Mazda CX-50
Compact SUV · 2023–present. 81,441 units sold in the US in 2024
How it began
Mazda created it for North America, with Mazda North American Operations (Irvine, California) leading the launch. Its documented chief designer is Eiji Kimoto, who said that in a country with land this vast the car could not be "overridden by the big sky." Dave Coleman, Mazda's North American vehicle dynamics manager, explained its new drive modes at the launch. Jeff Guyton, President and CEO of Mazda North American Operations, revealed it and drove the first one off the line. Mazda’s March 18, 2022 appointment announcement also identifies Naoki Okano as CX-50 program manager.
U.S.-market CX-50 is assembled at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama, a 50/50 Mazda–Toyota joint venture. The January 2022 plant release states investment of $2.311 billion and eventual capacity up to 300,000 vehicles annually, allocated up to 150,000 per brand. CX-50 was the first Mazda produced there on the Discovery line; Toyota Corolla Cross production had already begun in September 2021 on the separate line. Mazda documents exports from Alabama to Canada and Colombia.
Mazda announced it in October 2021 and revealed it in a virtual world premiere on November 15, 2021. Production started on January 18, 2022, and the first-vehicle ceremony was on January 26, 2022. It went on sale in the U.S. in April 2022 as a 2023 model, starting at $26,800.
CX is Mazda’s crossover-SUV family prefix, used by CX-7 and CX-9 before CX-50. The October 2021 manufacturer expansion plan places CX-50 in the Small Product group alongside Mazda3, CX-30 and MX-30; CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 belong to the Large Product group.
The U.S. is Mazda's most important market, and its 2020–2026 business plan aimed to sell more there. Mazda saw that American buyers wanted an SUV with a strong presence and some off-pavement ability. The CX-50 was made for that adventurous crowd: wider and sturdier, with standard all-wheel drive and reinforced roof rails, as a companion to the CX-5, not its replacement.
Generation by generation
- Gen. 12023–present · VA
The Alabama-built Mazda made for adventure
Photo: Elise240SX · CC BY-SA 4.0 What changed. It is an all-new model, not a successor. It uses the Mazda3 and CX-30 platform, stretched longer and wider, with a 187-hp 2.5 engine or a 2.5 Turbo making 256 hp on 93-octane fuel (227 hp on regular), a six-speed automatic and standard i-Activ all-wheel drive. For the 2025 model year the CX-50 Hybrid arrived, using Toyota's hybrid system: 219 hp, electric all-wheel drive and an EPA-estimated 38 mpg combined, about 40% better than the 2.5 S.
The innovation. Mi-Drive (Mazda Intelligent Drive Select), with an Off-Road mode for dirt, gravel and hill climbs, and a Towing mode that uses G-Vectoring Control and the all-wheel drive to calm trailer sway. It also debuted Mazda's first panoramic moonroof.
If you buy one usedNHTSA lists 23V275 for damaged ABS hydraulic units that could reduce braking on certain 2023 cars; 23V135 for Mazda accessory hitch harnesses that could detach on certain 2023 cars; and 25V167 for hitch bolts that could loosen, with retained rows for 2024 CX-50 and 2025 CX-50 Hybrid. Campaign 24V649 has 2025 CX-50 Hybrid rows for forward-camera faults that could disable automatic braking. Campaign 25V413 covers airbag software on certain 2025 gas and hybrid vehicles that remained under dealer control; 25V418 covers certain 2025 Hybrids that could shift Neutral to Drive without pressing the brake; and 25V737 covers improperly tightened front-suspension bolts on certain 2025 gas and hybrid vehicles. The exact Mazda/CX-50 query for 2026 saved on November 3, 2026 returned zero records; confirm by VIN. Published Turbo ratings are 256 hp with 93-octane fuel and 227 hp with 87-octane fuel; the Hybrid tows up to 1,500 lb with Mazda genuine towing accessories. At the original introduction, Wards reported no standard or optional factory underbody skid plates; verify the specific vehicle’s equipment. The 2023 model earned the 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award; the 2025 model is also listed as Top Safety Pick+.
Mazda CX-52012–present
Mazda CX-302020–present
Mazda CX-90 (CX-9)2007–present
Mazda Mazda32003–present
Ford F-Series (F-150)1948–present
Toyota RAV41994–present (US from 1996)
Honda CR-V1995–present
Ram 15001981–present
Tesla Model Y2020–present
