2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid First Drive Review: Exactly What’s Been Missing

Something has been missing from the Mazda lineup: a hybrid. Sure, the Japanese automaker introduced plug-in hybrids with the CX-90 and CX-70, but PHEVs represent only a fraction of the US car market. What Mazda needs is a regular hybrid. It may be a bit late, but the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid will finally fill a gaping hole when it arrives at dealers this November.

The CX-50 Hybrid seems like a no-brainer for Mazda. The CX-50 was only Mazda’s third best-selling vehicle in 2023 with 44,595 units sold, but Mazda is bullish on this new hybrid powertrain, predicting it will boost CX-50 sales to over 100,000 units annually (40,000 from hybrid). That’s a bold prediction to say the least, but is there merit? Well, the CX-50 has already sold 66,286 units so far in 2024 (with two months left in the year), so the addition of a hybrid could easily add up to those lofty goals.

On the surface, this new CX-50 Hybrid seems like a simple creation. There’s a 2.5-liter engine, like many other Mazda vehicles, but this particular unit actually comes from Toyota, as does the hybrid system. RAV4 Hybrid owners will recognize this system, which produces the same 219 horsepower found in that vehicle. This output splits the difference between the CX-50 2.5 S and Turbo, but offers the highest fuel economy at 38 mpg average. DrivingOnRoad spent a few days driving the CX-50 Hybrid to find out if it’s the savior Mazda has been missing for years or if it’s too little, too late.

What’s New For 2025?

The CX-50 lineup isn’t radically different for the 2025 model year, with the hybrid powertrain being the most significant addition. Mazda will offer the CX-50 Hybrid in Preferred, Premium, and Premium Plus trim levels, straddling the middle ground between the gas and turbo options.

Every CX-50 now gets an enhanced version of Mazda i-ACTIVSENSE safety suite, which adds rear seat alert, vehicle exit warning, and improved smart brake support. Amazon Alexa integration is also standard on all trims. If you opt for a CX-50 Turbo, it will come with more standard features for 2025.

Exterior And Interior: Cramming In The Toyota Bits

To accommodate Toyota’s hybrid system, Mazda needed to make some changes to the CX-50 appearance. The hybrid sits 1.3 inches higher than the standard CX-50, though ground clearance remains the same. Mazda says the wheel arches are also a little thicker on the hybrid, though it’s tough to tell without seeing them side-by-side. 17-inch wheels come standard, while the Premium Plus upgrades to hybrid-specific 19-inch aero wheels. If you don’t spot any of these changes, the hybrid badges on the fenders and liftgate should be a dead giveaway.

The interior is mostly the same as other CX-50 models, but the tachometer has been replaced by a Toyota-style charge/power gauge – and the shift knob is straight out of a RAV4. Everything else, including the 10.25-inch infotainment system, is pure Mazda. We don’t love the current iteration of Mazda’s rotary knob controller, though you can use the touchscreen for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but only when stopped.

This cabin feels more premium than a RAV4, and includes luxury features on the Premium Plus trim, such as heated/ventilated seats, a panoramic roof, and 12-speaker Bose audio system. Surprisingly, the Hybrid Premium Plus misses out on a few key features found in the Turbo Premium Plus. These include a 360-camera, heated steering wheel, and parking sensors.

Powertrain: No Skyactiv Here

It’s easy to look at the CX-50 Hybrid’s spec sheet and assume Mazda took one of its 2.5-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder engines, then just added a hybrid system. Nope. That’s not the case. This four-pot is actually taken from Toyota, as is the hybrid system. That’s why it produces 219 horsepower, the same amount found in a Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, splitting the difference between the 187-hp 2.5 S and the 227-hp Turbo non-hybrids. It’s also why this is the only CX-50 to use a planetary gearset (otherwise known as an eCVT) rather than a six-speed automatic transmission. We clocked the CX-50 Hybrid at 7.81 seconds to 60 mph, which is nearly a second quicker than the base car but eight-tenths slower than the Turbo.

Toyota’s three-motor hybrid system is among the most efficient on the market, but cramming it into a Mazda didn’t come without some packaging challenges. Mazda claims a 40% efficiency improvement over the 2.5 S, yielding 39/37/38 mpg city/highway/combined and over 100 miles more on a tank of gas. The RAV4 Hybrid, which was designed with this powertrain, slightly outperforms the CX-50 at 41/38/39.

Driving Impressions: Two Worlds Collide

Anyone who has ever driven the gas-only CX-50 should feel right at home in the hybrid; it just moves along a bit differently. The Toyota hybrid system doesn’t use a transmission with gears, meaning the acceleration is uninterrupted, but it sounds very different from other Mazda vehicles. This might take some getting used to for traditional Mazda owners, but it seems like the company did a nice job insulating the engine noise from intruding into the cabin. The CX-50 Hybrid feels noticeably quieter than the RAV4 Hybrid, both in terms of engine and road noise. Even the hybrid “hum” at low speeds is less detectable.

Other elements of the driving experience remain typical Mazda. The steering is nicely weighted and delivers confidence, and the handling is pretty athletic despite a lack of grip from the tires. Compared to the RAV4, the CX-50’s ride is noticeably firmer, but not enough to disturb occupants or ruin its daily functionality. The CX-50 is far from the sportiest Mazda product, but borrowing a Toyota powertrain hasn’t ruined what makes it appealing, it has only enhanced the experience by making it smoother and more efficient.

Pricing & Verdict: Borrowing Done Right

Pricing for the 2025 CX-50 Hybrid Preferred starts at $33,970, which is a $2,230 premium over the non-hybrid equivalent. We think it’s well worth the price for a 10 mpg and 32 horsepower bump. The Hybrid Premium adds roof rails, black exhaust, a power passenger seat, two-position memory, auto-dimming rearview mirror, traffic sign recognition, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and panoramic roof for an extra $3,430. At the top of the lineup, the Hybrid Premium Plus costs $40,050 but you get features like 19-inch wheels, ventilated front seats, and power mirrors standard.

Turbo non-hybrid models are naturally more expensive – and they offer the Meridian trim which you don’t get on the hybrid – but you lose out on efficiency. Mazda remains convinced that this new hybrid will improve CX-50 sales, and after experiencing it, we couldn’t agree more. The Turbo may be more exciting to drive, but the CX-50 Hybrid will easily become the best all-around version of this car, and we recommend it strongly.