LOOKS

In terms of design, the 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid delivers a typical bold Mazda design with its wide grille and bold wheel designs that make this SUV stand out in its segment. A variety of attractive paint schemes are offered, including the Wind Chill Pearl color on my test vehicle.

Other exterior highlights of the CX-50 hybrid include a power panoramic moonroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, roof rails, power rear liftgate, automatic LED headlights, high beam control, heated power side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. The CX-50 hybrid also comes with 19-inch alloy wheels and all-season tires.

Moving inside the CX-50 hybrid, you’ll quickly recognize that Mazda’s dedication to a high quality interior and strong amenities surpasses many rivals, and the CX-50 hybrid feels like a luxury ride at times.

The vehicle features snazzy red leather-trimmed seating, a power driver’s seat with lumbar support and position memory, power passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and a retractable cargo cover.

The seating not only looks great, but is comfortable for all passengers on drives short and long. This is a compact SUV, so while the interior is upscale and can compete with some luxury rides, it’s also pretty tight in the back seat for taller passengers.

In terms of cargo space, you get 29 cubic feet behind the second row, and that number jumps to 56 cubic feet with the second row down. These numbers trail most rivals in the compact SUV segment, so cargo space is a weak point for this vehicle in the segment.

HOW’S THE RIDE?

Powering the 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, three electric motors, delivering a total of 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque.

This system is the same one you’ll find in the Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

All-wheel drive comes standard, and you get an electronically controlled CVT transmission. Towing caps out at a modest 1,500 pounds (compared to 3,500 for the non-hybrid), and Power and Trail drive modes are offered, along with Hill Launch Assist.

Overall you’ll get a driving experience that is on par or better than the base non-hybrid version of the CX-50 in terms of smoothness and agility of the ride, but not quite as powerful as the turbo engine that delivers 256 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

The 0-to-60 times in the hybrid come in around the mid 7-second range, which is about 1 second better than the base ICE engine (which rates at 187 hp, 185 pound-feet), but slower than the turbo engine, which clocks in around the 7 second mark.

The simple way to look at it is that by adding the increased fuel mileage of the hybrid, you’re losing a bit of power and speed, and you’ll have to judge whether that difference is noticeable enough to sway you in one direction or the other.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid continues to have its infotainment controls run through a center dial, a system that some people love, but I find a bit frustrating and overly complicated.

There are times when it’s convenient and can increase safety vs. using a touchscreen, but mostly it’s something I’d rather avoid. Honestly, I preferred using voice commands over the dial. For folks like me who would love to see Mazda move beyond this dial setup, good news may be coming, albeit slowly, as the CX-5 model has transitioned to a large touchscreen and others could follow in its footsteps within a couple years.

The screen is sized at an ample 10.3 inches, and you get Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Music lovers can upgrade from the base 8-speaker system to a crisp 12-speaker Bose setup. Other tech features include a wireless smartphone charging pad, multiple USB ports, Navigation system and satellite radio.

One thing I did like was the physical climate controls, which were quite helpful and easy to use. And please note that if you do use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the touchscreen will be enabled.

Moving on to safety tech, there are tons of standard features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and more. You can also opt for a 360-degree camera setup to help in tight situations.

Mazda also has earned top safety honors from government rankings, so your family can feel safe in the CX-50 hybrid. Adding to that security are features such as:

— LATCH child safety seat anchors
— Tire pressure monitoring system
— Blind Spot Monitoring
— Rear Cross Traffic Alert
— Driver Attention Alert
— Advanced dual front airbags, front side-impact air bags, front and rear side air curtains, front knee air bags
— Smart Brake Support with head on collision mitigation
— Vehicle Exit Warning
— Front and rear parking sensors
— Dynamic Stability Control
— Traction Control System

These systems all do their job well, without overreacting and annoying the driver.

MPG

Official fuel mileage numbers on the 2026 Mazda CX-50 I tested are 39 city/37 highway/38 combined.

These numbers are a significant jump over the mid-20s fuel mileage you’ll get with the standard ICE / non-hybrid version of the CX-50. As Mazda doesn’t currently offer any fully electric vehicles at the moment, the hybrid is one of their more eco-friendly options, along with some plug-in hybrid offerings.

And when compared to the leading hybrid sellers from key rivals like the RAV4 hybrid and CR-V hybrid, the CX-50 hybrid holds up extremely well.

My real-world testing came in a bit lower, closer to 34 mpg, but I wasn’t pushing for maximum fuel mileage while driving the vehicle, so I could grow the number if needed.

If you opt for this version, the price difference you’ll pay by moving to the hybrid version of the CX-50 will be more than made up with fuel savings over time.

PRICE

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 hybrid that I tested was priced at $43,655, and the base price starts about $35K. Trim levels include Preferred, Premium and Premium Plus.

The price range on the CX-50 hybrid is slightly higher than what you’ll see in hybrid offerings from Toyota, Honda and other rivals, but it’s also going to offer you a more enjoyable driving experience and higher-quality materials.

In terms of warranties, you’ll get decent protection, including:

— Limited Warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles
— Powertrain Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles
— Hybrid Components: 8 years or 100,000 miles

No complimentary maintenance is offered on the vehicle.

BOTTOM LINE

As it marks its second year, the CX-50 hybrid remains a strong addition to the Mazda lineup, and is the perfect choice for Mazda lovers who want to go a bit longer between fill-ups.

There is a slight dropoff in driving performance from the turbo-powered CX-50, but not enough difference for most people to be concerned. 

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