Within the automobile enterprise, it pays to have pals. Mazda, for instance, is sweet pals with Toyota, and that relationship is paying off in spades. Seems, Toyota is pals with loads of automobile firms. Japan’s greatest carmaker owns mini-car maker Daihatsu outright, has a 20-percent stake in Subaru, and holds 5 % of Mazda. And when you might not hear an excessive amount of about all of the handshakes, there’s really so much happening there.
2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus
background
For instance: Accomplished in 2021, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama, produces automobiles for—predictably—Mazda and Toyota. And whereas Toyota has a lot of different North American meeting services, that is Mazda’s solely manufacturing facility within the Americas.
The power churns out the well-reviewed Mazda CX-50 small crossover, and the Toyota Corolla Cross, additionally a small crossover. As a result of Mazda isn’t a big firm by absolute automotive requirements, sharing a manufacturing facility with pal Toyota allowed the carmaker to realize the dimensions essential to function a viable abroad automobile manufacturing facility. It pays to have pals.
However the Mazda/Toyota relationship goes deeper. Like a lot of different carmakers, Mazda just lately realized that the highway to full electrification isn’t as clean as initially thought. Many U.S.-market automobile manufacturers had deliberate to easily swap to producing electrical automobiles in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent 5 to 10 years. The issue is, customers aren’t embracing EVs on the hoped-for price, however do appear to need to spend much less on gasoline.
Hybrids
Now, that is nice information for Toyota, the globe’s most prolific and proficient hybrid maker, however fairly dangerous information for many different carbuilders. Normal Motors, for instance, has no hybrid fashions accessible on the market within the U.S. Likewise, Nissan’s in style Rogue compact crossover has seen a major gross sales decline of late, a lot of which has been attributed to the lineup’s lack of a hybrid mannequin.
Mazda, too, has been working and not using a hybrid mannequin, till fairly just lately. Plug-in-hybrid variants of the maker’s in style CX-70 and CX-90 are simply now coming on-line. However, maybe extra importantly, because of Toyota—once more, it pays to have pals—the model’s CX-50 is now provided with a hybrid drivetrain.
Engines
Right here’s the factor, Toyota already builds a hybrid model of the Corolla Cross proper alongside the CX-50 meeting line, so…a deal was struck to provide Mazda with an engine much like the one Toyota was already putting in within the Corolla Cross. Enter the CX-50 Hybrid.
New for 2025, the CX-50 Hybrid contains a 2.5-liter engine and three electrical motors good for a mixed 219 horsepower. The CX-50 Hybrid comes solely with a CVT automated transmission and AWD. The hybrid Mazda is EPA rated at a mixed 37 mpg, properly above the usual CX-50’s 28 mpg score, and the turbo’s 25.
Costs and Trim Ranges
The CX-50 Hybrid slots in worth between the usual CX-50s (beginning at $31,720), and the turbocharged fashions, which cap out at $44,720.
For 2025, the CX-50 Hybrid is obtainable in Most well-liked ($35,390), Premium ($38,820), and Premium Plus ($41,470) trim ranges.
Client Information just lately spent every week behind the wheel of a Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus in Machine Grey Metallic. Our early-production mannequin didn’t include a Monroney label; nevertheless, we estimate that our check automobile got here in near the $41,470 base worth.
Except for the drivetrain, the CX-50 Hybrid appears and feels very very like every other CX-50, and that’s a very good factor. The cabin is stylish and properly screwed collectively, and exudes a typically upscale vibe. The infotainment display screen is mounted dashtop, pill type. The display screen isn’t enormous, however is evident and straightforward to learn. The CX-50, like most Mazda’s makes use of the model’s rotary-knob-style controller, which is a love-it or hate-it proposition for the Client Information workers. This editor is a fan, as, as soon as acclimated, a person can execute most straightforward duties with out trying down. The system is definitely fairly easy to make use of as soon as the motive force is acquainted with it.
There’s loads of room up entrance, even for giant people, and the rear seat is almost as accommodating. Getting into and exiting the ’50 is simple sufficient, thanks for a low step-in peak and enormous door openings.
On the highway, Mazda turbo followers are more likely to be somewhat disenchanted. The hybrid drivetrain doesn’t supply the top-end merging and passing energy that the CX-50 Turbo does, nevertheless, the hybrid powertrain does produce a helpful quantity of low-end torque, which serves properly in stop-and-go driving. General, the hybrid drivetrain comfy out performs base CX-50 fashions, however doesn’t match turbocharged variations in total efficiency.
All that stated, the Toyota-supplied hybrid drivetrain is as clean and quiet as any Mazda setup. We particularly respect the slick engine cease/begin system, powertrain quietness, and clean energy supply. If Mazda was going to borrow a drivetrain from one other carmaker, this was a very good one to select.
The Mazda does, nevertheless, share the model’s typically sporty dealing with traits, and is enjoyable to hustle round corners or round freeway onramps. For no matter motive, the CX-50 Hybrid did appear to experience extra firmly than different CX-50 fashions we’ve pushed. We discovered total experience high quality to be excellent, however would-be consumers are cautioned to be aware of the experience throughout a check drive. We like issues somewhat on the sporty aspect, you could not. For what it’s value, cabin quietness is sweet for the category, and the Premium Plus’s customary audio system is superb.
In Client Information testing, our check CX-50 returned a formidable 39 mpg, bettering the EPA estimate in comparatively routine suburban driving.
In case you wanted to pair one maker’s automobile with one other’s drivetrain, the CX-50 packed filled with Toyota hybrid goodness is a fairly good technique to go. We’re glad to see one in all Mazda’s greatest crossovers benefit from the effectivity advantages of a confirmed hybrid system, whereas remaining the fashionable and sharp-handling crossover we respect a lot. And none of this might have occurred if Mazda and Toyota weren’t so tight. It’s good to have pals.
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