#mazda #cx5 #cx50 #hybrid #rav4 #crv
In this video I share my thoughts on the 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid. It’s quick, effiicient, and has great materials overall…plus it’s fairly sporty. How does it stack up against the new CX-5 Rav4 and CR-V?
Mazda North American Operations today announces packaging updates for the 2026 Mazda CX-50, which is assembled in America at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) plant in Huntsville, Alabama. Purpose-built for active lifestyles, the CX-50 blends rugged capability with Mazda’s signature refined driving experience, offering a versatile, engaging crossover SUV with robust safety, technology, and convenience features.
CX-50 2.5 S MODELS
CX-50 2.5 S models are powered by a Skyactiv-G 2.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque on regular 87-octane fuel. This engine is paired with a Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission. All CX-50 2.5 S models come standard with i-Activ AWD and Mazda Intelligent Drive Select, or Mi-Drive, with Sport and Off-Road modes.
CX-50 HYBRID MODELS
The CX-50 Hybrid is comprised of a 2.5L naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, hybrid EV battery, three electric motors, Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT), standard Electric AWD (eAWD), and Mi-Drive modes Power and Trail. This setup is good for 219 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque on regular 87-octane fuel. CX-50 Hybrid has an EPA estimated 38 MPG combined and 551-mile total driving range.
CX-50 2.5 TURBO MODELS
The CX-50 2.5 Turbo is powered by a Skyactiv-G 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium 93-octane fuel or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular 87-octane fuel. The engine pairs with a Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and has standard i-Activ AWD.
00:00 – Can CX-50 Hybrid Compete?
00:49 – Powertrain
02:34 – Walkaround
03:41 – cargo
04:11 – backseat
05:04 – Cockpit
08:55 – Drive Impressions and 0-60
17:41 – Fuel Economy Results
18:33 – Cross-Shopping CX-50
22:45 – final score
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Correction: Base engine 2.5L has 187HP not 181HP. The turbo model has 256HP on 93 octane or 226hp on 87…cheers!
Just purchased a 2020 Mazda CX5 Signature with 30,000 miles. Great vehicle, as you indicated, except for the driver seat! Foam is way too hard in the lower bolster. Off to upholstery shop next week. Very high quality overall 👨✈️
Toyota is too expensive, service is awful in Puerto Rico, they just sell sell sell you things…Mazda is a great brand, quality, the cx50 is made in a US toyota FACILITY and it’s damn pretty.
Thanks for not bashing the control knob and the minimal screen like every other car reviewer. That’s a sub from me. 👍🏽 I hated they got rid of these on the new CX-5, and it’s the main reason why I’m not getting one anymore.
I would switch from the Lexus to this if only it had the 360 camera and lane centering.
It seems the heated steering wheel in the Mazdas work based on outside temperature. When it’s cold, it heats up really well but if it’s moderately cold, it’s more lukewarm. It’s weird, and annoying that the top and bottom of the wheel doesn’t heat at all.
CX-50 looks nice. CX-5 looks so weird this year.
Which one drives better..the 2026 hybrid cx50 or the turbo cx50 or the 2026 cx5 ?
Just bought a white CX-50 Hybrid. Love it so far
I have this vehicle. The heated steering wheel gets plenty hot quickly but only in the 10 and 2 positions.
nice reviews . can you review Mazda subscription? price and what it comes with it. thanks.
Great review!! Very thorough comparisons. 2015 CX5, now in my 2020 CX5 GT with 140,000 and runs like it just came off the lot. Full dealer maintenance (key). My advice- DRIVE THEM ALL BEFORE YOU BUY. I did before buying my 2nd CX5. Mazda has the driver experience down. I’ve driven the CX 50 and like that one as well. My only complaints are visibility. The forester wins that hands down. But the Mazdas are so much more fun to drive. Thanks for a great review!
Yea Kirk that new C5X wheel base is ugly ass shit 💩, I wouldn’t go near the new CX5, mazda is going regret messing up with there top selling vehicle
Have you done a 2026 Rav4 review/ranking? Just got a '26 XLE Premium and it outshined the Mazdas we drove, and we're a Mazda family.
did i see the nissan frontier at #2?
We narrowed our choice down to either the RAV4 or the CX-50 and went with the CX-50 hybrid for two reasons. First was Mazda's use of the bulletproof Toyota hybrid system but almost as importantly was vehicle availability. Toyota dealers around us would be happy to put us on their waiting list for a new RAV4 and would be even happier to move us up on the list if we were willing to purchase "dealer installed upgrades" (paint protection, glass etching, nitrogen filled tires…). Mazda dealers on the other hand had CX-50 hybrids in stock and were willing to sell them below MSRP.
While we love Toyotas we found their lack of availability and pricing to be such an issue that it just made more sense to go Mazda.
For about the same price point, what would be a better buy, the Mazda CX-50 hybrid preferred, or a 2026 Crosstrek Hybrid.
Mazda OEM wheels are very heavy in larger sizes. 20" wheel can be about 35-40 lbs depending on width. You can feel more acceleration, steering response, and small city gas mileage by switching to inexpensive quality wheels from brands like Enkei that can save 8-12 lbs on each 20" wheel.
I'm Leasing the 2025 cx-50 Hybrid. I think i will buy a used a MX-5 again when the lease ends. But it is a good car the CX-50, nice and comfortable interiors.
Just an FYI .. the 4th gen Toyota Hybrid system is used in today's 2026 GRAND HIGHLANDER so the 4th gen system is still a very solid system.
If Mazda used the same Phev system as the Rav 4 I'd prob buy the Mazda over the RAV4. The driving experience of a Mazda is a lot nicer than Toyotas economy suspension and steering.
Did anyone else think he was. “Kyle hates hiking” when I looked at this guy’s video. I thought it was this guy.
The lack of certain features, like 360° cameras, is because Toyota wouldn’t let Mazda integrate certain features that would compete with their models while using their hybrid drivetrain. 9:05
18:30 depending on how you drive you can get some vehicles reliably 50% better on fuel economy and double if you try hard
My CRZ can squeeze out over 70MPG (nearly 700 miles on this 10gal tank without running it to empty) and my 96 fleetwood can crest 40MPG, might not sound impressive, but it is a 6 door limousine with a beefed up suspension and rear end as well as medium truck tires, opposed to the factory 4 door sedan with normal highway tires and longer gearing
Does the turbo also have hybrid to get to that 250 number or could there be an even more powerful trim in the future
Also, i much prefer a hybrid system that is always at low engine input to get the best fuel economy out of it rather than one that shuts the engine off, then runs at higher throttle, speed is the enemy of efficiency, and that includes piston speed. I can squeeze 70MPG out of my Honda CRZ if i can keep that RPM under 1500 on hills by using a speed control technique i personally call throttle control, because i have a set throttle and my speed will go up and down based on the terrain, but my average speed will be just a bit below the speed limit if i have big hills and dont want to go flying down them doing 25 over
Your honesty is appreciated, especially since you typically rave about Mazda. This car is a big disappointment. It's WAY behind the times in so many ways. The only car in its class that it MIGHT be better than is Mazda's own new CX5, which is a disaster due to its controls. We shopped the CX-50 back in 2024, & it was a poor choice even then (horrible seats, too cramped, tiny, dated screen, etc.) Would also be concerned about future service for this Toyota powerplant at a Mazda dealership. Almost anything else in this class ias a better buy than the CX-50, & now the CX-5 as well. Mazda had better fix things, fast.
CRV seems to offer the best price-performance ratio.
I know why everyone talk about cx 50….. because cx 5 2026 look shittt :)))
6:30 Horse and rider vs what the hell
Definitely a better car than the cx-5, and RAV4. Only two things keeping me from buying: not made in Japan quality and no lane centering when cruising. Are you sure it wouldn’t follow the lanes on highways? That’s so useful on road trips and a deal breaker.
Kirk, this was the best review I've seen yet on the CX 50. I've seen many. Well done!
Unfortunately, the cx-50 hybrid is not available in Canada anymore.
In my opinion, the interior is very boring, kind of lack of a will to create something more cosy
I think heated seats AND heated steering wheels, are RIDICULOUS! Stop being a pussy people!!
The steering wheel, alone, is a work of art.