Friday, April 5, 2024

2024 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Premium Plus AWD: The Brand’s Other Compact Crossover

Highlight: The stylish CX-50 is only available in an all-wheel drive configuration.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $37,500 (Base Model): $31,675

Seating Capacity: 5 (depending upon size)

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; AWD; hill decent control; hill launch accent; off-road traction assist; tailer stability control; rearview camera; rear cross traffic alert; lane keep assist system; a lane departure warning system; an electronic blind spot monitor; hill launch assist; an automatic brake hold feature; automatic high beams; a radar activated stop and go cruise control system and a tire pressure monitoring system

Standard Equipment (2.5 S AWD): 17-inch wheels; a dual zone automatic climate control system; a leather wrapped shifter; a 10-inch infotainment screen; a keyless entry system; a push button keyless entry system; a rear roof spoiler; dual exhaust outlets


Standard Equipment Turbo Premium Plus (Test Model): 20-inch wheels; power side folding mirrors; an auto dimming interior mirror; a 12-speaker Bose audio system with SiriusXM; wireless charging; ventilated front seats; power front seats; black leather seats; a driver’s seat two-position memory setting; an auto dimming rearview mirror; and a power panoramic sunroof

Options: premium exterior paint

Trims:

2.5 S Preferred Package

2.5 S Premium Package

2.5 Turbo Package

2.5 Turbo Median Edition

2.5 Turbo Premium Package

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: an 8-speaker audio system with and AM/FM/HD

Bluetooth Connectivity: Standard

USB Connectivity: Standard

Apple/Android Connectivity: Standard

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles

Standard Horsepower: 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder/187-horsepower

Mileage: 22-city/30-hwy (test model)

Towing Capacity: 2,000 lbs -3,500 lbs


What’s New:  The CX-50 is essentially a carryover model for the 2024 model year. The vehicle adds a recalibrated electric power steering assist system and new dampers.

Why:

8 trims available

AWD only

A stylish design with a premium look

A premium interior

Heated and ventilated front seats

A heads-up display system

Great quality sound system

A power rear latch with a power lock

An oversized panoramic roof

Partial reclining rear seat with a rear center armrest

Leather seats

Brake hold system

A high level of safety driving aids

A built-in navigation on select models

A wireless charger on select trims




But:

Unable to lock rear exterior side doors using a keyless system

The model uses Mazda’s complicated BMW like i-contoller system to adjust the infotainment controls.

The drive to empty gauge measures the fuel by increments of tens, eliminating a more precise measure

A firm suspension system

Firm seats

No copilot steering

If one’s smartphone is in an enclosed secured case, it will not charge in the Mazda.

AWD only!

No hybrid or plug-in model available

The CX-5 seems to compete with the CX-50

Verdict: The compact CX-50 looks like a premium luxury crossover. Outside of the firm riding suspension and high-quality stitched seat design, the CX-50 is available in several trims.

The stylish all-wheel drive CX-50 is also available with two 4-cylinder powertrains, one turbo and non turbo. The non turbo and turbo powertrains spew out 187 and 256 horsepower, respectively. We prefer the peppier turbo powertrain.

Depending upon the trim, one can select from a variety of features ranging from 17-inch wheels to all terrain tires for off-roading to leather seats.

One of the major pluses of the CX-50s are that all of the trims are outfitted with a standard laundry list of safety driving aids. Those features range from an electronic blind spot monitoring system to a radar active cruise control system.

Despite all the aforementioned attributes, the CX-50 lacks a more fuel-efficient hybrid. Moreover, in the showroom, is the sleeker and sexier looking CX-50 drawing business from the CX-5, which is virtually the same size?.

Competition: Ford Bronco Sport: Ford Escape; Honda CR-V; Subaru Forester; and Toyota RAV4





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