Mazda CX-5 vs. CX-50

Off-road looks are the new craze and Mazda wants to get in on the party with a new compact SUV. The 2023 Mazda CX-50 arrives with similar components as the compact CX-5, but features a more rugged design, a little bit of extra ground clearance, and slightly more powerful engines. While Mazda is known for having some of the sportiest vehicles in their respective classes, the CX-50 heads in another direction.

Mazda has made the 2022 CX-5 better than ever with standard all-wheel-drive (AWD), updated exterior styling, upgraded powertrains, and revised suspension. The changes result in a CX-5 that looks better than before and has even more performance than before. Clearly, Mazda improved on what makes the CX-5 such a good SUV. If you’re shopping for a new Mazda, which compact SUV should you choose? That’s what we’ll answer below in this comparison.

What the Mazda CX-5 Gets Right

The Mazda CX-5 is the more affordable of the two SUVs. Pricing for the CX-5 starts at $27,475, while the CX-50 carries a starting price of $28,025. Despite the $550 difference between the two models, the CX-5 and CX-50 come similarly equipped. If you’re on a budget, the CX-5 is a better choice.

On the inside, the CX-5 is slightly roomier than the CX-50. The CX-5 has more front and rear headroom, more front and rear shoulder room, as well as more front and rear hip room. For drivers that plan on having passengers in their SUVs regularly, the CX-5 is the better option.

Despite having a more spacious interior, the CX-5 is the smaller SUV, making it easier to drive on small roads. The CX-5 is over 5 inches shorter in length. For urbanites that regularly need to park on busy city roads and navigate tiny parking lots, the CX-5 is easier to drive.

Read Our Overview of the Mazda CX-5

What the Mazda CX-50 Gets Right

The sporty CX-5 sits low to the ground, while the CX-50 has more ground clearance, which is what you want for off-roading. While the CX-5 sits up to 7.9 inches off the ground, the CX-50 has a maximum ground clearance of up to 8.6 inches. With 0.7 inches more of ground clearance, the CX-50 is better suited to tackling gravel roads and traversing rough terrain than the CX-5.

While both the CX-50 and CX-5 come with standard AWD and off-road drive modes, the CX-50 has a new, more advanced off-road mode to handle rough terrain. Combine this with the more advanced off-road mode, available all-wheel tires, and extra ground clearance, and the CX-50 is a much better option for drivers that plan to go off-road.

While the CX-50 and CX-5 share the same powertrains, the Mazda CX-50 is rated to tow more cargo. The CX-50 maxes out at 3,500 pounds of towing capacity, while the CX-5 can tow 2,000 pounds. In addition to towing more cargo, the CX-50 has more maximum cargo space than the CX-5, with 3 cubic feet more of total cargo space.

Read Our Overview of the Mazda CX-50

Our Verdict

The CX-5 and CX-50, unsurprisingly, line up well with one another, which is expected given how many components they share. The main differences between the two models include styling and purpose.

The CX-5 is an SUV that’s meant to stay on the tarmac, while the CX-50, with its more rugged design, taller ground clearance, and more advanced AWD system, is meant to handle light off-roading. If you feel a calling to tackle rough roads, the CX-50 is the better fit.

Since most people don’t go off-roading regularly and do the majority of driving on tarmac, the Mazda CX-5 is the better option. It’s nearly identical to CX-50, but has a slightly more spacious interior, is more affordable, and delivers slightly sharper handling.

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