My Impressions of the CX-50 Hybrid

Well, I finally got to drive a demo for over 15 miles, and I must say, I’m impressed. I think Mazda has another hit on their hands.

Here’s my experience with Mazda:
I’ve had Mazdas since 2012 and have technically owned each model, from the ND Miata all the way to the CX-9, except for the CX-70 and CX-90. Currently, we own a Mazda 3 non-Turbo sedan (Carbon Edition) and a CX-50 Turbo.

I’ve also driven a RAV4 hybrid for over 600 miles, which was an interesting experience.

The CX-50 hybrid, as you might know, uses a Toyota powertrain—engine, motors, and transmission—and it also has the RAV4 shifter design and brakes. The brakes are not from Mazda.
I drove the hybrid Premium model, where the steering wheel felt the same as in the Mazda 3. Unlike the CX-50 Turbo, which has tighter and heavier steering, the hybrid model felt similar to the Mazda 3. It’s lighter than the Turbo but not as loose as the RAV4, which I personally liked.

Driving it felt like a mix of Toyota and Mazda. The steering and overall feeling were mostly Mazda, although the suspension felt less stiff, possibly due to the powertrain and weight distribution.

Acceleration is different. The Turbo offers a good amount of torque right from the start, with gear changes and an engine roar that matches the pull. The hybrid has a good start but feels more like a CVT, and the engine noise has a higher pitch that sounds overworked for its displacement. The acceleration isn’t bad, but the sound and movement don’t feel as well integrated as in the Turbo.

When you take your foot off the accelerator, there’s less coasting compared to Turbo mode. You can feel the regeneration kicking in. The brakes aren’t as linear as in the Mazda, giving a strange Toyota feel where you have to push down harder to stop. These two features clearly indicate that the brake system is from Toyota.

While the Turbo has Sport, Normal, and Off-Road modes, the hybrid has Power, Normal, and Trail. I like the analog power indicator for Charge and Power, and the entire display is from Mazda.

There’s an EV button near the shifter that switches between “EV” (default mode) and “EV Mode.” In EV, the car chooses the best mix of electric and gas power, engaging the engine when necessary. EV Mode prioritizes electric driving until you reach certain speeds or battery levels. For short city drives or back roads, EV Mode could be useful.

I drove about 15 miles on city roads, through stops, traffic, up to 60 mph, and down to school zones, averaging 34 mpg. It’s a short drive for a proper assessment, but not bad at all for a CX-50.

In terms of practicality, the hybrid is the best option. The Turbo offers more excitement and power, but I can’t see it as the better choice overall, aside from the additional torque and driving experience.

If Mazda wants to optimize their offerings, they could eliminate the non-Turbo version and replace it with the hybrid, adding an entry-level Select trim for the hybrid at a lower price, followed by the Turbo trims.

While I believe PHEVs are better options, I see the CX-50 hybrid as the best Mazda SUV in terms of size, price, features, and design. I hope Mazda considers hybridizing the Mazda 3; the Prius Prime powertrain could make the 3 attractive for non-Turbo buyers.

Thanks for sharing! Almost every review I’ve read about the RAV4 hybrid mentions the intrusive droning sound of the powertrain at highway speeds. Did you notice that in the CX-50?

Also, I’m surprised at the 34 mpg. All that stop-and-go driving should have kept you closer to the rated 39 mpg with regen braking active. I’m curious to hear the real-world mpg from new CX-50 hybrid owners in the coming months.

@Val
Sadly, the engine is more intrusive and less pleasant. The sound from the Turbo model matches the torque, if you know what I mean. The hybrid sounds like it’s struggling, but it has a good start.

My driving also involved a few hard accelerations in EV mode, not the EV Mode. Plus, I used the Power option a lot.

I can definitely improve on my daily commute, which is a 10-mile round trip across different communities using EV mode.

@Pip
Thanks again!

@Val
The RAV4’s issue is poor sound dampening. I’ve had both regular and hybrid versions as rentals, and they both sound loud inside on the highway.

Toyota’s MVP right now is the Sienna. With four adults and nearly a thousand pounds of gear, they get 35 mpg while offering a spacious, plush interior.

@Lior
I agree, and I was hopeful that Mazda would leverage its interior design expertise to improve sound deadening and overall NVH. That, along with dull handling, are the main reasons I wouldn’t choose a RAV4 hybrid, and these are areas where Mazda could competently address the issues.

Honda’s new Civic hybrid uses wheel resonators to reduce hybrid droning noise (only in the top trim), and they apparently work really well. I’m curious to see if other carmakers adopt this.

I find it interesting regarding the coasting and deceleration. I’ve never driven the hybrid version, but we’re considering this car. I test drove a CX-50 (non-turbo) while waiting for our hybrids to arrive, and I was surprised by how much deceleration there was when I released the pedal. Honestly, it was the one thing I really disliked, but I guess I’d expect this from a hybrid with regen braking.

@Oli
You’ll get used to it quickly. It’s not really an issue, in my opinion.

Lux said:
@Oli
You’ll get used to it quickly. It’s not really an issue, in my opinion.

I hope so! I’ve never had a car like this, so I’ll have to unwind those habits!

Oli said:

Lux said:
@Oli
You’ll get used to it quickly. It’s not really an issue, in my opinion.

I hope so! I’ve never had a car like this, so I’ll have to unwind those habits!

I got used to one-pedal driving in the week I had a Tesla, but going back to my ICE cars was quite the struggle, haha.

@Lux
I was just surprised to feel that in an ICE car like the CX-50 (non-hybrid). I suspect it will be weird going back and forth with our other car!

Oli said:
@Lux
I was just surprised to feel that in an ICE car like the CX-50 (non-hybrid). I suspect it will be weird going back and forth with our other car!

I hear you. Once you get the hang of it, you won’t use the actual brakes very often, which will save you money!

It’s a very odd decision not to include parking sensors or a 360 camera even on the top trim. For the price, that’s a deal breaker for me.

Jesse said:
It’s a very odd decision not to include parking sensors or a 360 camera even on the top trim. For the price, that’s a deal breaker for me.

It doesn’t have lane centering in the US either. For some reason, Canada’s models do.

@Rudy
Feature not a bug for me.

Jesse said:
It’s a very odd decision not to include parking sensors or a 360 camera even on the top trim. For the price, that’s a deal breaker for me.

Mazda tends to hold back features so they can introduce new capabilities in later years, and they don’t seem to do that as much in Canada.

Jesse said:
It’s a very odd decision not to include parking sensors or a 360 camera even on the top trim. For the price, that’s a deal breaker for me.

I’m really disappointed about this decision. I found myself googling ways to buy the Canadian version to drive it home to the US, but it doesn’t seem worth the trouble.

@Sam
I feel the same. I was frustrated that I need to get a turbo to access all the premium features in the CX-30. Mazda’s trim levels are the most convoluted thing ever.

Jesse said:
It’s a very odd decision not to include parking sensors or a 360 camera even on the top trim. For the price, that’s a deal breaker for me.

It is indeed odd. I assume it’s due to the trim, just like my Mazda 3 doesn’t have it.
But it should be standard.

Jesse said:
It’s a very odd decision not to include parking sensors or a 360 camera even on the top trim. For the price, that’s a deal breaker for me.

I think it’s a bit silly to call a 360 camera a deal breaker on a car unless you really struggle to park.

However, it’s an odd choice. It can’t be that expensive to add it as an option.