At first glance, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 and CX-5 might seem like they’d step on each other’s toes, but the CX-50 is a bit wider, giving it more interior hip room. It’s also longer and has nearly an inch more ground clearance, yet it has a lower roof, making it easier to load items when using a rooftop carrier. As a newer design, the CX-50 also offers the latest Mazda tech and interior styling.
The CX-50 compact SUV, made in Huntsville, Alabama, comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) and uses the same 2.5-liter and turbocharged 2.5-liter engines found in the CX-5. Fuel economy is nearly identical between the two models, but the CX-50 can tow up to 3,500 pounds (turbocharged models), which is 1,500 pounds more than the CX-5.
There are numerous trims from which to choose. Finding the perfect combination of features, power, and price shouldn’t be an issue. There are also many competitors in this field, some of which have a distinct advantage over the CX-50 regarding price. They include the Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Jeep Compass, and Volkswagen Tiguan.
Prices provided are current at the time of publishing.
What’s New:
For 2024, Mazda drops the base 2.5 S. The 2.5 S Preferred Plus gets renamed the 2.5 S Premium. It has more features than last year’s 2.5 S Premium.
The CX-50’s suspension gets revised shock absorbers that help improve ride comfort without sacrificing handling.
Our Recommendation:
The Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred offers the most bang for the buck. It carries an impressive list of standard driver safety and assist systems and has an excellent array of comfort and convenience items at a price that keeps it in line with most competitors.
If you’re a music buff, spending just a little more for the Premium model gets you a marvelous 12-speaker Bose audio system.
CX-50 2.5 S Select
Starting at $30,300| See listings
- 2.5-liter engine with 187 horsepower
- Adaptive cruise control
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Automatic high-beam headlights
- Advanced Key proximity keyless entry
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- 10.25-inch infotainment display
- 7-inch digital instrument cluster
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- See more
CX-50 2.5 S Preferred
Starting at $31,650 | See listings
- Heated side mirrors
- Windshield wiper de-icers
- Heated front seats
- 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support
- Power liftgate
- See more
CX-50 2.5 S Premium
Starting at $34,000 | See listings
- Power-sliding panoramic sunroof
- Bose audio system
- Wireless phone charging
- See more
CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus
Starting at $37,500 | See listings
- Leather upholstery
- Ventilated front seats
- 6-way power passenger seat
- Power-folding side mirrors
- Driver’s seat memory
- Head-up display
- See more
CX-50 2.5 Turbo
Starting at $38,000 | See listings
- Turbo 2.5-liter engine with 256 hp
- 20-inch wheels
- Tow mode
- Adaptive auto-leveling headlights
- Steering wheel paddle shifters
- See more
CX-50 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition
Starting at $40,800 | See listings
- 18-inch wheels
- All-terrain tires
- Matte hood graphics
- Terracotta-color leather upholstery
- Side rocker garnish
- See more
CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium
Starting at $41,300 | See listings
- 20-inch wheels
- Power-folding side mirrors
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- See more
CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
Starting at $43,300 | See listings
- Enhanced head-up display
- Auto-dimming driver’s side mirror
- Heated rear seats
- Navigation
- 360-degree monitor
- Automatic rear braking
- See more
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Select: $30,300
Starting under the hood, the 2.5 S Select uses the same 187-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic as the other non-turbo trims. Mazda’s i-Activ all-wheel drive comes standard and includes Mi-Drive, which adds two modes: Sport for better performance and Off-Road for better traction.
Mazda includes several important driver assist systems as part of the Select’s standard safety equipment roster. They include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, a blind-spot monitor, a driver attention monitor, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic detection.
Adaptive cruise control with stop/go is also standard, designed to keep a safe distance between you and the car ahead when using cruise control.
The CX-50 S includes all government-mandated safety equipment, including front, front side-impact, and side-curtain airbags. There’s also a rear backup camera, electronic stability control, and anti-lock brakes.
Features not required but onboard include electronic traction control and Hill Launch Assist, which keeps the vehicle from rolling backward when stopped on an incline.
The CX-50 S rides on 17-inch black alloy wheels and features black power side mirrors with integrated turn signals. It also has LED headlights, a rear roof spoiler, deep-tinted rear privacy glass, and dual exhaust.
Rain-sensing wipers, an intermittent rear wiper/washer, and automatic high-beam headlights are also standard on the CX-50 S.
Cabin amenities include leatherette seat upholstery covering manually adjustable front seats, power windows, power door locks, and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel with audio and cruise control buttons.
Mazda’s Advanced Key keyless entry is also part of the group and includes a proximity key fob. The fob alerts the vehicle to your presence, allowing you to unlock the doors by touching the handle and then start the CX-50 with a button push. There’s also a cool feature built into the fob that lets you remotely roll down the windows.
Rounding out the Select’s standard feature set is dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat vents, an electronic parking brake, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a 40/60-split folding rear seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, a 7-inch digital instrument cluster, and LED interior lighting.
The Select’s infotainment system consists of a 10.25-inch color display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-speaker stereo AM/FM stereo, and Mazda Connected services covering navigation, vehicle locater, remote start, vehicle health reports, and more.
There are four USB ports, two up front and two for the back-seat passengers.
Unlike most competitors, Mazda doesn’t offer a permanent touchscreen infotainment system. Instead, a console-mounted rotary controller and buttons guide the action. You can also use voice commands for specific functions.
However, while playing with the screen menus, we discovered a setting that allows touchscreen operation when in motion but only when using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.
Although there are no factory options, buyers can choose from several dealer-installed accessories, including a navigation SD card, a wireless charging pad, and various roof rack systems.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Select costs $31,675. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $598. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Select models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Select includes:
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – The CX-50’s wireless connectivity allows access to your phone’s apps, navigation, messages, and music without removing it from your pocket.
- Dual-zone automatic climate control – This system allows the driver and front-seat passenger to control the air temperature from their respective vents.
- Driver assistance – Mazda’s standard driver-assist suite can guide the CX-50 back into its lane. It also can slow or stop the vehicle if a frontal collision seems imminent.
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred: $31,650
The S Preferred takes the CX-50 up another notch, adding $1,350 to the S Select’s price in exchange for features some buyers might consider essential.
Chief among the upgrades are heated side mirrors and windshield wiper de-icers. Preferred buyers also gain heated front seats, a power rear liftgate with programmable height adjustment, and an 8-way power driver’s seat with power lumbar support.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred costs $33,025. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $623. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred includes:
- Heated side mirrors – Heating elements behind the mirror help prevent ice and frost buildup that can block your view.
- Heated front seats – Three-setting heated front seats keep the driver and passenger comfortable without needing to crank up the climate settings.
- Power liftgate –The Preferred’s power liftgate automatically opens, a handy feature when your arms are full.
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium: $34,000
The Premium trim adds more features and creature comforts, such as a power-sliding panoramic sunroof, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, a 3-month trial subscription to SiriusXM satellite radio, and a wireless phone charger.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium costs $35,375. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $668. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus: $37,500
The Premium Plus brings builds off the Premium with some truly opulent features. The mix includes leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a 6-way power passenger seat, and power-folding side mirrors.
The driver’s seat gains 2-position memory, including side mirror positions, while a color head-up display projects pertinent information directly onto the windshield’s lower half.
A handsome set of 20-inch machine-cut silver-and-black alloy wheels gives the CX-50 Premium Plus a more substantial look.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus costs $38,875. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $734. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus models for sale near you
2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus includes:
- Ventilated front seats – By passing cool air through the perforated leather, occupants remain cool and dry, even on the hottest days.
- 6-way power passenger seat – Why should the driver always get the power seat?
- Power-folding mirrors – The Premium Plus power-folding mirrors come in handy when parking in a tight spot or taking a quick run through the car wash.
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo: $38,000
The CX-50 Turbo brings a more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter engine producing an impressive 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque when using premium fuel. Power figures come down slightly when running on less-expensive regular gas, dropping to 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
The Turbo’s AWD Mi-Drive gains an additional Towing mode, increasing the CX-50’s towing capability to 3,500 pounds.
Equipment levels mimic the Premium Plus trim, then add adaptive auto-leveling LED headlights, larger exhaust pipes, steering wheel paddle shifters, LED taillights, and Turbo badging.
Deleted from the 2.5 Turbo are the Bose audio system, power-folding side mirrors, SiriusXM satellite radio, and the head-up display. If you desire these upgrades, you must move up to the 2.5 Turbo Premium.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo costs $39,375. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $743. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition: $40,800
This Meridian Edition emphasizes the more rugged side of the new CX-50 SUV. It’s available as a package on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo.
It adds useful gear for the trail, like 18-inch black wheels wrapped in Falken all-terrain tires for added grip on slippery surfaces. Matte hood graphics reduce glare to help drivers focus on the challenging trail. Meridian Edition CX-50 SUVs come with Terracotta-color leather upholstery with orange stitching.
An optional Apex Package adds splash guards and a roof platform for securing more gear.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition costs $42,175. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $796. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium: $41,300
The 2.5 Turbo Premium builds off the 2.5 S Premium Plus equipment list, including the Bose audio system, a color head-up display, power-folding side mirrors, heated and ventilated front seats, a memory driver’s seat, plus a heated steering wheel.
You’ll also get a 3-year trial subscription to SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link services.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium costs $42,675. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $805. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus: $43,300
The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus builds off the CX-50 Turbo Premium, adding a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror, heated rear seats, navigation, and an enhanced head-up display with traffic sign recognition.
Additional safety features include a 360-degree monitor, front and rear parking sensors, blind-spot assist, automatic rear braking, and Traffic Jam Assist, which can automatically steer to keep the vehicle centered in its lane during low-speed stop-and-go traffic.
With the $1,375 destination fee, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus costs $44,675. On a 60-month loan at 5% financing and $0 down, the monthly payment comes to $843. See 2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus models for sale near you
2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus includes:
- Heated rear seats – They give passengers more say in regulating their comfort, especially if the driver’s stingy with the climate controls.
- Heated steering wheel – This appreciated upgrade makes it easy to hold the steering wheel after a night of frigid temperatures.
- Traffic sign recognition – The nav system of the Premium Plus recognizes posted traffic signs and informs the driver of them.
