Unlike Mazda’s latest 2-row crossover (the third-generation CX-5), the CX-50 Hybrid sticks with the company’s outgoing infotainment setup for 2026. That means you’ll be greeted by a refreshing balance of physical and soft controls, as well as a main display that encourages less touching and more time with eyes on the road.
That’s important to consider when interior technology is a common pain point for shoppers of modern vehicles. Sometimes it feels like automakers listen to the complaints and make the appropriate adjustments, while others go their own way entirely. Mazda did just that with the debut of their latest system in the CX-5, which does away with almost every button and knob you can find in the CX-50 Hybrid. Unless you are familiar with Tesla’s approach, the changes may be a little daunting.
The CX-50 Hybrid, then, presents a more traditional alternative. Introduced for the 2025 model year, this hybrid powertrain was poached directly from the previous-generation Toyota RAV4, and while its infotainment system barely differs from the one in the gas-only variant, there are a few extra hybrid-specific pages and views to note.
Here’s everything you need to know:
The Main Display Sits High on the Dash
Across the trim hierarchy, the center touchscreen comes in at 10.25 inches and rests closer to the base of the windshield than the edge of the dashboard. This gives your eyes less distance to travel when shifting glances from the road to the screen. However, it is a bit of a reach from the driver’s position, especially for shorter drivers.
Mazda combats this by locking users out of the touchscreen unless they are using phone mirroring (Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, both wireless in the CX-50 Hybrid). More recent updates to this system have added the ability to unlock the touchscreen for the whole system, but the backup remains a control wheel, dubbed the Commander Control knob, on the center console just below the gear shifter. It has a premium feel and clicks satisfyingly when you rotate it or bump it. Most observers find this more cumbersome than a full touchscreen after a limited amount of time in the car, but give it time, and its operation becomes second nature in both the native UI and phone-mirroring apps.
Amazon Alexa Can Do Things for You
If your fingers are greasy and you don’t want to use your hands whatsoever, Mazda gives the CX-50 Hybrid Amazon Alexa integration. This enables Alexa as the vehicle’s voice assistant, giving you access to other products in your Amazon ecosystem and internet-based queries. It isn’t integrated enough to control the vehicle’s main functions (HVAC, seats, etc.), but it can do a lot for Amazon users who like the functionality of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Standard Wireless Phone Charging
The CX-50 Hybrid comes standard with a single wireless phone charger in the center console. It is nestled just before the release lever for the storage space below the front occupants’ elbows and sits at an angle that prevents your phone from sliding around during spirited driving. While not as fast or as heat-protective as the modern Qi2 plus MagSafe setup rolling out across the industry right now, this charger does a decent job of quelling overheating in modern smartphones.
There is an Available Surround-View Camera System … But …
The one downside of the CX-50 Hybrid’s adherence to the old infotainment configuration is that it retains a lower-quality camera setup than the new CX-5. Specifically, when it’s time to stitch the overhead camera angles together, Mazda leaves bulky borders in between each one. Competitors outside the brand have also been able to achieve sharper, more seamless imagery with their systems, so we hope this one receives an upgrade soon.
The Premium Bose Audio System is Killer
The CX-50 Hybrid’s top two trim levels come with a seriously impressive Bose 12-speaker surround-sound audio system with Centerpoint and AudioPilot technologies. Even after seven years in production (first offered in the 2019 Mazda3), we think it is hands down one of the best on the market for under $50K. This specific Bose setup can be found across the Mazda lineup (outside of the MX-5 Miata) and delivers crisp, well-balanced sound even when Bluetooth streaming or wirelessly phone mirroring. Audiophiles should give the CX-50 Hybrid a test drive just for that alone.
