2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid
Price As Tested: $48,350 CAD
Colour: Ingot Blue Metallic
Among the carmakers of the world there are those that hybrid and those that don’t. The list of those that don’t has been shrinking for years. Among the notable holdouts has been Mazda. They’ve introduced mild hybrid systems in the last couple of years, but they’ve been absent from the full hybrid game. That changes with the all-new 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid. With this model of the CX-50 Mazda finally takes a step into the present.
Power & Performance
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid utilizes the RAV-4 Hybrid drivetrain which they’ve borrowed from Toyota. If you’re going to license a hybrid drivetrain from anyone, Toyota is where you go. I have no idea how hard it was to integrate the Toyota tech with the existing CX-50 platform, but the finished product is quite seamless. The system delivers 219hp and 169 lb/ft of torque. There is a stable, linear feel to the power and it’s all you need for a vehicle like the CX-50. It pulls as well as the turbo-charged option in the standard CX-50 but delivers far superior fuel economy. My time with the CX-50 Hybrid returned 6-7 L/100kms which is much better than the 10-12 L/100kms I would typically get form the non-hybrid options. For the $3,000 CAD cost for the jump to hybrid it’s a price worth paying.
Exterior
Is the 2025 Mazda CX-50 pretty? Yep, it really is. As usual I could do without the excessive plastic cladding the car has been saddled with. This can be somewhat minimized by choosing a colour like this test vehicles Ingot Blue Metallic. Otherwise, it has lovely lines and proportions. You get the typical Mazda face but it’s different enough that you know immediately you’re not looking at the CX-5. The wider hips of the CX-50 as compared to the CX-5 are also a real defining characteristic of this car’s beauty. It’s nice too see a little junk in the trunk.
Interior
I’ve long been a fan of the Mazda interior pretty much across their range. They really seem to understand that as the driver we spend most of our time ensconced in their design decisions. The usual mix of quality materials, neutral but not boring color pallets and lots of interior space make the CX-50 a great place to spend some time.
The CX-50 delivers a huge rear cargo area only made bigger by folding down the rear seats for anything over-sized you might need to jam in there. That rear seat area is equally large with plenty of room for both of my teenaged boys who are taller and long of leg than their parents. In this top shelf GT trim you get heated rear seats as well which is a nice bit of lux for your typically neglected passengers in the back.
I do have to take issue with the over-sized cross stitching on the dash of the CX-50. It still looks like it was done at Tijuana Tom’s Plastic Surgery Pit Stop and really detracts from an otherwise excellent interior.
I want to highlight the dash cluster on the CX-50. You see this same one in several other Mazda vehicles and it’s a wonderful thing to behold. It’s all analog dials with the speedo having a small digital insert. It all works and it’s simple. It tells you everything you need to know without having to crack open the instruction manual to learn how to toggle between 99 different display options. You don’t see this that often and it’s a real breath of fresh air in an overly complicated part of car design.
Quality
For the most part, Mazda is a buy word for quality. They really care about how their cars are made and hold up over time. The CX-50 continues this tradition in fine form.
CQI – 8. Wonderful carpet that will last a long time. Thank god.
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid stacks up pretty well against the likes of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV 4 which of course are their primary competitors. They all deliver similar fuel economy and driving experiences. The RAV 4 and CX-50 do offer hybrid options earlier in the model range while Honda reserves that for the top two trims of the CR-V.
It’s an uncertain future with regards to what comes next for the car business. The once assured future of the BEV has now become anything but certain and the door is again wide open for options regarding what drives the next generation of vehicles. In the meantime, hybrids are having a renaissance which sees the likes of companies such as Mazda adding the offering to their lineups. It’s great to see one of Mazda’s best vehicles now be available with a superior drivetrain like this one. Welcome to the 21st century.
