2023 Mazda CX-50

What is the Mazda CX-50 and When Do You Want One?

The world is getting more active, and Mazda is growing with it. The CX-50 is all for those that live an active lifestyle and want to get out a bit more. They’re not quite as off-road capable as a Jeep Wrangler, but they also come with far more comfort features and are a bit easier to drive.

So, if you’re looking to climb mountains, then the CX-50 isn’t for you, but if you’re making weekend camping trips, heading a bit off-road to get to the lake, or about a half dozen other outdoor adventures, the CX-50 is for you.

Highlighting the off-road capabilities and ideal market audience for the CX-50 is their easy-to-use off-road driving features – starting with the Intelligent Drive mode selector. As soon as you’re hauling your equipment or getting off the pavement, you can switch to an off-road or tow mode for even more control and comfort.

CX-50 Dimensions

While it’s tough to track down the official dimensions for the CX-50, we were able to get some information that will give you an outstanding idea of what to expect. The CX-50 will be just a bit bigger than the CX-5.

The length will increase by about 6 inches, while the entire vehicle will be about 3 inches wider. And no aspect of the vehicle notices this extra space more than the second-row passengers. Compared to the CX-5 the CX-50 has 4.5 more inches of legroom for passengers in the rear seat, and that’s no small deal for your next road trip.

The exterior of the CX-50 has a more rugged appearance compared to the CX-5 and other Mazda models. Not only that but there’s more ground clearance that helps it tackle uneven off-road terrain with ease.

The Engines

While there’s a lot about the CX-50 that’s still under wraps, one area that they’re very transparent about is what’s under the hood. The 2023 will come with two engine options, although they do expect to release more options in future model years.

The first engine option uses their naturally aspirated 2.5L Skyactive-G engine, which pushes out 187 horsepower and 186 ft-lb of torque. It’s not a ton of power or torque, but it’s enough for most camping and off-road adventures.

But while this is enough for those that don’t plan on towing anything, if you’re someone who’s really pushing it on their next adventure, they offer a turbocharged option for the same engine. The turbocharged engine pushes out an even more impressive 250 horsepower and 320 ft-lb of torque.

This extra torque and horsepower lets the CX-50 tow even more. While we’d love to give you the exact towing specs of the CX-50, it’s one of those specs that Mazda is still holding under wraps.

What we can tell you is that it will tow more than the CX-5, which can already tow 2,000 pounds when you have the right package and equipment.

While these are the only two options that will be available for the 2023 CX-50, Mazda has already announced that they’ll be coming out with even more engine packages in the future. They’ve already teased a hybrid option, and they might offer even more powerful packages in future model years.

The Drivetrain

An engine is only as good as the drivetrain it’s attached to, and with the CX-50 it doesn’t disappoint. Every option comes with a 6-speed automatic transmission that can more than handle everything the engine throws at it.

Not only does it have a top-notch transmission, but every CX-50 comes with standard AWD, which means you can tackle more terrains with ease. Because the last thing you want if you’re heading off the pavement is a vehicle that doesn’t give you maximum traction.

The Drive Modes

One of the top-selling features for the CX-50 is how easy it is to use in off-road situations, and this all begins and ends with the Intelligent Drive modes. There are four modes to choose from, which simplifies it compared to other vehicle manufacturers that include multiple off-road drive modes.

With the CX-50 you have Normal, Sport, Towing, and Off-Road, which makes it easier than ever to know what drive mode to put your vehicle in. You use Normal for typical driving conditions, Sport for when you want a bit more power, Towing when you’re towing, and Off-Road when you’re off-road!

All New Features for the CX-50

Any time a vehicle manufacturer comes out with a brand-new model vehicle it’s jam-packed with first-time features. The Mazda CX-50 is no different. For starters, the CX-50 is the first vehicle out there with a panoramic moonroof that uses structural reinforcement between the B-pillars.

This sounds like nonsense mumbo-jumbo, but the results are real. It drives down the overall weight of the vehicle and lowers the center of gravity, which gives you a more responsive ride. Even better, it does all this while maintaining side impact protection at a higher rate than a standard moonroof design.

Mazda is also releasing an all-new Zircon Sand exterior color option and a Terracotta leather interior option for an extra splash of style.

Of course, Mazda also incorporates the aforementioned Intelligent Drive system that makes driving off-road easier than ever, which is a big deal for those that live an active lifestyle but don’t want to spend a ton of time learning how to reach their destination.

Of course, the CX-50 will also have a unique appearance and a slightly larger appearance than the CX-5, which gives you more space to lug people and gear to your next adventure. The CX-50 also comes standard with AWD, and it has more ground clearance to get you where you’re going without bottoming out.

How Many CX-50s Will There Be?

The first thing you want to know when you’re considering purchasing a brand-new vehicle model is how many there will be. With the CX-50 Mazda is expecting a decent demand, which is why they’re making 100,000 units for their 2023 model year debut.

For reference Mazda manufactured 143,000 CX-5s in 2021and 46,000 CX-30s for the US market. This means while there might be a tight demand for 2023 CX-50s, there should be enough for you to get one as long as you get to a dealership early.

What’s This Mean for the CX-5?

When Mazda released the CX-30 they cut production to the CX-3, and when they released the CX-90 they did the same thing to the CX-9. That leads you to think that the CX-5 might be on the chopping block, but right now, Mazda says otherwise.

And when you look at their sales numbers, this makes perfect sense. The CX-5 is currently Mazda’s top-selling vehicle, so unless the CX-50 sinks demand for the CX-5, it’s not going anywhere. That means for at least the 2023 and likely 2024 model years, the CX-5 isn’t going anywhere.

Moreover, since the CX-5 and the CX-50 hit different markets, it’s not hard to envision a future where both the CX-5 and the CX-50 thrive at the same time. We don’t think the CX-5 is going anywhere any time soon, and unless the sales number start to drop that shouldn’t change.

When Can You Get a Mazda CX-50?

With all this talk about everything the CX-50 has to offer, it’s only natural to wonder when you can get one. Unfortunately, you’ll likely have to wait a bit.

Mazda is starting production of the CX-50 in Huntsville, Alabama in January 2022, but you likely won’t see any at the dealerships until they release the rest of their 2023 lineup later in the year.

Still, because Mazda is anticipating a decent demand for these vehicles, it might be in your best interest to get over to a top-notch dealership like Seacoast Mazda.

The dealership can give you the most accurate and up-to-date time frame and let you know what you need to do to get behind the wheel of a CX-50 as soon as possible!

Final Thoughts

While there’s still quite a bit under wraps with the CX-50, all signs are pointing in the right direction. If you live an active lifestyle and want a top-notch vehicle that can keep up with everything you want to do, then it’s going to be hard to top the CX-50.

Don’t believe us, well just wait until the CX-50 arrives at your local dealership and check it out for yourself. We’re confident the first time you get behind the wheel of a CX-50 you’ll feel the difference, and then the rest is history.