If you’re looking for a compact crossover SUV that can tackle some light off-roading, then Mazda wants you to check out their new CX-50. It’s roughly the same size as the CX-5, it has the same powertrains, and the same features. So could this Mazda CX-50 be replacing the CX-5?
Performance
Engine – The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is available with two engines: a naturally aspirated 2.5L 4-cylinder and a turbocharged 2.5L 4-cylinder. This demo vehicle has the latter. This turbo engine can produce upwards of 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque (191 kW & 434 Nm) on premium fuel and 227 hp & 310 lb-ft of torque (169 kW & 420 Nm) with regular fuel. This is a monster of an engine with very few rivals in this class matching it for torque. There are a few that produce similar amounts of power like the Ford Escape EcoBoost or Toyota Rav4 Prime. This engine responds pretty quickly and feels relentless as the rpms climb closer and closer to the redline.
Fuel Economy – With great power comes poor fuel economy. But not so in the Mazda CX-50 Turbo. It is officially rated for 10.4 L/100km (22.6 MPG) in a city and 8.1 L/100km (29 MPG). I averaged 9.5 L/100km (24.7 MPG) during my time with the SUV. Helping this car achieve pretty good fuel efficiency numbers is the new i-stop system. It is an auto start/stop system but it’s the first time (I think) that Mazda has implemented it on one of their vehicles. At the very least, it’s the first Turbo powered vehicle to have it.
Transmission – Like all other Mazda vehicles, the CX-50’s engine’s are paired with a 6-speed automatic. It is a smooth shifting and relatively responsive transmission. It’s not the fastest traditional automatic on sale but it still allows you to have some fun with the CX-50 when the mood takes you.
Braking – The brakes on the Mazda CX-50 are strong with plenty of stopping power. The brake pedal allows for smooth modulation and provides enough feedback to your foot to give you confidence whenever you press on it.
Handling – The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is a little bit wider than the CX-5. From behind the steering wheel, it’s hard to notice any sort of difference in cornering ability of the CX-50 compared to the CX-5. The CX-50 feels and drives like a Mazda vehicle. Steering is sharp and communicative, for an SUV that is. What is evident is the overall width. Thankfully the CX-50 is not as wide as a dually pickup truck but it is about as wide as a luxury compact SUV.
This being an off-road focused SUV, it has an off-road drive mode that changes some of the vehicle’s parameters such as engine idle or throttle response. Depending on which wheels are optioned with the CX-50 (17” or 20”), the ground clearance, approach, departure, and breakover angles are different. This CX-50 Turbo with the 20” wheels has 8.6” of ground clearance, 19° approach angle, 25° departure angle, and 18° break-over angle. However, the tires are not off-road focused like the ones on the Honda Passport Trailsport for example. These are still very much all-season street tires.
If you need to tow, the CX-50 allows for 2,000 lbs with the standard 2.5L engine and up to 3,500 lbs with the Turbo engine. The CX-5 only allows for 2,000 lbs regardless of which engine is under the hood.
Comfort
Ride Comfort – Like many other Mazda vehicles, the CX-50 provides a supple ride. It’s not as soft as the ride of the Kia Sportage but bumps are soaked up by the suspension without feeling too harsh into the seat.
Interior Space – The CX-50 has a bit more legroom than the CX-5 for both front and rear occupants. However, it has less headroom across both rows than the CX-5. That being said, headroom is still good in the CX-50 though some may feel their hair brushing up against the headliner in particular, in the back seats.
The cargo area is also more spacious in the CX-50 than in the CX-5 when all rows of seats are up. It has 889 L (31.4 cu-ft) of space but with the 2nd row seats folded, the CX-50 has less overall cargo capacity than the CX-5. It can provide up to 1,595 L (56.3 cu-ft) of space vs 1,680 L (59.3 cu-ft) for the CX-5.
Noise, Vibration, & Harshness – The CX-50 has a fairly quiet cabin with few outside noises intruding into the car. Engine noise is evident when accelerating from a stop but Mazda’s 4-cylinder’s sound pretty good and I don’t mind the engine tone. Wind noise is minimal as is road noise thanks to the fact that the CX-50’s tires are not off-road focused.
Odds and Ends
Pricing – The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is quite a lot more expensive than the CX-5. It starts at $38,250 CAD ($27,550 USD) with this GT Turbo trim costing $45,700 CAD ($37,150 USD). That is almost $1,500 more expensive than the CX-5 Signature which comes with the Turbo engine as standard and every single feature that is available in the Mazda catalog. There’s also the new Meridian trim that is available for the CX-50 and that further increases the price to $48,200 CAD ($42,300 USD, Turbo Premium Plus), almost $4,000 CAD more than the CX-5 Signature.
Gadgets – At least for the money, the CX-50 comes equipped like the CX-5… and then some. It has the usual features that one would expect from a Mazda such as Nappa leather, heated & ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, dual-zone climate control, head-up display, power liftgate, surround view cameras, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay & wireless Android Auto, wireless phone charging, parking sensors, and so on. But one thing that the CX-50 has over the CX-5 is the panoramic sunroof. This makes the back seats feel more airy and less claustrophobic.
Another thing that the CX-50 has and the CX-5 doesn’t is a touchscreen. They both have the same infotainment system but in the CX-50, you can use the touchscreen to control CarPlay or Android Auto. You don’t have to use the rotary knob. However, you do have to use the knob to control the rest of the infotainment system. Honestly though, it’s not too bad because the infotainment was well designed to work with it.
Interior Design – The interior of the 2023 CX-50 looks much like other Mazda vehicles. Lashings of leather across the dashboard and door panels, premium feeling buttons & knobs, infotainment controls on the center console, and an overall aura of a premium vehicle.
Exterior Design – The exterior of the 2023 Mazda CX-50 looks like a wider, stanced CX-5. I like the flared wheel arches and you can see them in the exterior mirrors, like as though they’re the arches from a Porsche 911. Not quite. But almost… if you squint. Anyway, it’s an overall good looking SUV even with all the extra plastic cladding along the lower portions of the car.
Safety – In Canada, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 has a lot of driver and safety aids as standard but not all of them are available on the base trim. To get features such as surround view cameras, front & rear parking sensors, emergency lane keep with blind spot sensors, adaptive front lights, automatic rear emergency braking, and traffic sign assist, you have to move up to the GT trim.
Should you get into an accident, the Mazda CX-50 will do a good job of protecting you. It scored well in crash tests conducted by the IIHS which is why it earned a Top Safety Pick+.
Warranty – Here in Canada, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 is covered by a 3 year / unlimited km basic warranty and a 5 year / unlimited powertrain warranty. In the United States, the warranty is 3 year / 36,000 mile basic & 5 year / 60,000 mile powertrain. For more info on Canadian warranty, click here. For more info on U.S.A. warranty, click here.
Conclusion – Undoubtedly, Mazda will replace the CX-5 with this new CX-50. However, the CX-50 is quite a lot more money than the CX-5 and I can’t quite put my finger on why that is. It has the same powertrains, it’s roughly the same size, it drives like a Mazda vehicle, but it’s more expensive. Maybe it’s because Mazda wants to compete against Acura, Genesis or even Lexus in which case the price makes sense. But against the CX-5… not so much. Regardless, this new CX-50 still feels like a Mazda vehicle and it is a standout in the class.
Thank you Mazda Canada for providing the vehicle. www.Mazda.ca
2023 Mazda CX-50 GT Turbo Gallery
