2026 Mazda CX-5 vs. 2026 Mazda CX-50 Review

2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Until this year, the Mazda CX-5 hadn’t meaningfully changed in nearly a decade. That’s an eternity in the life cycle of an everyday compact crossover SUV. But during that decade, sales remained strong – with owners valuing its unique strengths and accepting its foibles. 

The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 aims to broaden its appeal with more space, a smoother ride, a more conventional and higher-tech dashboard, and better outward visibility. If that sounds like bad news, fear not – Mazda still sells a second compact crossover that’s more like the old CX-5 in many ways. That’s the 2026 Mazda CX-50, which has been on sale since 2023. 

For this review, we recently spent a week testing both the CX-5 and the CX-50. Keep reading as we discuss how these two Mazdas compare in each of nine categories, then name our overall winner between these two stylish, upscale, and fun-to-drive compact crossovers. Finally, we’ll also discuss some other appealing competitors beyond the Mazda brand. 

Pricing and Features

Not only are they the same size, but the CX-5 and CX-50 have almost identical starting prices – $29,990 and $29,900, respectively. However, the CX-50 has more standard features that cost extra on the CX-5: leatherette upholstery, a wireless smartphone charger, and wireless connectivity for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay mobile integration. Similarly, as you move up each SUV's trim levels, amenities like a sunroof, a power liftgate, genuine leather, ventilated front seats, and a 12-speaker stereo (instead of the standard eight speakers) are available for less money on the CX-50. In each case, the CX-50’s advantage is about $2,000. 

That’s not a huge difference. And both SUVs are luxuriously equipped for well below $40,000. But the CX-50 tends to have more for the money. 

Note that a top-of-the-line CX-50 costs more than the top CX-5. That’s because the CX-50 offers two extra-cost powertrain options that aren’t available on any CX-5 – a turbo engine and a gas-electric hybrid. We’ll talk more about these engines later on, but for now, the CX-50 is the value winner. 

Winner: Mazda CX-50 

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Exterior Design

The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 takes the previous generation’s familiar sporty, smooth body and gives it more elegant taillights, a bigger grille, bigger windows, and some front-end tweaks. It’s a traditionally proportioned compact crossover SUV, upright but rounded. Its slim headlights lend it a sporty flavor without looking angry. 

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 is a chunkier, more rugged-looking crossover. It has a lower, wider stance; bulging fenders; sharper corners; and sturdy gray plastic on its fenders and bumpers. It’s both more outdoorsy and more aggressively sporty than the smoother, taller CX-5. You’ll know which Mazda’s aesthetic suits you best. 

Winner: Tie 

2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Interior Design

Inside, the 2026 Mazda CX-50 is pretty similar to last year’s CX-5. A wide, low 10.25-inch infotainment screen sits atop the slim dashboard. If you’re coming from another Mazda, its operation is familiar: It’s not a touchscreen unless you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Otherwise, you control the system using knobs on the center console between the front seats. The system also has muted graphics with little customization. Buttons and knobs on the dash operate the climate system. The interior is well-finished but low-tech. 

Mazda heard so much grumbling about its lack of touchscreens, the new 2026 CX-5 swung to the opposite extreme. A huge touchscreen dominates the dashboard – 12.9 inches on most trim levels, 15.6 inches on our top S Premium Plus test vehicle. We don’t hate all big touchscreens (we know some people do). But the CX-5’s needs work. All the old buttons and knobs are gone, replaced by touchscreen icons and – worse – menus. Despite the screen’s size, many buttons are tiny and require careful tapping. Sometimes, menus pop up and cover up other buttons, delaying further adjustments. It’s frustrating even when you can give the screen your full attention, and it's dangerously distracting to mess with while driving. To cap it all off, the screen also repeatedly took several minutes to load during our week with the CX-5, locking us out of all the car’s functionality. 

Sure, some of the CX-50’s infotainment controls would force a learning curve if you’re coming from other brands. But things like the climate controls and seat heaters are dead simple. And folks trading in a beloved older CX-5 would be right at home in the CX-50. The CX-5’s interior looks pretty if you like a modern, screen-heavy vibe. But otherwise, the CX-50 takes this category. 

Winner: Mazda CX-50

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Passenger Accommodations

The Mazda CX-50 is a comfortable but snug five-seat compact crossover. The seats are firm and well-shaped, and the backseat can squeeze in adults without too much pinching. The backseat is roomier than last year’s CX-5, which had limited knee space unless the front seats were well forward. 

The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5, meanwhile, has a huge backseat with stretch-out legroom. And thanks to those bigger windows we mentioned, everyone has a better view out. The CX-50 has more comfort amenities for the money, but the new CX-5 has a lot more room. 

Winner: Mazda CX-5

2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Cargo and Utility

The CX-5’s expanded interior carries over to its cargo capacity. It fits 34 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 67 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. That’s up 5 and 8 cubic feet, respectively, from last year’s model. A bigger back hatch also makes it easier to load bulky items. 

The CX-50 isn’t as roomy, with 31 cubic feet of luggage behind the rear seat and 56 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. It can tow more than the CX-5 – 2,000 pounds with its base engine and 3,500 pounds with its optional turbo. The CX-5 tows only 1,500 pounds (as does the CX-50 Hybrid). But we expect more folks will make use of the CX-5’s extra cargo room. 

Winner: Mazda CX-5 

2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Handling

When you start driving the CX-50, its sporty flavor is clear the instant you turn the steering wheel. The steering is firmly weighted, responsive, and precise – our favorite of any compact crossover. And the CX-50 corners with agility, benefiting from its sporty suspension tuning and its relatively low center of gravity. 

The CX-5 drives more like other compact crossovers. The steering is light and easy rather than dialed in and ready to go. It also has sharper moves than most competitors, to be sure. But it’s not as sporty and fun as the CX-50. Some people will prefer the more relaxing CX-5, but the CX-50 is more special. 

Winner: Mazda CX-50 

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Ride

The other flip side of the CX-50’s sporty handling is a stiffer, bumpier ride. And unlike the steering, this won’t be a matter of taste. The CX-50 isn’t intolerable, but you feel bumps punch through more easily. That’s especially true on upper-trim models with 20-inch wheels, like our test vehicle. Base models have 17-inch wheels with thicker, more forgiving sidewalls, but the suspension is still tuned for performance over maximum cushiness.

The CX-5 is smoother. In addition to slightly smaller wheels (they top out at 19 inches), the CX-5 has a more forgiving suspension. It shrugs off bumps that can slam through in the CX-50. It doesn’t feel as buttoned-down as the road-hugging CX-50, but it’s more comfortable. 

Winner: Mazda CX-5

2026 Mazda CX-5 S Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Acceleration

The CX-5 and CX-50 come standard with virtually the same engine: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower that’s tuned to make 186 lb-ft of torque in the CX-5 and 185 lb-ft in the CX-50. It’s also the same engine as last year’s CX-5 – a proven, simple engine with no turbocharger and paired with an old-school six-speed automatic transmission. It’s acceptably powerful for a mainstream-brand, budget-friendly compact SUV. But it doesn’t go further. 

As we mentioned, the CX-50 has two other options: a 219-hp hybrid (using a powertrain shared with the previous-generation Toyota RAV4) and a turbocharged version of the base 2.5-liter four, which makes 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque (or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft using premium-grade fuel). The previous-generation CX-5 also offered the turbo engine, which is now exclusive to the CX-50. Both the hybrid and the turbo add some zip to the CX-50, and the turbo helps it compete with luxury-brand SUVs. 

The CX-50 Turbo starts at $37,900 in a well-equipped trim level that’s about $3,000 more than the most comparable model with the base engine. The hybrid starts at $34,750, about $2,000 more than the comparable base engine. If you stick with the CX-50’s non-turbo, non-hybrid engine, you’ll find no difference between it and the CX-5. But the CX-50’s two available upgrades give it the win here. 

Winner: Mazda CX-50

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Fuel Economy

It’s the same story with gas mileage. With the base engine and standard all-wheel drive, both crossovers get an acceptable but unexceptional 24 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined in EPA testing. The CX-50 Turbo dips by 1 mpg, but the big story is the CX-50 Hybrid. 

The EPA estimates that the CX-50 Hybrid gets 39 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined, and we averaged 40 mpg when we tested one. We averaged 28 mpg in our CX-5 test vehicle and 24 mpg in our CX-50 Turbo, without repeating our test conditions scientifically. (We haven’t measured mileage in a CX-50 with the base engine.)

Based on the EPA numbers, the CX-5 and CX-50 are a tie with their gas engines – and the hybrid crushes both. Mazda promises a CX-5 Hybrid in the future, but the CX-50 wins for now. 

Winner: Mazda CX-50

2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Final Thoughts

The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 builds upon its predecessor’s style, sporty handling, and value for the money with a roomier interior, a modern dashboard, and a smoother ride. But the all-touchscreen controls would be a questionable choice even with a perfect touchscreen – instead, the CX-5 has tiny icons, clunky menus, and buggy operation. And by dropping the turbo engine option, Mazda pulled back from the CX-5’s premium status. It drives decently and looks good, and it's no longer too small. But it’s less special than before, and you’d have to tolerate the screen’s style (debatable) and ergonomics (lousy). 

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 isn’t the right crossover for everyone. Some drivers won’t love the heavy steering and bumpy ride. Others won’t be a fan of its smaller screen or unconventional controls. And it doesn’t have a huge backseat or cargo hold. Still, it’s our winner. 

With its sharper handling and available turbo engine, the CX-50 has a more premium experience than the CX-5 – despite packing in more features for the money. With its available hybrid, the CX-50 is much cheaper to refuel. And while its infotainment isn’t perfect, we’d pick it any day over the CX-5’s. This is a fun-to-drive, luxurious, and reasonably functional crossover at an excellent price. 

Winner: Mazda CX-50

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus ・ Photo by Brady Holt