When Mazda debuted the CX-50 for the 2023 model year, it introduced a compact SUV mechanically similar to the popular Mazda CX-5 but with a smaller footprint, low-slung stance, and some rugged features.
It’s not intended to traverse the harshest environments, but with standard AWD and an off-road drive mode, you can go far from the madding crowd easily. Even if you never venture off the pavement, the CX-50 works well as a comfortable, practical daily driver.
Passenger Room and Comfort
Despite having fewer cubic feet of passenger space than the CX-5, the CX-50 is competitive with many in the compact SUV segment. The headroom measures 39.1 inches, and the legroom extends to 41.7 inches in the front. The seats are well-cushioned and comfortable, whether covered in cloth, leatherette, or natural leather. Meanwhile, rear occupants lose about an inch from those dimensions but remain on par for the segment.
Although the CX-50 has a lower seating position, it still manages 8.3 inches of ground clearance, nearly an inch more than the CX-5 with similarly sized 17-inch wheels.
Features and Tech
Mazda dropped the entry-level 2.5 S trim for the 2024 CX-50, and the lineup now starts with the 2.5 S Select. The 2.5 S Preferred Plus has been renamed the Premium Package. These changes, especially the latter, will slightly shuffle the standard features.
Standard features on all models now include half-leatherette seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear selector, a 10.25-inch full-color center display, dual-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter and rear-seat vents, 60/40-split rear seat with a remote fold-down handle, a rear center armrest with two cupholders, and HD Radio. These additions join original entry-level fare like Sport and Off-Road drive modes, remote keyless entry and push-button start, and basics you would expect like power windows.
The standard infotainment system is Mazda Connect, and it comes with 8-speaker audio, Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and, as the name implies, a host of connected services like Wi-Fi and location and emergency services. Dual USB ports appear in the front and rear.
The Preferred trim adds 3-level heated front seats with an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, including lumbar, heated mirrors, and a power liftgate with programmable height.
The CX-50 enters near-luxury SUV territory with the Premium Package trim. It has a Bose 12-speaker premium audio system, SiriusXM, a wireless phone charger, and a power-sliding panoramic moonroof. However, a few Premium Package features from 2023 moved up to the Premium Plus this year. Auto-dimming review mirror with HomeLink, leather seats, 2-position driver’s seat memory, 6-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, black metal trim, and contrast stitching join other Premium Plus features like a head-up display and ventilated front seats.
Interior features on the Turbo models largely mirror their non-turbo counterparts, except for paddle shifters added to the steering wheel. The Turbo Premium includes a heated steering wheel, head-up display, and ventilated front seats. The Turbo Premium Plus gains heated rear seats, traffic sign recognition to the head-up display, and a SiriusXM Traffic & Travel Link 3-year subscription.
Materials and Design
The interior design and material quality are among the many strong suits of the Mazda CX-50. The Mazda brand has been building premium cars and SUVs without premium prices for a while now. The all-new CX-50 continues that trend. It will seem like you’re sitting in a more expensive vehicle, especially in the upper trims.
Cloth seats with leatherette trim are standard, while the 2.5 S Premium Plus and higher trims go full leather. Also, all trims come with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The cabin lacks cheap, hard plastics. Everything the driver touches feels nice.
As for the interior design, it has a lovely simplicity to it. You can control the infotainment system with a knob, but while using Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, you can use touch controls like a tablet. All other controls are accessible to the driver and come without a learning curve.
Cargo Room and Flexibility
The wagon-like body of the Mazda CX-50 yields a pretty roomy cargo hold. It also has a respectably low load floor for an SUV in this class, making it easier to load and unload. Standard 60/40-split folding back seats allow some customization of passenger and cargo space.
With the back seats in place, you get 31.4 cubic feet of cargo room, about 1.5 cubic feet more than the Mazda CX-5. The cargo hold increases to 56.3 cubic feet with the back seats folded down but does not meet the CX-5’s capacity of 59.3 cubic feet. The roomiest SUVs in this class, like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, are near 40 with the rear seat up and 70 cubic feet with it down.
Build and price your 2024 Mazda CX-50 to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see CX-50 models for sale near you.
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