The crossover from Mazda draws its power from Toyota, yet driving it doesn’t feel like you’re in a Toyota vehicle.

Throughout my career in car literature, Mazda has often played the role of an underdog contrasted with industry leaders like Toyota. If you look through any discussion thread related to Toyota vehicles (particularly hybrids) from 2003 up until today, it doesn’t take long to come across someone criticizing them.
sheeple
by choosing a Prius instead of a manual Mazda 6 hatchback.

In reality, things haven’t been quite as intense as you might think; I assure you this. Mazda hasn’t always received the recognition it deserved in many aspects. Their automobiles, pickups, and SUVs are known for their reliability and attractive design, offering an engaging driving experience. They deserve credit for sustaining the MX-5 Miata despite significant challenges. However, in certain areas, they’ve fallen short. The company’s progress with engines and transmissions could be better. Despite investing heavily in developing a large rear-wheel-drive architecture and a naturally aspirated V6 gasoline engine, along with reviving the rotary engine, these efforts seem to have yielded modest returns so far.

Its electric vehicle (EV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and hybrid offerings have been underwhelming. Following the discontinuation of the Ford-based Mazda Tribute Hybrid in 2011, Mazda did not offer any electrified models until the
The MX-30 made its debut (and was discontinued) in 2023.
In the current landscape, Mazda will likely have to adopt some form of electrification to remain competitive. This presents a significant challenge for a smaller, standalone automaker facing off against major players like Tesla, BYD, and Toyota.

I believe the Mazda CX-50 hybrid represents a comeback for the brand. Rather than crafting its own hybrid technology from the ground up or awkwardly integrating one,
The CX-90 and CX-70’s rear-wheel-drive setup
Into the front-wheel-drive, transversely mounted CX-50 package, Mazda turned to its corporate ally and essentially asked for a helping hand, borrowing something as they might politely request “a cup of sugar.”

However, Mazda guarantees that the borrowed cup of sugar will go into a completely different dish. The company emphasizes that their reputation among enthusiasts won’t suffer, subtly reinforcing Mazda’s underappreciated antihero image for those who would purchase almost anything but a Toyota.

I had it for a week, and during this period, I also test-drove a RAV4 Hybrid. How different was it from what Mazda claimed? In my opinion, is it actually decent? For the most part, I believe so.

What does the CX-50 Hybrid entail?

The Mazda CX-50 falls into the category of a compact SUV without any fancy marketing jargon. Positioned next to the Mazda CX-5—an established model intended to be succeeded—the CX-5 has proven successful enough for Mazda to retain it in their lineup. Although slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the CX-50 remains within the competitive realm of compact crossovers. Currently, the CX-50 serves as something of a transitional option.
Since a CX-5 hybrid is set to arrive in a few years, featuring an advanced in-house hybrid system.

Typically, the CX-50 features either naturally aspirated or turbocharged variants of Mazda’s 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. However, for the hybrid version of the CX-50, Mazda opted to collaborate with Toyota. Interestingly enough, this particular model is manufactured alongside other vehicles at the Honda Manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama.
Toyota Corolla Cross,
However, they employ various hybrid systems.

The CX-50 borrows the entire hybrid system directly from the RAV4 Hybrid. This indicates that it utilizes the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine sourced from Toyota (unrelated to Mazda’s own similarly sized engine). It also features an identical eCVT transmission equipped with three electric motors, including one positioned at the rear axle for electronic All-Wheel Drive (eAWD) capability. Additionally, it incorporates a 1.6 kWh nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack which powers these components. Altogether, the CX-50 hybrid produces 219 horsepower along with 163 pound-feet of torque.

The engineering team at Mazda mentioned that they made significant distinctions between the two models. Naturally, the Mazda CX-50 shares a platform and suspension system similar to those found in the smaller Mazda 3, unlike the RAV4 which aligns closely with Toyota’s lineup. The CX-50 Hybrid mirrors its gasoline counterpart in terms of both internal amenities and external design, except for distinctive hybrid-specific wheel designs and a small blue emblem indicating its hybrid nature. According to Mazda’s engineers, considerable effort was put into ensuring that integrating the hybrid technology felt consistent with the expectations of Mazda drivers.

To achieve greater uniformity across the CX-50 lineup—featuring the 2.5 S, Hybrid, and 2.5 Turbo models—we focused primarily on refining noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). This was done to align the experience of driving the [Toyota Hybrid System] closer to those of the 2.5 S and 2.5 Turbo variants,” explained Mazda spokesperson Jake Stumph. Additionally, he mentioned that selecting the available Bose sound system further aids in reducing the intrinsic noises associated with the Toyota hybrid configuration.

Driving the CX-50 Hybrid

In a Toyota hybrid configuration, the relationship between pedal input and engine workload isn’t directly proportionate because the vehicle’s electronic control systems manage an intricate balance to optimize both the operation of the engine and coordination with the three electric motors. This leads to an experience where accelerating feels akin to blending a shake that occasionally encounters unblended chunks; it remains smooth overall yet has unexpected variations in texture simultaneously.

Nevertheless, this may well be one of the most seamless executions I have experienced so far. Certainly, when pushed hard, the CX-50 maintains a consistent engine sound and hums much like any eCVT system would; however, the connection between throttle input and vehicle response seemed quite intuitive and immediate. It isn’t common for a Toyota hybrid to exhibit such responsiveness.
save perhaps for the new Prius Prime.

Stumph explained that this approach was deliberate. “Mazda put significant work into calibrating the CX-50 Hybrid to ensure it retains its distinctively Mazda feel,” he stated. “The most noticeable element is how the accelerator pedal responds and is mapped, offering a notably smooth and accurate initial engagement. This makes maneuvering at lower speeds—like keeping the car in electric-only mode—more manageable. Ultimately, these adjustments influence the entire drivetrain’s behavior and responsiveness.”

Include the CX-50’s impressively precise and unexpectedly agile handling characteristics, along with its responsive steering, and it could very well become the most enjoyable hybrid crossover within its current pricing segment.

The CX-50 hybrid managed an average fuel consumption just under 30 MPG when tested over a cold week, which falls short compared to its EPA-rated estimate of around 38 MPG. In contrast, the RAV4 Hybrid boasts a higher combined rating of 39 MPG according to official figures. Despite this discrepancy, environmental impact assessments suggest that the CX-50 hybrid will consume less fuel and release lower levels of CO2, at approximately 233 grams per mile, as opposed to the gasoline-only model’s emission rate of about 335 grams per mile.

Verdict

As we mainly focus on electric vehicles and technology here at our platform, with only occasional coverage of hybrid models, I see little reason to promote hybrids further when our aim ought to be moving away from gasoline completely. That’s just not what we’re about. However, I believe the CX-50 holds significance for multiple compelling reasons.

Initially, this model serves as an olive branch for long-time Mazda enthusiasts looking for a compact hybrid crossover without breaking the bank. Strategically, Mazda positioned the Hybrid variant between their conventional models, with pricing just above the base 2.5-liter engine version yet still under the price point of the turbocharged option. Should you opt for a fully loaded CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus similar to mine, be prepared to shell out $42,065 once the destination charge is included. Considering current market conditions, this seems quite reasonable.

Secondly, this contradicts the notion that sharing powertrains or components will result in cars with similar driving experiences. As we continue down the path toward increased electrification, I anticipate that elements such as batteries, electric motors, and eventually internal combustion engines (as they phase out) might become more uniform. However, the challenging task ahead will involve finding ways to distinguish models from different manufacturers and within their own ranges despite them utilizing essentially the same fundamental hardware.

Interestingly, right after driving the CX-50, I found myself behind the wheel of a 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. Despite using the same fundamental engine system, these vehicles have quite distinct characteristics. It takes someone well versed in automotive details to recognize that both models actually use the same propulsion setup.

That’s beneficial, particularly for Mazda.

Contact the author:
Kevin.Williams@InsideEVs.com

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As-Tested Price	$42,065
Base Price	$33,970
Drive Type	AWD
Output	219 hp
Seating Capacity	5
Efficiency	39 city / 37 highway / 38 combined (30 mpg observed)
Transmission	eCVT