terrain. The CC attempts to maintain your set speed VERY aggressively and will suddenly drop you into the lowest gear that approaches the redline too closely for my taste. The reliability — It’s a Mazda. It’s reliable. They make cars knowing many of their drivers are “spirited” in their journeys. They’re even giving Toyota a run for their reliability rating money. And with the recent rocket in sales of Mazda’s CX-series of vehicles, there will be parts and knowledge a’plenty out in the wild. The 50 is, admittedly, a newer model for Mazda, the first model releasing just three years ago, so really only time will tell how durable it is. But it's reassuring to know that the broader engineering platform of this vehicle exists in many other forms across other Mazda models with a longer tenure on the road. Are there better vehicles? Yes, obviously—in every category. But for this price point? I would argue no. I was never gonna find anything else that met (and then surprisingly surpassed) my expectations for under $40k. And I expected quite a bit. I’m getting everything I bargained for, and after four vehicles through my life, this is finally the first one I’ve actually been consistently excited to drive day in and day out.

Love it...except a few little niches

james_m, 10/02/2024

2025 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A)

I traded in my 2014 Subaru Forester for a CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus after test driving the Jeep Cherokee, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, Volkswagen Tiguan, Kia Sportage, Buick Envision and another Forester. I do wish I had test drove the CX-5 since it is a bit higher - the lower stance of the CX-50 took a little bit of getting used to. Along with the CX-50, I was also really impressed with …

Be Careful Buying Mazda

Biff , 02/27/2025

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I recently purchased a 2025 Mazda CX-50 hybrid premium. At first the vehicle looked amazing. However, after a week of owning the vehicle the idle was rough at startup. It was so much that I called dealership. Pretty much a complete run around and dismissive. Then the passenger side door was running against the front fender. It is so bad paint was coming off the door. Long story short, I …

Decent Car

TMB, 10/15/2024

2025 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A)

I’ve had my Cx50 PP Non Turbo for several months now. Coming from a toyota I can say that the build quality is 10x better with my Mazda and I really love the design inside and out on this car… I also feel very safe in it and its fun to drive (sometimes)… I rate it 3 stars because of its clunky transmission, firm ride and uncomfortable seats. The car has a very bad lag when you’re trying …

2025 Mazda CX-50