MazdaCX-50

　　

2024 Mazda CX-50 Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　, rating written byChristian WardlawVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar 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 zzdcar 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.

　　Mazda sells two compact crossover SUVs. The CX-50 is one of them, and the popular CX-5 is the other. That's confusing, but Mazda's SUV lineup is in a state of transition to new naming conventions and market positioning, and though it is an older design, the CX-5 is Mazda's best-selling vehicle. So, instead of replacing the CX-5, the CX-50 complements it for now. Either one can serve your needs well, but Mazda positions the newer CX-50 as a more rugged and capable vehicle.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Select 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$143/mo  for CX-50 2.5 S Select

　　CX-50 2.5 S Select

　　2.5 S Select 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $30,300 MSRP2.5 S Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $31,650 MSRP2.5 S Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) (Most Popular) - $34,000 MSRP2.5 S Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl 6A) - $37,500 MSRP2.5 Turbo 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $38,000 MSRP2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $40,800 MSRP2.5 Turbo Premium 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $41,300 MSRP2.5 Turbo Premium Plus 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl Turbo 6A) - $43,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Off-roading capability

Mazda markets the CX-50 as ready for off-roading, touting its design, driving modes, standard all-wheel drive and list of dealer-installed adventure-oriented accessories as proof. Also, ground clearance ranges between 8.3 and 8.6 inches, which is pretty generous for a typical small crossover, and the Meridian Edition includes standard all-terrain tires for improved grip. Still, you might wonder whether the CX-50 is an off-roader or a soft-roader best used on more gentle trails. Generally, we think it's the latter — the CX-50's bodywork isn't really meant for serious clearance or protection — but in general the CX-50 will get you a little farther into nature than many rival SUVs.

　　

Competitors to consider

Measured by cargo space, the Mazda CX-50 is among the smallest compact crossovers you can buy. So if you need more room, you might want to consider a Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage or Toyota RAV4. For off-roading, Subaru's Forester and Outback models are pretty capable. But overall we think the CX-50 is among the best models in its class. Be sure to read our Expert Rating for more details.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.1

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the CX-50 drive? Mazda has made a concerted effort over the years to inject a bit of driving joy into all of its products, and for the most part it works. Mazda's vehicles tend to be among the best-driving models in their classes, and the CX-50 is no different.

　　The upgraded turbocharged engine, which is what our test CX-50 had, is powerful and helps make the CX-50 one of the quickest vehicles in its class. You're never short on power, and the transmission is good at finding the right gear at the right time. Zero-to-60 mph acceleration in our testing took 7.2 seconds. That's slower than a turbo CX-5 we tested but still decently quick for a small SUV.

　　It handles well, too. It's no sports car, but body roll is mild and kept in check better than with most other small crossovers. You're not going to lose your lunch if your drive is particularly curvy. The quick, responsive steering helps the buttoned-down feeling, though we found it requires a bit more muscle than we'd expect for comfortable low-speed maneuvering. Driving through a winding neighborhood shouldn't be work.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the CX-50? The same suspension that gives the CX-50 its engaging handling gives it a firmer ride than some of the competition. That's not to say it's teeth-rattling; you just feel more of the road than you do in others. Bumps are still muted, and the comfortable seats help you settle in even more. The front seats offer decent padding and side bolstering, but we found the rear bench to be a bit flat. Heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear seats are available. Passengers won't have much to complain about in terms of road noise. While it's a bit loud at full throttle, it settles down nicely, with only a mild amount of wind and road noise on the highway.

　　The climate control system is simple in the best sort of way. It uses real buttons and knobs rather than locking everything to the touchscreen or unresponsive capacitive touch controls. It's all easy to see and reach, and rear passengers will really appreciate the air vents.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below