2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo review: A lovely, lovely thing

Mitchell Weitzman
3 hours ago
5 min read

The green paint only makes this beauty better

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo review and photos by The Road Beat

It's no secret I'm rather fond of Mazdas, be it their charming sedans, the irreplaceable MX-5 Miata, or their overachieving SUVs. There isn't a better-driving family crossover than the CX-50, and even a few years on from its debut, its core values remain special enough to ward off refreshed challengers, including Mazda's very own CX-5.

Picks

Vehicles that occupy the space and purpose of everyday appliances don't necessarily have to look great, but Mazda decided, "Nah, let's make a banger."

The result is a visually sexy crossover SUV that is unmistakably a Mazda. And while the Japanese carmaker is known for its vibrant Soul Red paint, the Cypress forest green metallic here is an absolute unit. What a looker.

The good looks don't stop outside, either, because, as I've become accustomed to expecting, the interior is a stellar blend of luxury and everyday usability at a competitive price point. Inviting and simplified, with plenty of manual knobs for easier tactile use, it's a step ahead of its rivals in overall quality. Mazda doesn't just mimic a luxury car with the CX-50; this actually just is one. That's how nice it is.

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus interior

Used to the hard plastics in your RAV4? Other than the interior door grab handles, you won't find much of that here. It's a marvelous place to be, and even my non-Mazda-driving friends agreed.

Also worth mentioning is how much easier the tactile knobs are to use here than the giant screen-centric proposition of the refreshed Mazda CX-5. In several important ways, the CX-5 is a step backwards in both functionality and even perceived quality, and that only helps elevate the CX-50 to the obvious forefront despite being the older model now.

So, nice to look at and nice to be in, but what's it like to drive?

Stupendous. Class-leading. Like an old-school BMW. Heck, better than a new-school BMW. Both a looker and

a ripper.

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo cypress green exterior rear three quarter

Steering has weight and even some feedback coming through, accurately communicating the driver's inputs and the car's intentions better than your overpriced therapist. You want added focus in your life? Don't bother with Prozac; you just need to drive a Mazda every day.

But really, the steering has real nuance and isn't numb like so many other daily drivers. Behind the wheel, you feel in total control and command of the car, as if this could be some past legendary Mazda RX-whatever instead of a CX-50 crossover.

It's not that its limits and cornering abilities are necessarily higher than its competitors. Rather, it's just so much more satisfying to drive, urging you to go quicker when you see a sign for a winding road approaching because the entire package feels so organic.

Grip is totally commendable, but the balance and communication are where the CX-50 separates itself from the pack, with an eagerness to turn, a resistance to understeer, and a desire to coax more out of its driver. Even the throttle and brake pedals, along with their respective travel and required pressures, feel intuitive.

When it comes to creating a car that feels truly "locked-in," there isn't a mid-size crossover in the class that comes close to topping the CX-50.

And when you do squeeze the throttle, the generous wave of torque and horsepower afforded by the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine makes rapid progress in the real world and on backroads an addictive and easily enticing proposition. Gas mileage isn't great, but averaging 25 MPG over the week isn't a bad tradeoff for 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft on standard 87 octane.

2026 Mazda CX-50 premium plus gear knob and clickwheel controls

Mazda might be using an older torsion beam rear suspension setup in the CX-50 instead of the common multi-link, but you'd never know it because how resolved the handling and ride quality are. Plus, the extra rigidity and simplicity from the torsion beam design means the CX-50 can tow up to 3,500 pounds with this spunky turbo engine option, which can be very useful in the real world. For comparison, the CX-5 is only rated for 1,500 pounds.

Nicks

Nitpicks define the shortcomings of the CX-50, and that's really down to how good the rest of the overall package is.

Items of lesser importance, like the interior grab handles for closing the doors, are a step below the quality of the rest of the cabin. Start the vehicle without both the door closed and seatbelt fastened, and you'll be treated to a barrage of bongs — eight instead of the usual five found in most cars. Because apparently Mazda really wants to make sure you know something is wrong or they just don't trust Americans.

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus in Cypress Green exterior front three quarter

Outright space is inferior to a Toyota RAV4 in exchange for the CX-50's sleek styling, but it's not by that much (37 vs 31 cubic feet), and the six-speed automatic could shift quicker and offer better highway mileage if it had an extra gear or two. Fuel economy itself isn't anything to shout about, but that's the tradeoff for the fun character and performance on tap. Good news is, if you don't want the extra horsepower, a very economical hybrid option is available using a proven Toyota powertrain.

That said, the new RAV4's available plug-in hybrid powertrain uses less gasoline while also providing more power, making it the more sensible choice for buyers who prioritize efficiency and outright practicality.

2026 Mazda CX-50 interior door handles — How will the cabin wear over time? There are some nicks and scuffs already in a few places.

I could also imagine some will wish the central display was more accessible as a touchscreen. Personally, though, I prefer using the rotary clickwheel. Once you get the hang of it, it's more ergonomic and easier to use while actually driving because muscle memory and tactility make it less distracting.

And Mazda, please put the increasingly convenient key proximity-sensing door locks on the rear doors as well.

Any everyday package worthy of the praise

Mazda's CX-50 remains an unimpeachably good crossover. It's got style for days, proper luxury on the inside, and driving dynamics worth swooning over.

2026 Mazda CX-50 Premium Plus interior review | The Road Beat

Don't care about the performance of the turbo engine? Good news: you can have a hybrid CX-50 instead. No matter which way you want it, the CX-50 has the ability to deliver what is likely the best-driving crossover available today. And after a recent earlier test in the revamped CX-5, my position is only affirmed that the CX-50 is the superior vehicle in practically every way now.

And in a segment increasingly dominated by vehicles designed to be merely competent at everything, that's something worth celebrating.