The 2025 Mazda CX-50: Who Is This Car For?

The 2025 Mazda CX-50 is a 5-passenger compact SUV with a rugged, adventurous vibe. The CX-50 is a newer vehicle in the Mazda lineup, debuting for the 2023 model year. While the Mazda CX-50 competes broadly with roughly a dozen rivals such as the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and even its CX-5 sibling in the compact SUV segment, the CX-50 is among a subset of SUVs, including the Subaru Forester, designed for off-road adventures. The Mazda CX-50 is for buyers seeking a rugged yet sophisticated, fun-to-drive compact SUV with some off-road chops.

The Mazda CX-50 comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) and a choice of eager powertrains. Standard is a naturally aspirated (non-turbo) 4-cylinder engine making a healthy 187 horsepower. Even more enticing are models with a turbocharged engine that makes up to 256 hp and enables quick acceleration. Joining the lineup this year is the fuel-efficient Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, which achieves 38 mpg combined.

No matter which trim you choose, the Mazda CX-50 is well-equipped with features such as adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.25-inch display. Available features include heated and ventilated front seats and steering wheel, power tailgate, wireless phone charger, and 12-speaker Bose audio system. The Mazda CX-50 is still quite early in its lifecycle; we might see a midcycle refresh in the next year or two.

2025 Mazda CX-50

• Vehicle segment: Compact SUV
• Passenger capacity: 5
• Trims: 2.5 S Select, 2.5 S Preferred, 2.5 S Premium, 2.5 S Premium Plus, 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition, 2.5 Turbo Premium, 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
• NHTSA safety rating: 5-Star
• Combined MPG: 28
• Top Competitors: Subaru Forester, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Hyundai Tucson, GMC Terrain

Learn more about the 2025 Mazda CX-50 in our Expert Review