![]() ![]() Most SUVs in this class don't offer upgrade engines at all-only the Bronco Sport and Escape with their optional turbo 2.0-liter four deliver similar acceleration. Those numbers are a few ticks behind the CX-5's but are still strong for the segment. Saddled with an extra 57 pounds compared with the last CX-5 Signature we tested, our all-wheel-drive CX-50 2.5 Turbo test car got to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds at 91 mph. Unlike with most mainstream vehicles, engaging the CX-50's Sport mode actually does something: The steering firms up and the throttle mapping is noticeably snappier, so much so that it improves the CX-50's acceleration by a few tenths. LOWS: Infotainment quirks, costlier than a CX-5, trying too hard for a rugged image. (We assume the same will apply to the CX-50's base powertrain, a 187-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four.) The turbo engine provides a strong swell of low-end torque, and the transmission shifts crisply and does a great job of predicting what gear you want. Given that its turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four-which makes 256 horsepower on 93-octane fuel and 227 horsepower on 87-octane-and six-speed automatic transmission are shared with upper trims of the CX-5, much of the driving experience is familiar. An upcoming off-road-themed CX-50 Meridian Edition will offer all-terrain tires, along with a hood graphic, a basket rack, and a few other accessories. Towing and Off-Road drive modes join the Normal and Sport selections and bring different calibrations for the steering, transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and throttle response. And Mazda says it beefed up the CX-50's engine cooling to increase towing capacity: Equipped with the optional turbo engine, the CX-50 can tow up to 3500 pounds, while the CX-5 Turbo maxes out at 2000. For one, it has slightly more ground clearance than the CX-5. 2023 Mazda CX-50 Is More Expensive Than the CX-5Ĭompared with its stablemate, the CX-50 does offer a bit of real capability to go with the imagined variety.Tested: 2022 Mazda CX-5 Stays the Course.It all comes together in a design that's far more modern than that of the current CX-5, which got a facelift for 2022 but still doesn't look all that different than it did in 2017. Although the CX-50's black plastic cladding and faux vents are a bit overdone, we like its more athletic stance and wide haunches. The CX-50's body is 1.4 inches lower, 3.0 inches wider, and 5.7 inches longer (most of that length is from a 4.6-inch wheelbase stretch), giving it station-wagon-esque proportions that are more Subaru Outback than Forester. The CX-50 and CX-5 share powertrains, but there are notable differences in the packaging. If that sounds like a familiar refrain, it's because we've heaped similar praise upon the CX-5, which has won multiple 10Best awards and is Mazda's bestseller by far. We decided to ignore the outdoorsy shtick and instead found the CX-50 to have a pleasant on-road driving demeanor, an appealing design, and class-above refinement-all for about the same price as its mainstream competitors. But look no further than these Goodyear Eagle Touring tires as an indicator as to how much farther this Mazda can really go.HIGHS: Refined powertrain, good ride and handling balance, premium looks. The result is the CX-5’s bigger brother - nearly 6” longer, slightly narrower, and with a lower roofline replete with real SUV curb appeal. Mazda says they’ve “extended this vehicle’s capability to enable drivers to venture further into the outdoors and various terrains” but let’s be honest - the CX-50’s ruggedness is mostly about its looks. Pricing starts at $28,025 including destination for the base S trim and tops out here with my tester at $43,320 for the top-of-the-line Turbo Premium Plus. All-wheel drive now comes standard on all Mazda utility vehicles and this one also includes off-road and towing drive modes for improved performance. Introducing the CX-50 - a longer, more attractive, and only slightly more expensive CX-5 with higher ground clearance and improved towing capability. Mazda’s sensuous Kodo design gets their vehicles noticed, but the SUVs look too pretty to get dirty, so they’ve been missing out on the recent trend to veer off into the woods.
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