Japanese SUVs are renowned for their value for money and high reliability. Even luxury offerings from Lexus and Acura have a lower total cost of ownership than “standard” German and specific American models. Here, we focus on a particular Japanese compact SUV that blends rugged appeal, a plush-looking cabin, and elevated performance, for an aggressive price tag that shames almost all its rivals, even Japanese ones.
This Mazda crossover also offers superior off-road capabilities, with dedicated drive modes and beefed-up underpinnings. Even more impressive is its standard feature list. This sub-$40,000 SUV provides leather seats, heated and power-adjustable front seats, top-tier in-car entertainment and connectivity, and a wide range of safety and assistive features. This SUV is superior to its rivals in many respects, but its standout is its impressive power-to-price ratio.
The Most Affordable SUV With Over 250 Horsepower
2.5 Turbo Starts At $37,900
With a starting price of under $30,000, the base trim of the 2026 Mazda CX-50 is already a solid package. It gets a standard AWD system, a peppy 2.5-liter NA four-cylinder with 187 horsepower, and a sleek and upscale design. However, things get more interesting on the trim table, specifically with the 2.5 Turbo models. The $37,900 CX-50 2.5 Turbo is the standout, featuring a turbocharged engine that delivers up to 256 horsepower, making it the most affordable SUV with 250+ horsepower.
With the standard 87 Octane premium unleaded fuel, the 2.5-liter turbo four mill is capable of churning out 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Swap it for 93 Octane fuel, and the engine performs at its best, producing 256 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque.
Engine And Gearbox Specs
|
Engine Configuration |
Inline-4; Turbocharged |
|
Engine Displacement |
2.5-liter |
|
Bore X Stroke |
3.503 X 3.937 in. (89 X 100 mm) |
|
Compression Ratio |
10.5:1 |
|
Power |
227 HP (256 HP With 93 Octane Fuel) |
|
Torque |
310 LB-FT (320 LB-FT With 93 Octane Fuel) |
|
Transmission |
6-Speed Automatic |
|
Drivetrain |
All-Wheel Drive |
Power is sent to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission and a standard AWD drivetrain. The performance graph is meaty with an early surge. The added muscle also increases the CX-50’s maximum towing capacity to 3,500 pounds, punching notably above its weight. For reference, the standard 187-horsepower models have a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.
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2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Is A Better ‘Value’ Buy Than The Toyota RAV4
And Other Rivals From Honda, Subaru, And Chevy
The competition is plentiful with some hard hitters from Japan and even America. However, the $37,900 Mazda CX-50 punches above the rest, offering the best value for power. Its closest value rivals are the $37,500 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium and the $37,595 Chevy Equinox Activ. Both are neck-and-neck in pricing but lag in performance.
The RAV4 is very close, with its 2.5-liter hybrid engine delivering a combined 236 horsepower, but it is still marginally more expensive and offers less off-road capability than the CX-50. The Chevy struggled with its premium pricing and an underpowered 175-horsepower 1.5-liter turbo mill. It sure saves on its curb weight, but at the cost of capabilities, with a maximum towing capacity of just 1,500 pounds. The transmission is also lackluster with a CVT that doesn’t induce as much excitement as the Mazda’s automatic.
The most expensive of the lot is the $44,995 Subaru Outback Wilderness. We chose this as the CX-50’s rival because the more affordable models don’t offer enough power. The Subaru features a renowned boxer engine that delivers 260 horsepower to all four wheels. The Wilderness trim is a souped-up, off-road-ready version that includes additional features, but Mazda stands out by offering a similar package at a very affordable price.
The only affordable rival to the 2026 Mazda CX-50 is the $30,050 Honda HR-V EX-L trim. While it offers a more enticing daily-driving package, the engine is significantly underpowered, and AWD is presented as an option. While Honda offers a Snow drive mode, the HR-V is not well-suited to trail or occasional off-roading duties, unlike the others in this group.
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The Mazda CX-50 Is A ‘Sleeper Off-Roader’
A Capable Trail Runner Hides Behind Its Refined Exterior Design
The Mazda CX-50’s dedicated set of features adds value and makes it a commendable trail companion. The meaty, low-end performance, clever AWD system, and dedicated Off-road and Towing drive modes do a lot of heavy-lifting, making the CX-50 glide seamlessly on the beaten path. However, there are other forces at play, under the hood and in technology that make this Mazda a surprisingly good trail runner. It has a four-wheel independent suspension that consists of MacPherson struts with a stabilizer bar up front and a torsion beam at the rear.
Compared to the base trims, it features larger, wider wheels with 245-section tires for superior grip. Furthermore, a suite of electronic features, including hill climb assist and stability control, helps the CX-50 maintain composure even in challenging conditions. Also, Mazda cleverly misleads us into thinking that the plush, minimalist exterior design is all show. However, features such as sweeping front and rear fenders and durable plastic cladding around the vehicle are designed to support its off-road capabilities.
Notable Features That Make It Off-Road Capable
- 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped with 245-section all-season tires
- 18.3 degree approach and 24.6 degree departure angles
- Dedicated Off-Road And Towing Drive Modes
- 8.5 inches of ground clearance
- Dynamic Stability Control
- Traction Control System
- All-Wheel-Drive Layout
- Adaptive headlights
- Hill Climb Assist
- Roof rails
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Utilitarian Yet Premium And Tech-Savvy Interior
Packs The Best Of Both Worlds
Mazda is known for its distinctive, minimalist design. Mazda cars feature a sharp yet fluid exterior design, complemented by a minimalist yet plush cabin layout. The CX-50 also deploys a similar strategy. The interior is equipped with a commendable list of comfort and convenience features, especially given its price. Its utilitarian side is highlighted by features such as a split-folding second-row seat for added cargo space, a rear power liftgate, and an accessory rooftop platform for additional storage. On the “plush” side, it gets lots of soft-touch cabin materials, a giant sliding panoramic moonroof, and even standard leather upholstery.
The technology side is also sorted with the dashboard getting a sizable 10.25-inch touchscreen display. It is high on connectivity with Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and also gets Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio capability. Audiophiles are also catered to with a standard Bose 12-speaker system with Centerpoint and AudioPilot. There are a total of four USB-C ports across the two rows, and the 2.5 Turbo trim also includes a standard wireless phone charger.
Notable Interior Comfort And Convenience Features
- Dual-zone automatic climate control air-con with pollen filter
- Sliding panoramic moonroof
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Heated steering wheel
- 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory and power lumbar support
- 6-way power-adjustable passenger seat
- 40/60 split rear seat with remote fold-down handle
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Leather upholstery
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Wholesome Safety And Assistive Technology
The CX-50 Is An IIHS Top Safety Pick+ Winner
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the 2025 Mazda CX-50 a ‘Top Safety Pick+’ rating. This highlights its superior safety quotient. Since the 2026 model is essentially a carryover on the mechanical front, this rating is expected to remain. This is also a testament to Mazda’s commitment to safety and security in the sub-$40,000 CX-50.
The standard safety suite is vast, and the assistive feature list is even more interesting. This Mazda gets a lot of standard features that are otherwise optional in many of its rivals. The 2025 model has also performed well, earning a 5/5 ‘Overall Safety Rating’ from the NHTSA. It has had three recalls and zero investigations to date, which is commendably low.
Notable Standard Features
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Road Keep Assist
- Driver Attention Alert
- Knee Airbags
- Lane Departure Warning System
- Lane Keep Assist
- Radar Cruise Control with Stop and Go Function
- Rear Cross Traffic Alert
- Rear Seat Alert
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Vehicle Exit Warning
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System