Experiencing the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid

I have a theory that the car you drive is a bit like the clothes you wear. Think about it: When you put on your favorite Patagonia vest and maybe some Danner kicks, you feel ready to hit the trail at a moment’s notice, even if that’s not in the day’s plans.

That psychology plays into a lot of modern SUVs, especially ones designed with off-pavement capability in mind. Example A is the Mazda CX-50, which debuted a couple of years ago as a more trail-ready sibling to the CX-5. The CX-50 features an off-road-specific drive mode, additional body protection, and enhanced ground clearance over the CX-5. Now the model is further improved with the introduction of the 2025 CX-50 Hybrid, which has those traits and then adds superior fuel economy to the equation.

Adventure Awaits

In testing the new Mazda CX-50 Hybrid over a week, its outdoorsy vibe and up-for-anything demeanor quickly took hold. As with other Mazda vehicles, this one is an excellent commuter in the city and on the highway, but it also inspired me to get out in nature, even if that nature was a local mountain trail proudly rising above the suburbs below.

I’d been wanting to check out the Double Peak trail in San Marcos, California, for a while, and the CX-50 Hybrid provided the perfect excuse to finally go. So I laced up my trail running shoes that hadn’t seen action in way too long, climbed into the CX-50 Hybrid, and headed for an impromptu, midweek adventure.

Toyota Heart, Mazda Soul

First, I had to get to the trailhead, about a 45-minute drive from me, and the Mazda excelled in the urban jungle. Its 219 horsepower from the gas-electric powertrain is actually more potent than the standard CX-50’s stable of 187 horses, which means getting up to freeway speeds and passing slower traffic was never an issue. And though this powertrain comes through a shared partnership with Toyota — it’s the same found in the 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid — the CX-50 Hybrid feels like a different animal. In short, the CX-50 Hybrid retains the sporty, athletic manners Mazda loyalists love.

My tester was a CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus, the highest of the three available trims. While all CX-50 Hybrid models are equipped well with features like standard all-wheel drive (AWD), power tailgate, dual-zone climate control, 8-way power driver’s seat, 10.25-inch display with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, heated front seats, and a slew of active safety systems, the top trim brims with some especially welcome goodies. Included are a helpful head-up display, ventilated front seats, Bose premium audio, and leather upholstery.

A Partner for All Roads

Getting anywhere at any time on a Southern California freeway can feel like something out of a “Mad Max” movie, and I especially appreciated the CX-50 Hybrid’s stress-relieving adaptive cruise control and the head-up display (HUD) that informed me every time a car was in my blind spot — which was pretty much all the time. By the way, Mazda calls its HUD an Active Driving Display. Cool!

Less than an hour later, I arrived at the trailhead. “Trailhead” might be overstating it, because in reality it was a flat dirt lot, but it’s always nice to pull into such a spot next to highly outfitted off-road SUVs and not feel out of place. You won’t feel disappointed doing so in a CX-50 Hybrid.

And I wasn’t disappointed in the destination. Once there, I discovered a fantastic, new-to-me spot for trail running with miles of undulating single- and double-track, the smell of sagebrush, and stellar views of the city below. It was the reset my body and soul needed.

Once back in the CX-50 Hybrid and on my way home to reality, I especially appreciated its ventilated seats that quickly cooled my posterior, large bottle holders in the doors that kept my Yeti snug, and its excellent efficiency that barely moved the fuel gauge needle during my impromptu outing.

During my days and many miles in the CX-50 Hybrid, I found a willing partner that enabled me to enjoy the destinations it brought me to as much as the journey itself.

See 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid inventory available