The Mazda CX-50 is the kind of family wagon that won鈥檛 embarrass your 10-year-old in front of his classmates when you pick him up from school.
It鈥檚 a compact ute, fairly sleek in profile, with almost a coupe-looking back, so it doesn鈥檛 look like your typical family bus. Almost racy to a kid鈥檚 eyes.
And the kid won鈥檛 care if you show the economic cautions of your age and go for the greener Hybrid version. And you certainly won鈥檛 complain about the fewer visits to the pump 鈥� a few drops more than six litres of gas gets you 100 kilometres of highway driving. That鈥檚 thanks to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with three companion electric motors, that combine to pump out 219 horses to all wheels.
Did I mention it鈥檚 actually a variation of the power plant found in the popular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
Beauty, of course, is only skin deep but Mazda has upped its game in recent years with interior styling and features. The CX-50 cabin takes that philosophy a notch and rivals more expensive crossovers on the market.
But let鈥檚 start with the basics: up to five can sit in comfort over two rows of seats. Up-front seats offer good support on a journey, there's heated front seats in the base trim and an eight-way adjustable seat for the driver.
It鈥檚 not as premium a ride in the rear but that鈥檚 not an uncommon critique of crossovers. It鈥檚 often kids that occupy those positions so I doubt that鈥檚 a game changer in a decision to purchase. Grandma might disagree, so take her along to the dealership.
Amusingly, Mazda describes the CX-50 as an 鈥淪UV for customers who previously drove sports cars but now need a bit more space.鈥� Ha! How diplomatic. If you need more room for luggage and sports gear as well as yourself then this ute will likely work, too, with around 826 litres at the rear and almost double if you lower the second row seats.
Back on the luxury angle: premium materials throughout and leather is an option in two of the three trims, as is a panoramic roof. I have mixed feelings about sunroofs: my unscientific survey of people riding with me showed none ever looked at the blue sky above. Probably too busy keeping their eyes on the road ahead for fear I would drive them to an early end.
All models come with a tilting and telescoping steering wheel, nothing dramatically new there. A 10.3-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard. There are USB-connection ports but for me, the wireless smartphone charging pad was more of a blessing. An eight-speaker stereo system entertains but an upgrade to a premium trim brings a 12-speaker Bose stereo and SiriusXM satellite radio.
Hybrid-specific gauges are featured but the info offered is basic in that it just tells you when its draining or topping up the battery. That said, I think that will satisfy most folks. The RAV4 and Honda CR-V Hybrid excites with power flow diagrams. For goodness sake, head up while driving.
Only a pro driver will be able to distinguish between the ride of the Hybrid versus the regular gas-only version. You aren鈥檛 going to break any land speed records but I found it to be sprightly on the highway and cornering was no lurch fest.
The CVT 鈥� continuously variable transmission 鈥� allegedly causes the engine to emit a lot level drone. I say allegedly as it took somebody else to point it out to me. No, there鈥檚 nothing wrong with my hearing.
The picky among my colleagues have been quick to point out that unlike the regular car there are no shift paddles. And a downside for some will be the lack of pulling power 鈥� the non-hybrid model can tow up to 3,500 pounds but the CX-50 Hybrid is restricted to a 1500-pound max.
The base GS-L has a sticker price of $42,950 plus taxes, $44,850 gets you the oddly named Kuro and $48,350 parks the luxury GT in your garage.
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