2023 Mazda CX-50: Another One Invites the Dust

Competes with: Honda Passport, Subaru Forester Wilderness and Outback, Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road

Looks like: A bulkier, soft-road-ready CX-5

Powertrains: Naturally aspirated or turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a six-speed automatic transmission; standard all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Spring 2022

Meet the 2023 Mazda CX-50, the automaker’s first attempt to join a growing list of off-road-themed vehicles designed to appeal to the outdoor enthusiast with an active lifestyle … or those who spent nearly two pandemic-fueled years stuck in enclosed spaces.

Related: Mazda Gives Americans What They Want: 3 More SUVs by 2023

More details will be available closer to the CX-50’s launch in spring 2022 — production begins in January — but from what we can tell so far, the SUV should be an appealing choice for those who spend most of their time on the pavement but want the ability to go a bit farther.

Familiar Power

Power will come from a choice of 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines, either naturally aspirated or turbocharged. Power figures for the CX-50 aren’t yet available, but Mazda’s naturally aspirated 2.5-liter makes 187 horsepower and 186 pounds-feet of torque in the CX-5, while the turbocharged version can produce as much as 250 hp and 320 pounds-feet when using premium gas.

According to Mazda, the CX-50 will eventually offer electrified powertrains, with more details to come in the future.

Boldly Going … a Little Bit Off-Road

While Mazda didn’t share figures like ground clearance or approach, departure and breakover angles, the CX-50 isn’t really about conquering the most serious trails. Its purpose appears to be preserving comfort on pavement with enough capability to keep going once the pavement ends. To that end, it will come with standard AWD and the first application of Mazda Intelligent Drive Select, a system of selectable driving modes that includes a Towing mode and a single Off-Road mode.

The CX-50 is also meant to carry outdoor gear; Mazda says its “height and length are ideal for easily loading and securing common outdoor equipment,” and the CX-50 also has high-strength roof rails and reinforced B-pillars and door jambs to better support loading up gear and installing cargo accessories. When you’re not carrying gear, Mazda gave the CX-50 the automaker’s first-ever panoramic moonroof.

Looking the Part

Outside, the CX-50 has the look of a chunky, wider CX-5, with squared wheel arches and a fair amount of plastic cladding. The grille is wide and available with blacked-out treatment, and the bulky fenders add to the CX-50’s more aggressive appearance.

The interior is very much a modern Mazda, with lots of clean lines and a multimedia display set high in the dashboard. The controls are driver-focused, with physical buttons and knobs for most features; regrettably, it appears Mazda may still rely on a control knob for the multimedia display instead of using a touchscreen.

More Info to Come

Expect more details, including pricing and specs, to arrive closer to the CX-50’s anticipated arrival at dealerships in the spring.

More From Cars.com:

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• Mazda Adds Standard AWD to All CX SUVs, Cushier Ride for 2022 CX-5
• Mazda’s Turbo 2.5-Liter 4-Cylinder: Great or Not So Great? Depends on the Car
• Here Are the New Electric Vehicles Planned by 2025
• Here Are the 10 Cheapest New SUVs You Can Buy Right Now

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