Driving report: Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo
In keeping with the times
Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo
© press-inform – the press office
Mazda is repositioning itself and is once again going its own way. This applies more than ever to North America, because in addition to the CX-90 luxury SUV, the CX-50, which is both inexpensive and convincing, has recently been available here.
With the turbocharged four-cylinder on the road, you quickly ask yourself why this turbo engine hasn’t made it to Europe yet, because the engine could easily replace some tired four-cylinder naturally aspirated engines. Although the CX-50 overlaps too much with the similarly positioned CX-5, in contrast to this it is produced in the southern states of the USA, which significantly reduces costs for the US market. The production facility in Huntsville / Alabama, which opened in 2022, is a joint venture between Mazda and Toyota called MTM – Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing – and was built specifically for models such as the CX-50 with a financial volume of 2.3 billion US dollars.
From a standstill, the all-wheel drive SUV accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 220 km/h; In the USA, tires are limited to a narrow speed of 180 km/h. The chassis of the almost 1.9 ton all-wheel drive vehicle is extremely comfortable despite the large 19 or 20 inch wheelset and the noticeable rolling movements at the wheel quickly become noticeable when driving quickly in tighter bends or bends. The steering is not as precise as is known from sister models such as a CX-5 or even the CX-60; This is still convincing, as is the overall travel comfort. However, you can tell from the noise level or details inside that the CX-50 was developed specifically for the US market, where many customers are not so demanding. And don’t forget: prices start at just $30,000.
In the interior, at least at first glance, there is the usual high-quality Mazda image, which only becomes slightly different upon closer inspection. The driver not only enjoys a good seating position and solid workmanship, but also clear, readable displays and controls. Most functions are operated via a 10.25-inch touchscreen on the central dashboard, which could be a little higher. Drivers today would also like the animated cockpit with its manageable diagonal of just seven inches to be larger. There is good space at the front and back and the standard equipment is extremely extensive, depending on the equipment package. All versions offer details such as LED headlights, aluminum rims, darkened windows, rain/light sensors, an electric tailgate and various driver assistance systems. Higher equipment variants include, among other things, air-conditioned leather seats, an electric panoramic roof, Bose sound system or inductive smartphone charging. The prices are extremely attractive, as is typical for the US. The 187 hp basic version of the Mazda CX-50 2.5 S starts at just $30,300 and even the fully equipped top model of the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus costs just $43,300.