By Mitesh Zaveri & Shrawan Raja
The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 are produced at the same factory in Huntsville, Alabama. Mazda’s first electrified compact SUV in this region, which was introduced in late 2024, brings Toyota’s proven hybrid powertrain to Mazda’s own platform and design.
After spending several days behind the wheel of the North American-spec 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid GT, I can confirm that it is a capable SUV that blends efficiency with Mazda’s characteristic driving performance.
Design
The CX-50 Hybrid looks almost identical to the gas model. The same long hood, wide stance, and upright nose remain, but subtle changes help differentiate. The blacked-out front grille has a gloss finish with a large Mazda badge in the center.
Simple daytime running lights form thin strips along the bumper edges and double as turn signals. The adaptive LED headlights remain on at all times as part of the daytime running function to offer consistent visibility.
Functional vents flank the bumper, and the lower fascia is finished in unpainted plastic for scuff-resistance. The overall height has increased by about 35 millimeters (1.37 inches), giving it a slightly more rugged look. The 19-inch dual-tone alloy wheels fill the arches neatly. Angular body cladding runs along the doors, covering the lower portion completely to protect against debris and slush.
The roof rails are finished in silver, and the doors feature smart keyless entry. Power-folding mirrors integrate blind-spot indicators, turn signals, and one of the four cameras for the 360-degree system. At the back, full-LED lighting covers the brake lights and turn signals, all sporting Mazda’s fading illumination signature. Chrome dual exhaust tips and large scuff plates add detail to the rear design.
Interior
The cabin marries Mazda’s familiar driver-focused layout with a bit of warmth from the terracotta leather trim. The dashboard, upper part of the door, and center armrest are wrapped in soft-touch materials with terracotta stitching.
Glossy plastic around the infotainment panel and vents looks elegant but already showed light scratches and fingerprint smudges. The glovebox and lower plastics feel basic compared with the rest of the cabin.
The 10.25-inch center screen runs Mazda Connect. It isn’t touch-sensitive in standard operation, only when Android Auto or Apple CarPlay is connected. Most functions are controlled through a rotary dial and shortcut buttons next to the shifter. It feels precise once you adjust, but takes a few days to get used to while driving.
The interface supports Bluetooth, wireless smartphone mirroring, and in-built navigation, though the latter can be fiddly to use through the dial.
The Bose 12-speaker audio system sounds balanced, while the heads-up display projects clear data for vehicle speed and navigation. The dual-zone climate control utilizes physical knobs and buttons, keeping operation easy and simple. Heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel are standard on the CX-50 GT trim.
Seating & Comfort
At 5’11”, I found ingress straightforward. The higher ride height makes it easy to slide into the driver seat rather than drop down. The terracotta leather seats are broad and supportive, with long seat bases that provide good under-thigh support.
The driver’s seat offers eight-way power adjustment with lumbar support, while the passenger seat has six-way power adjustment. The seats are comfortable for long roadtrips, though they lack the firm side bolstering available in some sporty Mazdas.
The steering wheel is wrapped in leather, with well-spaced buttons for sound, adaptive cruise control, and driver-assist functions. With manual adjustment for rake and reach, it feels perfectly weighted in daily driving. I had no complaints with forward visibility. The side mirrors are also large, though rear visibility is limited slightly by the thick C-pillars.
Moving to rear seat, knee room is good, with about half a palm’s gap when the front seat is set to my height. Headroom is adequate for adults up to six feet. The middle seat is usable for short trips but firm in both cushion and backrest. Rear occupants get heated outboard seats, air-conditioning vents, and twin USB-C ports.
Storage
Cargo capacity measures 29.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which falls just short of the gasoline CX-50’s 31.4. Folding the 60:40 split rear seats increases space to 56.3 cubic feet. The boot load floor is flat and wide, with scuff protection and pull levers to release the seatbacks.
A temporary spare wheel is found under the boot floor. Door bins can hold one-liter bottles, and the center console includes two cupholders and a deep covered compartment.
Powertrain & Performance
Under the hood is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors, two up front and one in the rear, supported by a 1.59 kWh battery. Combined output is 219 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque, delivered through an e-CVT and standard e-AWD. The CX-50 relies on Toyota’s hybrid architecture, tuned by Mazda for its own calibration.
The powertrain generally feels smooth and responsive at city speeds. One of the front motors doubles as a generator and starter, while the motor on the rear axle provides on-demand traction. Acceleration feels linear, and the vehicle switches between electric and gasoline power in a seamless fashion.
The e-CVT impersonates gear shifts under heavy load but can feel slightly jerky during partial throttle inputs. In Power mode, throttle response is sharper, and even the steering firms up slightly. At full acceleration, the 2.5-liter engine sounds gruff but settles down quickly once cruising. The system easily maintains electric assistance up to 40 mph before the engine springs into action.
Ride & Handling
The CX-50 Hybrid’s suspension is tuned on the firm side. Small bumps are absorbed cleanly, but sharper edges can transmit a mild thud into the cabin. The upside of the firmer setup is that it helps maintain excellent car control in corners. Body roll is limited, and the compact SUV holds confidently through high-speed curves.
Steering precision is another highlight of CX-50 Hybrid’s setup. It feels direct, well-weighted, and consistent across all drive modes. Around the city, it is light and easy to maneuver. On the highway, it gains reassuring weight without feeling heavy.
The AWD system can shift power from 100-0 (front to rear) under normal conditions to 80-20 when extra traction is required. Grip levels are strong, even on wet pavement. Brakes are progressive with natural pedal feel, and the regenerative system blends in smoothly without making the pedal feel artificial.
Coming to the NVH, noise isolation is mostly good. The interior stays quiet at moderate speeds, though the engine sounds coarse when pushed. Tire roar from the 19-inch wheels and wind noise around the mirrors are noticeable on rough highway roads. Fit and finish is solid, and I didn’t notice any trim rattles even while driving over bumps.
Efficiency
During my test, highway fuel consumption hovered around 5.1-5.2 liters per 100 kilometers (about 46 mpg U.S.). In city driving, I averaged 5.7-6.2 liters per 100 kilometers (38-41 mpg U.S.), comparable to Mazda’s official estimates. With a 55-liter fuel tank, real-world range exceeds 500 miles between fill-ups, making it very practical.
Safety
Safety features include ten airbags, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear collision mitigation. Child seat anchors are fitted on both rear seats.
The 360-degree camera system, offered in the Canadian-spec model, provides clear visuals and multiple selectable views. I felt that the rear angle sits slightly too low, limiting the upper field of vision, but overall camera quality is pretty good.
Pricing
In Canada, the CX-50 Hybrid starts at CAD 42,950 for the GSL trim, CAD 44,850 for the Curo, and CAD 48,340 for the GT tested here (base MSRP). U.S. pricing (MSRP) begins at USD 33,970 for the Preferred, and tops out near USD 40,050 for the Premium Plus.
TopElectricSUV says
After living with it for several days, I found the CX-50 Hybrid GT a well-rounded vehicle that combines Toyota’s reliability with Mazda’s handling traits. It’s efficient, comfortable, and built robustly.
Negatives include firm suspension tuning, a non-touch infotainment layout that requires getting used to if you don’t wish to pair your smartphone, no 360-degree camera in the U.S., and minor wind and tire noise at highway speeds. But none of these overshadow its core strength as a refined hybrid SUV.
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 17 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading global CEOs and vehicle developers.
