When it comes to the Mazda CX-50, the company is playing it safe with the updates. the Meridian Edition is now available with the base engine (after being turbo exclusive) and there are also minor trim alterations as well.

But is the Mazda CX-50 still a good pick in the CUV segment and can it truly get the job done for its buyers? We were eager to find out and the CX-50 arrived just in time for a demanding series of jobs that we had planned for it.

CX-50 is fast but guzzles fuel

As mentioned, the CX-50 arrived just in time for the start of my younger brother’s car shopping journey. With dealerships in East China Township as well as Saginaw on our list of places to go, we wanted to see how the Mazda’s long-haul driving experience held up.

Our particular CX-50 tester arrived with the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine which is good for a healthy 256 horsepower when filled with premium fuel. The engine itself is unchanged and is also a very prominent highlight of the SUV with the turbo providing plenty of low end boost off the line. The engine is pretty smooth once it gets going and the handling in our tester proved to be the right balance of response and comfort especially on some of the pockmarked pavement that we encountered in Saginaw.

A six-speed automatic is standard and all-wheel drive also comes along for the ride too. The six-speed works well with the engine, but the missing gears also play a role in the CX-50’s glaring weakness, fuel economy. The EPA says the CX-50 Turbo is capable of achieving 23/29 mpg in city and freeway driving but our trips to East China and Saginaw revealed fuel economy that was lower than advertised with the 2.5-liter eager to guzzle its fill of fuel at a noticeably brisk pace.

Buyers looking for more fuel economy will be directed to the hybrid model but at that point, you’re not getting much of a Mazda since the powertrain and hybrid bits are all lifted from the Toyota RAV4.

CX-50 interior is still comfortable

But while our tester’s fuel economy performance left much to be desired (the base naturally aspirated engine is not much better) the interior proved to be a comfortable place to spend time in. Our Premium Plus tester arrived with tan colored leather seats and the seats themselves provided plenty of comfort and support.

My brother is over 6ft tall and his long legs can sometimes make it hard for him to fit into smaller vehicles. Thankfully, the front passenger seat proved to be a good place for him to spend time during our treks and there was plenty of room to stretch out and relax. The front seats also allow you to take in the sporty design the Mazda is trying to achieve with the squared off dashboard showing off its high quality materials and welcome array of analog controls. The second row seats are best left for the kids with adult passengers suffering from below average legroom. The lone exception is headroom which is pretty good.

Cargo room is also tight and it’s smaller than the slightly bigger CX-5 with the CX-50 also falling short of other rivals like the Honda CR-V. Despite that, the Mazda can still haul groceries and other small to medium loads when asked to do so especially with the second row seats folded down. The exterior styling is largely unchanged for 2026 but our tester was noticeably bolder than usual thanks to its Cypress green paint, a noticeable departure from other CX-50 colors like Soul Red and Jet Black.

Value Quotient

Pricing for the 2026 Mazda CX-50 starts at $29,900 for the base S Select Model with these models not being poweed by the turbocharged engine. This engine also serves as the volume engine for the bulk of the lineup with the Turbo engine not appearing until you get to its own sub-ladder with only three trims being available (Turbo, Meridian Edition, and the Premium Plus.)

Our Preimum Pus model arrived with a base price of $42,900 with our tester coming with some minor options that brought the price closer to $45,000. This pricing is on par for the segment but at the same time it also creates a bit of a problem for the CX-50. Other rivals like the Subaru Outback have better fuel economy and a slightly lower price tag along with better brand recognition. In addition, the soon to be launched CX-5 is going to be debuting with a new infotainment system and other new features which will give the CX-50 some internal competition.

With this competition coming from both sides, the reasons to buy a CX-50 shrink. Here’s hoping the model will get some more extensive updates in the future to not only help it stand out better among rivals, but also in Mazda showrooms.