2026 Mazda CX-50 Road Test and Review

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

The Mazda CX-5 is the brand’s sales leader. For years, this compact crossover SUV has charmed owners with its high-end looks and sporty performance. When Mazda added a second compact crossover in 2023, CX-5 loyalists raised their eyebrows. They felt the boxier CX-50 didn’t look as upscale as the graceful CX-5. Many trim levels had a bumpier ride. And it cost more. 

But after a slow start, CX-50 sales have surged higher. They nearly doubled two years in a row, and rose another 36 percent last year. Buyers have come around to the CX-50’s appeal – a little more space inside, a tauter feel to its steering and handling, and, last year, the introduction of a gas-electric hybrid model. 

Now, the CX-5 has gotten a controversial new redesign. Its optional turbo engine is gone. A plus-sized touchscreen has arrived in its place. That leaves even more reason to consider the 2026 Mazda CX-50. It continues to offer what CX-5 loyalists are missing in the new model – the optional turbo and a slimmer digital experience paired with physical controls – along with its own advantages. For this review, we just spent a week testing the 2026 Mazda CX-50 to learn more about its pros and cons. Keep reading to learn whether this upscale, fun-to-drive SUV is the right compact crossover for you. 

Bargain-Priced Luxury

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 isn’t the least expensive compact crossover on the market. It starts at $29,900 plus a mandatory $1,495 destination charge. But if you value all the luxury features that Mazda packs into entry-level CX-50s, it becomes a compelling bargain. 

Every CX-50 includes all-wheel drive, which costs about $2,000 extra on the typical competitor. The S Select also brings an eight-speaker stereo, 17-inch alloy wheels, partial leatherette upholstery (with cloth inserts), automatic climate control, push-button starting, adaptive cruise control, a wireless smartphone charger, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. The S Preferred, $32,400, adds a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and front and rear parking sensors. And the S Premium, $34,900, has full leather, ventilated front seats, a power passenger’s seat, memory settings for the power driver’s seat, a 12-speaker stereo, and 20-inch wheels. Even a value-focused competitor like the Hyundai Tucson costs more than $40,000 with all that. However, if you're OK with front-wheel drive and a less potent stereo, a few competing SUVs have lower starting prices than the CX-50 S Select. 

The CX-50 is also available in the off-road-themed S Meridian Edition with all-terrain tires ($33,150, equipped similarly to the S Preferred). But more notably, you can also pay extra for one of two very different engine upgrades. Let’s cover those next. 

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

Choice of Three Powertrains

Since its debut, the CX-30 has come with a choice of two engines. The S trim levels we mentioned above have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 187 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. Our test vehicle has the optional turbo version of this engine with 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque (or 256 hp and 320 lb-ft if you use premium-grade fuel). It delivers quieter, quicker acceleration than the base engine. Sure, the base engine gets the job done. But if you’re willing to pay for it, the turbo is the natural complement to the CX-50’s delightfully sharp steering and handling, richly finished interior, and high-end amenities.

The CX-50 Turbo starts at $37,900, which is $3,000 more than the S Premium while adding power-folding side mirrors, a head-up display, and steering-responsive headlights. Other turbcharged models are the Turbo Meridian Edition ($40,400) and the Turbo Premium Plus like our test vehicle ($42,900). It’s loaded up with a surround-view parking camera, heating for the steering wheel and rear seats, GPS navigation, and rear automatic braking. 

Then there’s the hybrid. It uses a Toyota gas-electric powertrain, with a gas engine plus an electric motor that combine to make 219 hp. It’s a little quicker and much more fuel-efficient than the base engine. But in part thanks to its continuously variable transmission (CVT), it makes more of a droning sound than the gas engine’s heartier growl. The hybrid comes as the Preferred ($34,750), Premium ($38,150), and Premium Plus ($40,450). 

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Wide Range of Gas Mileage

The CX-50 Hybrid has the obvious advantage of efficiency. In EPA testing, it gets 39 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 38 mpg combined. Aside from plug-in vehicles, you won’t find an SUV that uses much less gas. We averaged 33 mpg when we tested one in cold winter weather, when hybrids often struggle. 

Other CX-50s aren’t too economical. The base engine trails key competitors like the Honda CR-V and Nissan Rogue with ratings of 24 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. At least the turbo dips by just 1 mpg. Our CX-50 Turbo test vehicle just missed its EPA estimate to average 24 mpg in a week of mixed driving.

Unlike most competitors, you can’t choose a front-wheel-drive CX-50 to save either a few dollars or a couple of miles per gallon. And its six-speed conventional automatic transmission is a proven no-fuss piece of equipment, but competitors have adopted more advanced technologies that boost mileage. 

Overall, you’d choose the CX-50’s base engine as the affordable way to get the rest of the CX-50 package. You’d get the hybrid to slash your fuel bills, especially in stop-and-go traffic. And you’d get the turbo when you’re willing to pay up (when you buy the SUV and when you refuel it) for a thoroughly premium experience. 

Until this year, you could get the Mazda CX-5 with the same gas engines as the CX-50 – the base engine and the turbo. Now, the redesigned 2026 CX-5 has dropped the turbo, so the CX-50 will need to fill that void. And the CX-5 has never offered a hybrid version, though Mazda promises one in the future. 

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Outdoorsy Mazda

When it debuted, Mazda distinguished the CX-50 from the CX-5 with its boxier shape and chunkier details. Its marketing team pitches the CX-50 for off-road adventures – or at least being the on-road companion that takes you to your off-road adventure. Picture an “active lifestyle” that involves driving to a trailhead, not driving your SUV down a trail. The CX-50’s lower, wider stance looks sporty, but Mazda also notes that it’s easier to load your canoe or mountain bike onto the roof. 

To be clear, the CX-50 is still instantly recognizable as a Mazda. That means it’s a handsome, upscale-looking small SUV. It’s just one with a few off-road-ready touches. 

Now, the 20-inch wheels found on many trim levels wouldn’t be our pick for a rutted dirt road. They stiffen up the ride in everyday driving, too. The S Select and S Preferred, along with the Hybrid Premium, have 17-inch wheels for a gentler ride and more affordable tire replacements. And the Meridian Editions (both with and without the turbo engine) have 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. 

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

Familiar Interior for Mazda Fans

As huge digital screens take over modern cars’ interiors, most Mazdas have held back. Purely on the spec sheet, the 2026 Mazda CX-50’s 10.25-inch infotainment screen is in line with the competition. But Mazda keeps the screen low and slim atop the dash. It has muted graphics and limited customizability. And unless you pair your phone via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, it’s not a touchscreen; you interact via buttons and a scroll wheel between the front seats. Even then, touch functionality disappears when you’re driving. It’s the antithesis of frustrating touch-based controls, but perhaps to the extreme. 

The redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5 swung to the other extreme. A huge touchscreen dominates the dashboard, and all the old buttons and knobs are gone. Many Mazda loyalists have lamented the change. And we suspect it’s a step too far for some other buyers, too. 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. And anyone can appreciate the CX-50's luxury-grade interior materials and build quality. 

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

Snug But Not Cramped

The redesigned CX-5 is roomier than both its predecessor and the CX-50. But the CX-50 splits the difference between the old and new CX-5s. You don’t stretch out in the CX-50's backseat, and you can’t fit as much cargo as function-focused competitors like the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Nissan Rogue. But you can still fit four people (five in a pinch), and the CX-50’s front seats are supportive and comfortable. 

For cargo, the CX-50 fits 31 cubic feet of luggage behind the rear seat and 56 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The rivals we mentioned are each in the upper 70s. Still, that’s not quite as bad as it sounds. The CX-50’s lower roof means you can’t stack your stuff as high to the ceiling – which you might not be trying to do anyway. Even so, competitors’ boxier cargo holds can prove valuable, so be aware of your cargo needs. At least if you’re shopping the CX-50 against a luxury-branded compact crossover – an Audi rather than a Hyundai – the Mazda’s cargo volume is right in line with the competition. 

The base CX-50 is rated to tow up to 2,000 pounds, the turbo can handle up to 3,500 pounds, and the hybrid tops out at 1,500 pounds. 

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

Highest Safety Status

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 is one of just four compact crossovers to earn the highest status of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, reflecting its performance in crash tests and collision-avoidance evaluations. It also earned five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s frontal- and side-impact crash tests. However, the CX-50 received the lowest score of Poor in the IIHS’s new rear-impact test, which isn’t yet part of the Top Safety Pick criteria. 

The CX-50 comes packed with advanced safety features even on the base model. These include forward automatic braking, a lane-departure warning with automatic steering assistance, and blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert. And all but the base model include front and rear parking sensors. However, only the top Turbo Premium Plus like our test vehicle has rear automatic braking, a frontal cross-traffic warning, or a surround-view parking camera. 

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

CX-50 vs. the Competition

Throughout this review, we’ve discussed how the CX-50 compares with the redesigned 2026 Mazda CX-5. The CX-5 is roomier and has a more conventionally modern infotainment system, with a huge bright touchscreen but no more physical dashboard controls. And we mentioned that they share a base engine but that only the CX-50 lets you upgrade to a hybrid or turbo. 

When you’re looking for a sporty and luxurious flavor in this segment, our other top choices are the Volkswagen Tiguan and Honda CR-V. The Tiguan is the more overtly luxurious of the two, with livelier engines and posher interior details. It also has more space inside and a smoother ride than the CX-50. It has a big screen-focused dashboard like the new CX-5, but it’s paired with a few more physical controls (though still fewer than the CX-50). However, the CX-50 costs less, especially if you want an upgraded engine. And you can’t get a Tiguan hybrid. 

The CR-V is a more subtle vehicle – nice to drive but not flashy inside or out, with a focus on low-dazzle, easy-to-use controls. Unlike the Tiguan and CX-50, you can’t get it with a powerful gas engine. But unlike the Tiguan, you can get an excellent CR-V Hybrid. The Honda is roomier than the Mazda or VW, too. However, it tends to cost more than a comparably equipped CX-50, and it has fewer available luxury features. 

If you’re just looking for an ordinary compact crossover at a reasonable price, other well-rounded and affordable models include the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, and Nissan Rogue. They can’t match the Mazda’s sporty handling or richly finished interior, or the power of a CX-50 Turbo. But they have more room, smoother rides, and even lower starting prices. 

2026 Volkswagen Tiguan SEL R-Line Turbo ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Final Thoughts

By now, you’re either wondering why anyone would buy a 2026 Mazda CX-50 – or you can’t wait to take one home. 

For driving enjoyment, luxury, and value, the CX-50 is an attractive and aggressively priced alternative to a luxury SUV like an Audi Q5 or Lexus NX. And it’s a way to keep CX-5 customers in the Mazda fold if they don’t like that model’s new direction. 

Be prepared for less space in the rear seat and cargo hold than the typical mainstream-brand compact crossover. Unless you get the hybrid, be prepared for unremarkable gas mileage. And if you get the big 20-inch wheels, be prepared for the ride to feel stiff over bumps. If those drawbacks aren’t disqualifying, and you’ll appreciate the CX-50’s sporty and upscale touch, you don't even have to pay a fortune to get it.

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