You do pretty good reviews. I like that you’re not a kiss ass to the brands like other reviewers who don’t call out the faults they find with vehicles. You call it how you see it. That’s why I’m subscribed.
I think the main missed opportunity here was not making it more off-road capable. They should have looked at what Subaru did with the Outback Wilderness and matched or bettered it. 9+ inches of clearance, better approach and departure angles, and maybe even a selectable e-locker. That would be very compelling indeed. There are enough sporty crossovers out there already - someone needs to go after Subaru and the Jeep Cherokee and provide a real unibody off-roader that doesn't compromise on on-road handling. That's where the market is right now I think.
I picked the cx50 over cx5 as I believe the cx50 handled better. I took both cars on the same route and cx50 felt more confidence inspiring while the cx5 felt more boat like. If the outback wasn't a cvt I might have gone for it
i think it really comes down to styling. i have spent the last two weeks going through the hellish miasma trying to help my moms cop a car. and it came down to the cx-5 and cx-50, after test driving mostly every car in the class. and she just really liked how the cx-50 looked over the cx-5, most other things being pretty equal.
16:00. BINGO! Thank you for being honest about this vehicle. This vehicle feels like it was built to maximize profits, while the CX-5 was built to be the best Mazda could try and build in its class. I fear for Mazdas future if this is what they are coming out with.
@@digitaldoc100 that was my thought as well. Also since its made in Japan and its a working formula and we have seen it. So i am inclined towards CX_5 as well.
Great review. I do find these lengthened 2 row crossovers (Honda passport, Chevy Blazer, etc) far more compelling than the squashed regular compact crossover segment
I don’t mind the plastic grab handles and center console. It’s more durable and isn’t going to be marred as much as it ages. At least it has a nice feel. This is the first Mazda I’ve owned since I was 16 (a ‘98 626 LX) and I am very impressed with the car. They hit a home run, as far as I’m concerned. Very pleased and happy with my turbo premium plus. Everyone’s first comment is on the lovely terracotta interior. My favorite interior feature might be the ventilated seats. Everyone’s standards are different, and the mix of excellent quality features make any quirks more forgivable.
If I didn't value design so much, I'd probably be getting the outback because my dog doesn't like cars to be too loud and really gets unnerved by a car shaking from problematic suspensions. But I'm going to test drive the cx50 to see how it fares at highway speeds and see if it'll be good enough. I just couldn't live with that eyesore of an infotainment from Subaru.
@@davids1816 yeah that CVT ruins the amount of power in the outback’s 260 HP. I was excited in buying one, then I Test drove one over a year ago, the power was totally unpredictable ☹️, so I got the CX5, it was so much more fun to drive.😊
@@yelloandy Totally get that, and if you're the type who likes to row your own gears a bit, the 6 speed is a little easier to excuse vs. someone who just wants acceleration and efficiency. Mazda make very nice cars without the near-luxury price penalty. Good choice.
Sometimes Mazda seemingly IMHO gets caught up in styling, so you have this larger CUV with smallish windows. Not every CUV has to be the Forester, but its nice to see out.
Coming from a Subaru Forester, I test drove CX50 last week. I was shocked how bad my blind spot was due to A pillar plus driver side mirror! Belt line I guess interferes with overall visibility too. Gorgeous and felt good to drive though. But new Subaru Outback is super easy to drive with awesome visibility! Same with Crosstrek.
Better comparison is the Outback. CX5 is an upscaled inexpensive CUV which mostly pulls it off. CX50 is the more road/sporty version of the Outback. A bit more money and your in Infinity/Acura territory. Having access to both a nice base engine Outback and the Pref Plus CX50 it really comes down to minor preferences and likely brand loyalty/preference. Outback bring a greater "value" but you have to love practicality. CX5 is a great value that looks attractive when looking at the front but looks economy from pretty much every other angle.
I'll definitely try to put together a comparison between the two when I can but I was drawing the lines between this and the cx5 to try to figure out how it works into the lineup and see what pros this has over the CX5.
This car is trying to split the difference between offroad and luxury. It's offering something different an offroad vehicle that drives well AND FUN to drive AND is good offroad. Nobody else is doing that as well. They aren't TRYING to get rid of the CX5. Why would they kill their best seller? Who does that?
My thoughts were that if this could drive as well as the cx5 and be more practical and capable, it would make the cx5 a hard buy (just like what happened to the cx3) since the price is similar. That isn't the case though because the CX50 doesn't have many advantages outside of the inch in ground clearance, style, and back seat. That's not saying it's a bad car but it just seems like it could have been really great.
I test drove CX50 & CX5 last week. Haven’t looked at Mazda for 15 years or so!? Anyway, knowing that Mazda put 20” wheels on the top trim tells me it’s city dweller vehicle that just looks like a CUV or SUV outdoorsy - it’s so darn good looking! Hahaha! I’m still very curious about the Meridian edition to see if it has fog lights. Really do love CX5 which is new to me. Like I haven’t considered Mazda for years.
Good job, Tyler. Lots of insights. Looking at the Mazda CX-5 or Subaru Forester for next car. Have you heard anything on either one of these going Hybrid? I think your niche is adding insightful, almost emotional comments about how you feel about each vehicle. Once you gain experience on Toyotas, you are really going to be a great resource.
@@Realistick Very clean and fair review. After 5 Mazda 3s, I want to sit "in" a car instead of sitting "down". My passengers over the years have grumbled for more space, and I'm patiently waiting for the new Mazda 6 with the new engine and other tech down the road.
@@smooth37 Gotcha, I'd love to see a new Mazda6, at some point, I am hoping Mazda reintroduces it to the United States. Hopefully the CX-50 can you hold you over until that point!
@@Realistick Did you see the new CX-70/90?! Brand new interior and updated console layout. The new 6 is supposed to have a new 6 cylinder engine and (hopefully) a 7-Speed auto.
@@smooth37 I heard that they were planning to introduce them and heard of a inline 6 hybrid powertrain. Haven't seen anything official yet but I'll have to check it out! Update, just Googled it and only the cx60 that was recently released overseas is showing up, the interior of that looks super sick so that has my hopes way up!
The differences between the cx5 and 50 are confusing. CX50 costs more and is “larger” but doesn’t really have more space and doesn’t have better or more features. You just pay more for something that is different but not really better? I find it the same issues with differences between the forester and outback.
It is quite confusing, although I would add that there are actual pros and cons with the Forester and Outback that make each valid. The Outback is noticeably quieter and more Car-like than the Forester! So you pay more but you actually get a more luxurious car whereas the Forester feels more utilitarian and is 9 inches shorter with much better visibility, it's like a fish bowl!
The CX50 is better. It has a pano roof, it has a better infotainment screen with clearer pic, it drives better, and is higher off the ground, it is built to accommodate a rooftop tent for 3 people! It has more practical use space behind the back seat because it's longer. Those features justify the extra cost.
@@Realistick I wish the outback came with the larger pano roof like the cheaper forester. I tested out both cars and I did notice the outback was a little nicer but the smaller sunroof and finicky infotainment screen pushed me to the forester. The benefit of more power and better ride wasn’t worth it for me to spend the extra money.
@@differencemaker242 I haven’t driven it but I’ve heard a few reviewers mention that the cx5 actually has a more upscale interior with more soft touch points. It’s true it has some better features like the panoroof but having a lower quality interior on the cx50 is a bummer.
Mazda also did this with the CX-30 and Mazda 3 hatchback. The only advantage the CX-30 has over the 3 is a higher ride height and slightly more rear seat headroom. Other than that, cargo space is virtually the same, and the 3 handles a bit better.
With legislators prematurely making such things as the CX-50 obsolete very soon, there likely wont be another attempt to get the formula exactly right. I agree with the reviewer, other than the looks on the outside and maybe a little bit more offroad capability in certain trims, the CX-50 doesnt really give buyers anything they didnt already have in the CX-5. Having said that, if I were in the market for such a thing, I'd buy this over the CX-5 based on looks alone...the interior downgrades are minor and a little nit picky if I'm honest, and the CX-50 interior still looks better than the competition to my eyes.
First test drive was not the turbo because mine wasn’t in yet to drive(cx-50), I hated it and came back in to drive the premium plus CX5 thinking that would be better, well when I came back I was able to drive a turbo 50 zircon sand,and the turbo 5, I started with the premium plus turbo 50, blown away with how much I loved it, surprised me how I felt so much more power and sporty feel with the 50. Next I drove the cx5 all decked out, nice drive but not that sporty and we felt the size difference, felt more like I was in a bubble, back seat was small. Drove the premium plus turbo again and showed it to my son in law and daughter who just bought a Tiguan because they hated the 5, they now wished they had waited for the cx50. It’s just a difference I could feel, coming out of a cx9 I was worried about going smaller and so glad the 50 didn’t feel that way. Now I wait for the polymer grey turbo to arrive next week since Zircon sand is not my kind of color. Some will love Zircon and some won’t. Throw it in sport mode when you test drive, it flys
Did you drive the turbo CX5? The CX50 is fun to drive but the CX5 is entertaining too, especially in turbo form Congratulations either way, the CX50 looks sweet and is the clear choice if you need an actual back seat!
@@Realistick both were turbo, I pick up my cx 50 premium plus turbo tomorrow, it’s been a wait. I didn’t like the cx5,3 years ago and it hasn’t changed for me. My husband loves the 5 but I just never did.
I agree with some but not all of this review. After test driving both the 2022 CX-5 Turbo, and the CX-50 Premium Plus head to head, I felt the CX-50 handled a lot better. Taking a round about on ramp onto the highway during the test drives, the CX-5 felt less sporty or comfortable than the CX-50. Specifically, the CX-5's seats made me feel like I was going to slip out of them at 28 MPH around the turn with more body roll as well, VS the CX-50's seats keeping me firmly in place and less body movement allowing me to make the same turn at 30+ MPH. The 20" rims on the CX-50 do not help the ride but it really wasn't very noticeable for difference VS the 19" rims on the CX-5. I made sure to take both on the same paths and through some pot holed and raised up city streets that have ben abused by plowing and harsh winters here, and the CX-50 felt almost the same as the CX-5. As far as the interiors go, the added hard touch plastics around the back vehicle play more to the vehicles designed purpose, which is adventure over extreme luxury. Too much soft touch leathers in the back seat can be ripped or get dirty easy and harder to clean if your out having fun with the family. Some view it as cheap but it can also be viewed as functional. I went into my test drive thinking for sure "I'm going to love the CX-5 over the CX-50" and came out rather let down by the CX-5 and more impressed by the CX-50. I think the CX-5 would be fine, but for my work and personal needs I like the CX-50 better. Subaru's are great but feel "soul-less" in terms of driving dynamics compared to the Mazda's and I couldn't get past the infotainment system. In the end I placed an order for a CX-50 Turbo Premium trim, and will be getting 18" rims to add some more comfort to standard rides, since it wasn't much softer in the CX-5.
Interesting I went through the exact opposite test drive impression to yours. Went in for cx50, ended up buying a cx5 because of how quiet, well built and responsive cx5 is.
Fog lights are not obsolete. The fog lights are placed lower than regular lights and are able to illuminate the road beneath the fog line. Regular lights are high up and they “light up” the fog but that adds no visibility for you or others…
Let me phrase it differently, I'm not saying they are completely obsolete yet, especially for offroad type vehicles. As with most cars, it's a matter of what you need the car for. Bright foglights, especially an amber set are great for cutting through thick dust and fog, but they're not needed near as much anymore for most people given the capability of many modern leds!
I wouldn't buy the CX-5. I bought a new 2021 Mazda CX-5. I believe the CX-50 has the same engine. It has burned engine oil from day one and getting progressively worse. I looked up and found a bulletin for my car to be repaired. I took it in and they agreed that my car fell under that bulletin according to the VIN but, that I had to wait for the engine light to come on. By my calculation that won't happen until one oil change after my warranty is up. I only have 15,000 miles on it. Worse yet is that the RUclips posts from Mazda or it's dealerships take out negative reviews. Sleezy. Don't take a chance and buy Mazda’s. They don't stand by their products.
our 2022 mazda cx5 here in the philippines is like the 32k range trim but is being sold here in the philippines for around 38k dollars......thats quite unfair
The review is thorough however, in his comparison to the CX5 he fails to mention that overall the CX 50 is more capable. The added features which include being an offroad vehicle, accessories like a camping tent, kayak rack, etc. the rugged look and the fact that both are priced closely. I feel makes his review a bit biased. He seemed to explore too many negatives on the CX 50.
The cx50 is slightly more capable offroad, and I mention that when talking about ground clearance. And I mention the price similarity too, but that becomes bigger as you climb trims. Accessories are kind of irrelevant for a review as you can outfit most things on either, including a rooftop tent from an outside party. I like the CX-50, I just think the CX-5 is better unless you want an extra inch of ground clearance, you like the look (all opinion), or you need a bigger backseat. All of which are valid.
That's a fair point since they already have the cx-5 if you want something to be fun! But they'd have to IRS imo if they made it more forgiving. Soft suspension with this setup and this weight would make it a mess on twisty, rough roads.
Very simple , this is build for American market so..... It must be larger and it is specially in waist 😉 , trunk floor is also larger, price must be in line and affordable and it is , base starts in upper 20K range. Your expectations are too high of Mazda priced to compete with Subbies and RAVs of this market. What you wanted was more of CX70 but are you ready for 10Kusd starting point ? Just be reasonable here , at these prices it is still not next level Mazda RWD biased and luxury equipped. Wait for CX70 ...are you willing to pay for it's performance and luxury?
I don't think my expectations are high at all, a Subaru Outback is more comfortable, larger, and priced similarly, if not better at the high end and handles more confidently on bad roads. Your expectations are too low. I never called this bad either, it just needs to prove itself compared to an already existing model in the lineup and it doesn't do a great job at that.
@@Realistick ...😉 if you drive on really bad roads or off road . So each buyer must ask this question. I drive 99.9% on good quality roads and asphalt where any Mazda destroys Subbies softer and lousy suspension as Subbie was designed with rough road and off road as priority at a cost of on road reel. Steering feel is also better on a Mazda, than comes nose dive when breaking , than comes ...sorry ass CVT , really cheesy and econo choice that should not be used on any respectable vehicle above say 100hp and more than 18K usd . What else , oh look of Subbie and it's glass bowl windows suck in the summer and make AC work so much harder , than exterior styling that is just ugly , way more ugly than oversized plastic trim around CX30s wheels. So Subbie maybe the answer for those who have a stream to cross to get home , and those driving on constant off roads and can tolerate soft and mushy suspension with CVT and mostly underpowered 4 cylinder engines on the asphalt roads, go ahead get a Subbie. I think vast majority of car buyers do drive on roads where Mazda drives and feels much better ...and is a superbly designed product for such market. Sorry extra few qubic feet of cargo are not a sign of great engineering to me. Mazda simply sticks to my expectations way more .
It's all about priorities, I'm not saying the cx50 is a bad car. I'd probably go with a CX5 over both of them but that's because I don't need a backseat and I like the added soft touch and IRS. If you need a bigger back seat or want more ground clearance and fresh looks, go cx50. If you want a more comfortable ride (it's not a boat like you imply btw), and you need more size, go Outback. If you really care about reliability, I'd stick with mazda too. It's not black and white bud, that's my point. But this is not going to compete with a true luxury vehicle any more than the CX5, Outback, or toyota venza does.
Was looking for a lower trim model CX50 bc I would prefer the 17” wheels and don’t need all the bells and whistles. However, markups on the ones in my area from Mazda dealerships are $8k over MSRP! Who in their right mind would pay a 30% markup on a lower trim model vehicle? Insane
Sheesh! A lot of these right now are demo models (including the one I drove), which means dealers are trying to keep them as examples but will sell them if someone wants to pay way over sticker for it. Royal Mazda usually sells 2k over at the moment, and this one would normally be the same but they just sold it for 4k over! Wild
@@Realistick Ill just hold onto my ‘04 Suburban til the wheels fall off lol bc I don’t think prices are going to come down anytime soon and obviously people have no problem paying over MSRP
@@natlovell122 I'd just call around, I just look up which dealers are highest rated in each state and can usually find some that go at sticker through that! There are still some with owners who don't want to do that.
Depends on what you need! All are good options. If you're using your back seat a lot, id probably forget the CX5, if you drive on the highway a ton, need more cargo space or go over a lot of rough roads, id go Outback. If you want something more fun with a good back seat, id go cx50! Me personally, I would take the CX5 because I think it finds the best balance of comfort and handling, plus I don't need a big back seat.
So... quick summary. The CX-50 is style over substance. If you're bored with the already good CX-5, but don't want to address its major flaw of an extremely out of date transmission - and instead want big fender flares and worse suspension. Mazda is willing to sell you this at a $3000-5000 premium. But your friends will think it's stylish.
Then Mazda is truly stupider then I thought if they kill off their best selling model. And I don't think enough people will migrate to the CX-50; many people are not as impressed with eh CX-50 compared to the CX-5.
I was worried of that too, because they made them too close of competitors and the CX50 fixed the CX5 biggest limiting factor (backseat), but after driving it. I don't think the CX-5 has much to worry about unless mazda does some cost-cutting on its new generation coming
Adaptive turning headlights my 12 year old Volvo XC60 has that seriously why are Japanese so far behind in many areas🤦♂️their good price but you compare this to a xc60 2022 and it’s way better.
@@Realistick Styling is always subjective, so you certainly are entitled to your opinion. The CX-50 is fine, but to me it just looks like it is trying too hard, especially the front end which (IMO), looks too "busy" and cluttered compared to the less highly styled CX-5.
@@altima119487 me too, it's supposedly still going to be a two row suv so it might be a ground up venture into the luxury segment? We'll have to find out!
I think the CX-50 is eventually going to replace the CX-5. Just like the CX-30 replaced the CX-3. I think it’s Mazda trying to save money by not importing the CX-5 from Japan and making the CX-50 here in the states with lesser materials. It would be a shame if they did that. They’ll start to tarnish the brand after working hard to make it more upscale, just to drop the ball.
The benefit is you don't have to lift up your hand to interact with it. Touchscreens require more precision, not more inputs. It's a preference, not a rule of law.
@@Realistick Who is better at designing user interface? Google and Apple? Or Mazda and Acura? Enough said. Dials and touchpads add unnecessary complexity.
@@haze1123 This has Apple carplay and android auto too. What do you not understand about the word preference?😂 I like not having to lift a finger to mess with my screen while driving, others like you obviously prefer the opposite which is fine, but I think they could do a better job on their interface.
@@Realistick Yep. I'm glad Mazda is now allowing for preference with the touchscreen capability for Android Auto and CarPlay. Very smart. They listened to customers.
@@samliang4146 I drive my wife’s 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo and it goes like 170 miles in mixed driving before it needs more gas. It also drives like an electric car, quick but boring.
But the outback has a hateful and unreliable boxer engine. No car is perfect. I still didn't bought anything. More than likely will buy the new crv, also against my will...
They don't have the best history but they have been a lot better in recent years and I could go in detail on this (and have for my reviews) but I wouldn't write them out if running cost is a big concern. I'd still go with a mazda over the subie if longevity is the only major concern. Buy what you want, ultimately, the CRV is a great too, so not a bad car to have to settle with!
Find this to be a very negative review lol. I've test driven the outback and this and found the cx50 to be significantly better than the outback in so many aspects. For one the outback looks ugly from outside, I think that's the one that suffers from an identity crisis the most, is it a wagon or a wannabe suv? The 6 speed on the Mazda is leaps and bounds better than the stupid drony cvt in the subaru. The huge infotainment in the outback is the worst thing ever, it's so impractical to put everything on a touchscreen and very quickly becomes an eyesore when you have a ton of fingerprints on it. The outback isn't much of an offroading vehicle either, ppl hype it up too much as an off-roader, the cx50 is amply capable of doing all the "off-roading" the buyers of these suvs aspire to do and anyone that truly has an extreme adventurous side wouldn't buy any of these vehicles anyway, they'd obviously choose something like a bronco or a wrangler.
Not at one point did i say the Outback was better, in fact, i made a video recently comparing the two and this was my personal favorite. However, the outback is much more practical and comfortable. I was more upset with the cx50 because mazda could have made it better if they just did some things they already did for the cx5 in the cx50. I love mazdas.
@@Realistick appreciate your reply. I get your point to some extent but still disagree that there aren't significant improvements over cx5. In my opinion mazda has addressed all/most issues that ppl had with the cx5. 1) they've added most of the off road capable elements that ppl always found missing in the cx5 -better ground clearance, more rugged looks, perfectly capable of handling cottage trails, camping trips (let's be honest, that's what regular crossover shoppers aspire to do with their compact crossovers), 2) they've addressed the issue of a cramped cabin in the cx5 with a better back seat space, more width, panoramic sunroof 3)still retains the good looks and interiors mazdas are known for (you might say, it has more hard touch surfaces than the cx5, but that's the point, it's meant to have a different character than the cx5 while still striking a balance between luxury and sportiness) 4) still handles well in spite of the torsion beam vs multi link suspension, an average consumer wouldn't even notice the difference if no one told them 5) has all the safety/tech features one looks for in a family crossover....so I don't understand what is it that's drastically missing in the cx50 over the cx5? My only gripe is the fact that it doesn't have a hybrid option yet, I'm eagerly waiting for their Toyota AWD in the cx50 and that's the only thing stopping me from considering this vehicle. Lack of a hybrid/ any sort of electrification is one large missed opportunity from mazda at this point. Nonetheless you're one of my favorite car reviewers, but just didn't agree with you on this one though!
@@shravankulkarni685 I see what you'r e saying, to each their own, I do hope they ditch the torsion beam suspension though on cars like this. It doesn't smack you in the face but on bad roads it does get jittery!
@@Realistick ok I'll take that 😀. Btw I think you're in the Kentucky area, I live in Cinci. I currently own a 2015 lexus rx 350 F sport right now. It'd be my dream to lend my car to you for a review and may be you can tell your viewers if a 2015 rx 350 is still a good buy as a used vehicle in 2022, given the shortage of vehicles and the exorbitant prices on new cars 😅
@@shravankulkarni685 if i could get ahold of a new model to compare it to, i'd tae you up on that, I'm quite a bit from Cinci though. (bloomington, in)
I have owned the premium plus naturally aspirated for a few months now....I love it! Beautiful car inside and out and does what I need it to do.
You do pretty good reviews. I like that you’re not a kiss ass to the brands like other reviewers who don’t call out the faults they find with vehicles. You call it how you see it. That’s why I’m subscribed.
I think the main missed opportunity here was not making it more off-road capable. They should have looked at what Subaru did with the Outback Wilderness and matched or bettered it. 9+ inches of clearance, better approach and departure angles, and maybe even a selectable e-locker. That would be very compelling indeed. There are enough sporty crossovers out there already - someone needs to go after Subaru and the Jeep Cherokee and provide a real unibody off-roader that doesn't compromise on on-road handling. That's where the market is right now I think.
I picked the cx50 over cx5 as I believe the cx50 handled better. I took both cars on the same route and cx50 felt more confidence inspiring while the cx5 felt more boat like. If the outback wasn't a cvt I might have gone for it
i think it really comes down to styling. i have spent the last two weeks going through the hellish miasma trying to help my moms cop a car. and it came down to the cx-5 and cx-50, after test driving mostly every car in the class. and she just really liked how the cx-50 looked over the cx-5, most other things being pretty equal.
The styling is a huge pro for me too, they nailed that and both drive pretty well overall!
I needed the space coming out of the cx 9 and a brand new grandson.
16:00. BINGO! Thank you for being honest about this vehicle. This vehicle feels like it was built to maximize profits, while the CX-5 was built to be the best Mazda could try and build in its class. I fear for Mazdas future if this is what they are coming out with.
Agreed. Would stick with a CX-5 if I was purchasing soon.
@@digitaldoc100 that was my thought as well. Also since its made in Japan and its a working formula and we have seen it. So i am inclined towards CX_5 as well.
Great review. I do find these lengthened 2 row crossovers (Honda passport, Chevy Blazer, etc) far more compelling than the squashed regular compact crossover segment
You got me with the hight joke bro...I was expecting you to say they both have a big rear end🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I don’t mind the plastic grab handles and center console. It’s more durable and isn’t going to be marred as much as it ages. At least it has a nice feel. This is the first Mazda I’ve owned since I was 16 (a ‘98 626 LX) and I am very impressed with the car. They hit a home run, as far as I’m concerned. Very pleased and happy with my turbo premium plus. Everyone’s first comment is on the lovely terracotta interior. My favorite interior feature might be the ventilated seats. Everyone’s standards are different, and the mix of excellent quality features make any quirks more forgivable.
Excellent review! First time watching your channel.
If I didn't value design so much, I'd probably be getting the outback because my dog doesn't like cars to be too loud and really gets unnerved by a car shaking from problematic suspensions. But I'm going to test drive the cx50 to see how it fares at highway speeds and see if it'll be good enough. I just couldn't live with that eyesore of an infotainment from Subaru.
If Subarus had gears I'd probably have bought an Outback years ago. It's too late now.
@@davids1816 that too. The CVT is really a non-starter for me.
@@davids1816 yeah that CVT ruins the amount of power in the outback’s 260 HP. I was excited in buying one, then I Test drove one over a year ago, the power was totally unpredictable ☹️, so I got the CX5, it was so much more fun to drive.😊
@@yelloandy Totally get that, and if you're the type who likes to row your own gears a bit, the 6 speed is a little easier to excuse vs. someone who just wants acceleration and efficiency. Mazda make very nice cars without the near-luxury price penalty. Good choice.
Sometimes Mazda seemingly IMHO gets caught up in styling, so you have this larger CUV with smallish windows. Not every CUV has to be the Forester, but its nice to see out.
Coming from a Subaru Forester, I test drove CX50 last week. I was shocked how bad my blind spot was due to A pillar plus driver side mirror! Belt line I guess interferes with overall visibility too. Gorgeous and felt good to drive though. But new Subaru Outback is super easy to drive with awesome visibility! Same with Crosstrek.
Great review. Super helpful for prospective buyers. Thank you
Better comparison is the Outback. CX5 is an upscaled inexpensive CUV which mostly pulls it off. CX50 is the more road/sporty version of the Outback. A bit more money and your in Infinity/Acura territory. Having access to both a nice base engine Outback and the Pref Plus CX50 it really comes down to minor preferences and likely brand loyalty/preference. Outback bring a greater "value" but you have to love practicality. CX5 is a great value that looks attractive when looking at the front but looks economy from pretty much every other angle.
I'll definitely try to put together a comparison between the two when I can but I was drawing the lines between this and the cx5 to try to figure out how it works into the lineup and see what pros this has over the CX5.
My wish list is (1) CX5 and (2) Outback maybe wilderness edition :) I wouldn’t mind CX50 too if I win a lottery
This car is trying to split the difference between offroad and luxury. It's offering something different an offroad vehicle that drives well AND FUN to drive AND is good offroad. Nobody else is doing that as well. They aren't TRYING to get rid of the CX5. Why would they kill their best seller? Who does that?
My thoughts were that if this could drive as well as the cx5 and be more practical and capable, it would make the cx5 a hard buy (just like what happened to the cx3) since the price is similar. That isn't the case though because the CX50 doesn't have many advantages outside of the inch in ground clearance, style, and back seat. That's not saying it's a bad car but it just seems like it could have been really great.
I test drove CX50 & CX5 last week. Haven’t looked at Mazda for 15 years or so!? Anyway, knowing that Mazda put 20” wheels on the top trim tells me it’s city dweller vehicle that just looks like a CUV or SUV outdoorsy - it’s so darn good looking! Hahaha! I’m still very curious about the Meridian edition to see if it has fog lights. Really do love CX5 which is new to me. Like I haven’t considered Mazda for years.
4:27; read some reviews complaining about the window pillar getting in the way of view, is it as bad as shown on the video?
It's not stellar, but it's not dangerous and it's something I think most could get used to. An improvement over the CX30!
I'm 6'2, would I fit comfortably driving?
Good job, Tyler. Lots of insights. Looking at the Mazda CX-5 or Subaru Forester for next car. Have you heard anything on either one of these going Hybrid? I think your niche is adding insightful, almost emotional comments about how you feel about each vehicle. Once you gain experience on Toyotas, you are really going to be a great resource.
Thank you, im really trying to track down more toyotas!
The CX 50 is actually good looking and I hate SUV’s.
Getting this after my Mazda Turbo 3 lease is done. The CX-50 is as big as the 3 Series BMW which is the perfect size.
It's a great replacement for that, gotta love the 2.5 turbo
@@Realistick Very clean and fair review. After 5 Mazda 3s, I want to sit "in" a car instead of sitting "down". My passengers over the years have grumbled for more space, and I'm patiently waiting for the new Mazda 6 with the new engine and other tech down the road.
@@smooth37 Gotcha, I'd love to see a new Mazda6, at some point, I am hoping Mazda reintroduces it to the United States. Hopefully the CX-50 can you hold you over until that point!
@@Realistick Did you see the new CX-70/90?! Brand new interior and updated console layout. The new 6 is supposed to have a new 6 cylinder engine and (hopefully) a 7-Speed auto.
@@smooth37 I heard that they were planning to introduce them and heard of a inline 6 hybrid powertrain. Haven't seen anything official yet but I'll have to check it out! Update, just Googled it and only the cx60 that was recently released overseas is showing up, the interior of that looks super sick so that has my hopes way up!
The differences between the cx5 and 50 are confusing. CX50 costs more and is “larger” but doesn’t really have more space and doesn’t have better or more features. You just pay more for something that is different but not really better?
I find it the same issues with differences between the forester and outback.
It is quite confusing, although I would add that there are actual pros and cons with the Forester and Outback that make each valid. The Outback is noticeably quieter and more Car-like than the Forester! So you pay more but you actually get a more luxurious car whereas the Forester feels more utilitarian and is 9 inches shorter with much better visibility, it's like a fish bowl!
The CX50 is better. It has a pano roof, it has a better infotainment screen with clearer pic, it drives better, and is higher off the ground, it is built to accommodate a rooftop tent for 3 people! It has more practical use space behind the back seat because it's longer. Those features justify the extra cost.
@@Realistick I wish the outback came with the larger pano roof like the cheaper forester. I tested out both cars and I did notice the outback was a little nicer but the smaller sunroof and finicky infotainment screen pushed me to the forester. The benefit of more power and better ride wasn’t worth it for me to spend the extra money.
@@differencemaker242 I haven’t driven it but I’ve heard a few reviewers mention that the cx5 actually has a more upscale interior with more soft touch points.
It’s true it has some better features like the panoroof but having a lower quality interior on the cx50 is a bummer.
Mazda also did this with the CX-30 and Mazda 3 hatchback. The only advantage the CX-30 has over the 3 is a higher ride height and slightly more rear seat headroom. Other than that, cargo space is virtually the same, and the 3 handles a bit better.
With legislators prematurely making such things as the CX-50 obsolete very soon, there likely wont be another attempt to get the formula exactly right. I agree with the reviewer, other than the looks on the outside and maybe a little bit more offroad capability in certain trims, the CX-50 doesnt really give buyers anything they didnt already have in the CX-5. Having said that, if I were in the market for such a thing, I'd buy this over the CX-5 based on looks alone...the interior downgrades are minor and a little nit picky if I'm honest, and the CX-50 interior still looks better than the competition to my eyes.
It's all tradeoffs! They might make it all come together as an EV but the MX30 hasn't exactly raised my hopes just yet.
Mazda needs to get their new 8 speed auto in all their vehicles.....ASAP!
First test drive was not the turbo because mine wasn’t in yet to drive(cx-50), I hated it and came back in to drive the premium plus CX5 thinking that would be better, well when I came back I was able to drive a turbo 50 zircon sand,and the turbo 5, I started with the premium plus turbo 50, blown away with how much I loved it, surprised me how I felt so much more power and sporty feel with the 50. Next I drove the cx5 all decked out, nice drive but not that sporty and we felt the size difference, felt more like I was in a bubble, back seat was small. Drove the premium plus turbo again and showed it to my son in law and daughter who just bought a Tiguan because they hated the 5, they now wished they had waited for the cx50. It’s just a difference I could feel, coming out of a cx9 I was worried about going smaller and so glad the 50 didn’t feel that way. Now I wait for the polymer grey turbo to arrive next week since Zircon sand is not my kind of color. Some will love Zircon and some won’t. Throw it in sport mode when you test drive, it flys
Did you drive the turbo CX5? The CX50 is fun to drive but the CX5 is entertaining too, especially in turbo form Congratulations either way, the CX50 looks sweet and is the clear choice if you need an actual back seat!
@@Realistick both were turbo, I pick up my cx 50 premium plus turbo tomorrow, it’s been a wait. I didn’t like the cx5,3 years ago and it hasn’t changed for me. My husband loves the 5 but I just never did.
I agree with some but not all of this review. After test driving both the 2022 CX-5 Turbo, and the CX-50 Premium Plus head to head, I felt the CX-50 handled a lot better. Taking a round about on ramp onto the highway during the test drives, the CX-5 felt less sporty or comfortable than the CX-50. Specifically, the CX-5's seats made me feel like I was going to slip out of them at 28 MPH around the turn with more body roll as well, VS the CX-50's seats keeping me firmly in place and less body movement allowing me to make the same turn at 30+ MPH. The 20" rims on the CX-50 do not help the ride but it really wasn't very noticeable for difference VS the 19" rims on the CX-5. I made sure to take both on the same paths and through some pot holed and raised up city streets that have ben abused by plowing and harsh winters here, and the CX-50 felt almost the same as the CX-5. As far as the interiors go, the added hard touch plastics around the back vehicle play more to the vehicles designed purpose, which is adventure over extreme luxury. Too much soft touch leathers in the back seat can be ripped or get dirty easy and harder to clean if your out having fun with the family. Some view it as cheap but it can also be viewed as functional. I went into my test drive thinking for sure "I'm going to love the CX-5 over the CX-50" and came out rather let down by the CX-5 and more impressed by the CX-50. I think the CX-5 would be fine, but for my work and personal needs I like the CX-50 better. Subaru's are great but feel "soul-less" in terms of driving dynamics compared to the Mazda's and I couldn't get past the infotainment system. In the end I placed an order for a CX-50 Turbo Premium trim, and will be getting 18" rims to add some more comfort to standard rides, since it wasn't much softer in the CX-5.
Interesting I went through the exact opposite test drive impression to yours. Went in for cx50, ended up buying a cx5 because of how quiet, well built and responsive cx5 is.
@@freedeworld Ditto
Great review
Fog lights are not obsolete. The fog lights are placed lower than regular lights and are able to illuminate the road beneath the fog line. Regular lights are high up and they “light up” the fog but that adds no visibility for you or others…
Let me phrase it differently, I'm not saying they are completely obsolete yet, especially for offroad type vehicles. As with most cars, it's a matter of what you need the car for. Bright foglights, especially an amber set are great for cutting through thick dust and fog, but they're not needed near as much anymore for most people given the capability of many modern leds!
I wouldn't buy the CX-5. I bought a new 2021 Mazda CX-5. I believe the CX-50 has the same engine. It has burned engine oil from day one and getting progressively worse. I looked up and found a bulletin for my car to be repaired. I took it in and they agreed that my car fell under that bulletin according to the VIN but, that I had to wait for the engine light to come on. By my calculation that won't happen until one oil change after my warranty is up. I only have 15,000 miles on it. Worse yet is that the RUclips posts from Mazda or it's dealerships take out negative reviews. Sleezy. Don't take a chance and buy Mazda’s. They don't stand by their products.
I feel like the cx-50 kinda needs a hybrid version (or something) to differentiate it from the cx-5
our 2022 mazda cx5 here in the philippines is like the 32k range trim but is being sold here in the philippines for around 38k dollars......thats quite unfair
The review is thorough however, in his comparison to the CX5 he fails to mention that overall the CX 50 is more capable. The added features which include being an offroad vehicle, accessories like a camping tent, kayak rack, etc. the rugged look and the fact that both are priced closely. I feel makes his review a bit biased.
He seemed to explore too many negatives on the CX 50.
The cx50 is slightly more capable offroad, and I mention that when talking about ground clearance. And I mention the price similarity too, but that becomes bigger as you climb trims. Accessories are kind of irrelevant for a review as you can outfit most things on either, including a rooftop tent from an outside party. I like the CX-50, I just think the CX-5 is better unless you want an extra inch of ground clearance, you like the look (all opinion), or you need a bigger backseat. All of which are valid.
Yeah, I'll take the CX5. Looks better and is smaller.
Me too, but I actually like how the cx50 looks more, I just think the cx5 feels better in every way!
@@Realistick Exactly. The CX50 makes me worried about the future of Mazda.
they should've made the suspension much softer
That's a fair point since they already have the cx-5 if you want something to be fun! But they'd have to IRS imo if they made it more forgiving. Soft suspension with this setup and this weight would make it a mess on twisty, rough roads.
when you get the 6.9 second for the cx 50, what did you get from the same measure method for the cx 5 and cx 30?
The cx30 and cx5 I tested were not turbo models, it's in their respective videos but I believe 8.5 or 6 for the cx5 and 7.9 for cx30
@@Realistick Thanks, but i don't care about non turbo performance tho. I want to know the turbo lol
It's nice. Go drive one regardless of this review. You! Make the decision on what you desire.
I never said it wasn't nice. It's all up to what your priorities are.
Very simple , this is build for American market so.....
It must be larger and it is specially in waist 😉 , trunk floor is also larger, price must be in line and affordable and it is , base starts in upper 20K range.
Your expectations are too high of Mazda priced to compete with Subbies and RAVs of this market.
What you wanted was more of CX70 but are you ready for 10Kusd starting point ? Just be reasonable here , at these prices it is still not next level Mazda RWD biased and luxury equipped. Wait for CX70 ...are you willing to pay for it's performance and luxury?
I don't think my expectations are high at all, a Subaru Outback is more comfortable, larger, and priced similarly, if not better at the high end and handles more confidently on bad roads. Your expectations are too low. I never called this bad either, it just needs to prove itself compared to an already existing model in the lineup and it doesn't do a great job at that.
@@Realistick ...😉 if you drive on really bad roads or off road .
So each buyer must ask this question.
I drive 99.9% on good quality roads and asphalt where any Mazda destroys Subbies softer and lousy suspension as Subbie was designed with rough road and off road as priority at a cost of on road reel.
Steering feel is also better on a Mazda, than comes nose dive when breaking , than comes ...sorry ass CVT , really cheesy and econo choice that should not be used on any respectable vehicle above say 100hp and more than 18K usd .
What else , oh look of Subbie and it's glass bowl windows suck in the summer and make AC work so much harder , than exterior styling that is just ugly , way more ugly than oversized plastic trim around CX30s wheels.
So Subbie maybe the answer for those who have a stream to cross to get home , and those driving on constant off roads and can tolerate soft and mushy suspension with CVT and mostly underpowered 4 cylinder engines on the asphalt roads, go ahead get a Subbie.
I think vast majority of car buyers do drive on roads where Mazda drives and feels much better ...and is a superbly designed product for such market.
Sorry extra few qubic feet of cargo are not a sign of great engineering to me. Mazda simply sticks to my expectations way more .
It's all about priorities, I'm not saying the cx50 is a bad car. I'd probably go with a CX5 over both of them but that's because I don't need a backseat and I like the added soft touch and IRS. If you need a bigger back seat or want more ground clearance and fresh looks, go cx50. If you want a more comfortable ride (it's not a boat like you imply btw), and you need more size, go Outback. If you really care about reliability, I'd stick with mazda too. It's not black and white bud, that's my point. But this is not going to compete with a true luxury vehicle any more than the CX5, Outback, or toyota venza does.
@@Realistick agreed there...
All that Cheap Black Plastic ruins a beautiful looking SUV.
Test drove both today. CX-50 much more fun to drive. Also hate the low-set climate controls on the CX-5.. Agree higher turbo trims too rich.
Was looking for a lower trim model CX50 bc I would prefer the 17” wheels and don’t need all the bells and whistles. However, markups on the ones in my area from Mazda dealerships are $8k over MSRP! Who in their right mind would pay a 30% markup on a lower trim model vehicle? Insane
Sheesh! A lot of these right now are demo models (including the one I drove), which means dealers are trying to keep them as examples but will sell them if someone wants to pay way over sticker for it. Royal Mazda usually sells 2k over at the moment, and this one would normally be the same but they just sold it for 4k over! Wild
@@Realistick Ill just hold onto my ‘04 Suburban til the wheels fall off lol bc I don’t think prices are going to come down anytime soon and obviously people have no problem paying over MSRP
@@natlovell122 I'd just call around, I just look up which dealers are highest rated in each state and can usually find some that go at sticker through that! There are still some with owners who don't want to do that.
$8k more, oh no!
Where is your location?
@@miniedenme887 Fresno, California
I'm choosing a vehicle between CX-50, CX5, and Outback. Which one do you think is better?
Depends on what you need! All are good options. If you're using your back seat a lot, id probably forget the CX5, if you drive on the highway a ton, need more cargo space or go over a lot of rough roads, id go Outback. If you want something more fun with a good back seat, id go cx50! Me personally, I would take the CX5 because I think it finds the best balance of comfort and handling, plus I don't need a big back seat.
@@Realistick thanks. help a lot!
So... quick summary. The CX-50 is style over substance. If you're bored with the already good CX-5, but don't want to address its major flaw of an extremely out of date transmission - and instead want big fender flares and worse suspension. Mazda is willing to sell you this at a $3000-5000 premium. But your friends will think it's stylish.
More or less, but price difference is $500-2500!
Well, I believe cx5 will be discontinued like cx30 killed cx3.
Then Mazda is truly stupider then I thought if they kill off their best selling model. And I don't think enough people will migrate to the CX-50; many people are not as impressed with eh CX-50 compared to the CX-5.
I was worried of that too, because they made them too close of competitors and the CX50 fixed the CX5 biggest limiting factor (backseat), but after driving it. I don't think the CX-5 has much to worry about unless mazda does some cost-cutting on its new generation coming
Adaptive turning headlights my 12 year old Volvo XC60 has that seriously why are Japanese so far behind in many areas🤦♂️their good price but you compare this to a xc60 2022 and it’s way better.
I worked at a Subaru Dealership and the Mazda CX-50 is a much nicer Car than the Outback all around 💁🏽♂️
Me too actually, I disagree and agree. This handles and looks better to me, the Outback was more plush and comfy all around.
Agreed and drive much better. Also, will be more reliable
Styling: CX-5 looks nicer IMO.
Respectable, I cant say i agree, unless we're talking the signature trim, that looks 👌 🤌
@@Realistick Styling is always subjective, so you certainly are entitled to your opinion. The CX-50 is fine, but to me it just looks like it is trying too hard, especially the front end which (IMO), looks too "busy" and cluttered compared to the less highly styled CX-5.
Too bad it's direct injection. Why buy worry?
Well now the Queen isn't the same height as she stands six feet under lol
That line didn’t age too well 😂
@@Realistick sure gave me a good chuckle watching it though!
They should call this the CX-60 or CX-70 and the CX-5 should be the CX-50.
The cx60 is actually a product overseas now, and we're getting a cx70 here as a larger competitor!
@@Realistick I can't wait to see how it looks!!
@@altima119487 me too, it's supposedly still going to be a two row suv so it might be a ground up venture into the luxury segment? We'll have to find out!
@@Realistick looking forward to it! The CX-5 will be my 2nd Mazda that I owned as the first one got totaled in 2015.
I think the CX-50 is eventually going to replace the CX-5. Just like the CX-30 replaced the CX-3. I think it’s Mazda trying to save money by not importing the CX-5 from Japan and making the CX-50 here in the states with lesser materials. It would be a shame if they did that. They’ll start to tarnish the brand after working hard to make it more upscale, just to drop the ball.
Touchscreens take less time and fewer inputs than that dial.
And using the dial, you still have to look at the screen. No benefit.
The benefit is you don't have to lift up your hand to interact with it. Touchscreens require more precision, not more inputs. It's a preference, not a rule of law.
@@Realistick Who is better at designing user interface? Google and Apple? Or Mazda and Acura? Enough said. Dials and touchpads add unnecessary complexity.
@@haze1123 This has Apple carplay and android auto too. What do you not understand about the word preference?😂 I like not having to lift a finger to mess with my screen while driving, others like you obviously prefer the opposite which is fine, but I think they could do a better job on their interface.
@@Realistick Yep. I'm glad Mazda is now allowing for preference with the touchscreen capability for Android Auto and CarPlay.
Very smart. They listened to customers.
Their transmissions are really holding their cars back, bad mpg and slower, boring acceleration. And I agree their cars feel very numb.
your very funny
@@samliang4146 I drive my wife’s 2021 Mazda 3 Turbo and it goes like 170 miles in mixed driving before it needs more gas. It also drives like an electric car, quick but boring.
@@plightn exactly why I said that
The cx-50 is far more sporty than the lifeless CVT transmission on the Outback
The Outback has a CVT. The Mazda has a torque converter 6 speed. Mazda wins!
This to me this is a waste, the Japanese designed cx5 is way more elegant and doesn't look like a vw in the rear
But the outback has a hateful and unreliable boxer engine. No car is perfect. I still didn't bought anything. More than likely will buy the new crv, also against my will...
They don't have the best history but they have been a lot better in recent years and I could go in detail on this (and have for my reviews) but I wouldn't write them out if running cost is a big concern. I'd still go with a mazda over the subie if longevity is the only major concern. Buy what you want, ultimately, the CRV is a great too, so not a bad car to have to settle with!
Find this to be a very negative review lol. I've test driven the outback and this and found the cx50 to be significantly better than the outback in so many aspects. For one the outback looks ugly from outside, I think that's the one that suffers from an identity crisis the most, is it a wagon or a wannabe suv? The 6 speed on the Mazda is leaps and bounds better than the stupid drony cvt in the subaru. The huge infotainment in the outback is the worst thing ever, it's so impractical to put everything on a touchscreen and very quickly becomes an eyesore when you have a ton of fingerprints on it. The outback isn't much of an offroading vehicle either, ppl hype it up too much as an off-roader, the cx50 is amply capable of doing all the "off-roading" the buyers of these suvs aspire to do and anyone that truly has an extreme adventurous side wouldn't buy any of these vehicles anyway, they'd obviously choose something like a bronco or a wrangler.
Not at one point did i say the Outback was better, in fact, i made a video recently comparing the two and this was my personal favorite. However, the outback is much more practical and comfortable. I was more upset with the cx50 because mazda could have made it better if they just did some things they already did for the cx5 in the cx50. I love mazdas.
@@Realistick appreciate your reply. I get your point to some extent but still disagree that there aren't significant improvements over cx5. In my opinion mazda has addressed all/most issues that ppl had with the cx5. 1) they've added most of the off road capable elements that ppl always found missing in the cx5 -better ground clearance, more rugged looks, perfectly capable of handling cottage trails, camping trips (let's be honest, that's what regular crossover shoppers aspire to do with their compact crossovers), 2) they've addressed the issue of a cramped cabin in the cx5 with a better back seat space, more width, panoramic sunroof 3)still retains the good looks and interiors mazdas are known for (you might say, it has more hard touch surfaces than the cx5, but that's the point, it's meant to have a different character than the cx5 while still striking a balance between luxury and sportiness) 4) still handles well in spite of the torsion beam vs multi link suspension, an average consumer wouldn't even notice the difference if no one told them 5) has all the safety/tech features one looks for in a family crossover....so I don't understand what is it that's drastically missing in the cx50 over the cx5? My only gripe is the fact that it doesn't have a hybrid option yet, I'm eagerly waiting for their Toyota AWD in the cx50 and that's the only thing stopping me from considering this vehicle. Lack of a hybrid/ any sort of electrification is one large missed opportunity from mazda at this point. Nonetheless you're one of my favorite car reviewers, but just didn't agree with you on this one though!
@@shravankulkarni685 I see what you'r e saying, to each their own, I do hope they ditch the torsion beam suspension though on cars like this. It doesn't smack you in the face but on bad roads it does get jittery!
@@Realistick ok I'll take that 😀. Btw I think you're in the Kentucky area, I live in Cinci. I currently own a 2015 lexus rx 350 F sport right now. It'd be my dream to lend my car to you for a review and may be you can tell your viewers if a 2015 rx 350 is still a good buy as a used vehicle in 2022, given the shortage of vehicles and the exorbitant prices on new cars 😅
@@shravankulkarni685 if i could get ahold of a new model to compare it to, i'd tae you up on that, I'm quite a bit from Cinci though. (bloomington, in)