Is the 2026 Mazda CX-50 a good car?
Yes.
5 of 7checks
- Seniors: 0 of 3. Height 63.5 in. Class middle half 64.7 to 70.8 in.
- Good buy: 2 rivals beat it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | Yes | 3 of 4 parts |
| First car | Yes | 4 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | Yes | $107 vs $111 a month |
| Seniors | No | 0 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | Yes | 8.6 in, top 26% |
| Worth the money | Yes | 8% below predicted |
| Good buy | No | 2 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the CX-50 a good family car?
Yes. Passes 3 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 39.8 in | Median 38.5 in | 167 | Yes |
| Rear headroom | 38.6 in | Median 38.7 in | 168 | No |
| Cargo behind the last row | 31.4 cu ft | Median 25.2 cu ft | 176 | Yes |
Is the CX-50 a good first car?
Yes. Passes 4 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,900 | Median $47,693 | 176 | Yes |
| Horsepower | 187 hp | 175 hp to 373 hp | 182 | Yes |
| Length | 185.8 in | Median 191.6 in | 178 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 38.8 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | No |
| Fuel cost per mile | 12.3 cents | Median 12.8 cents | 179 | Yes |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the CX-50 a good commuter car?
Yes. $107 a month to commute. Class median $111.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $107
- Median of 179 SUVs
- $111
- Highway mpg
- 30 mpg, top 29% of 139
Is the CX-50 a good car for seniors?
No. Passes 0 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 8.3 in clearance, 63.5 in tall | 6.9 to 8.4 in clearance, 64.7 to 70.8 in tall | 156 | No |
| Front headroom | 39.1 in | Median 39.9 in | 169 | No |
| Turning circle | 38.8 ft | Median 38.7 ft | 166 | No |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the CX-50 a good off-road vehicle?
Yes. 8.6 in clearance. Top 26% of 173 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- 2.5 S Meridian Edition AWD, 8.6 in
- Cohort
- 173 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the CX-50 worth the money?
Yes. Priced 8% below cars like it.
- Price, 2.5 S Select AWD
- $29,900
- Predicted price
- $32,605
- Gap
- -$2,705 (-8%)
- Model error
- 13% median, 275 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2026 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the CX-50 a good buy?
No. 2 rivals cost less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX-50 Hybrid Preferred AWD | $34,750 | 8.4 cents | 56.3 cu ft | 176 hp |
| Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid Active | $30,350 | 6.8 cents | 60.8 cu ft | 210 hp |
| Kia Sportage Hybrid LX FWD | $30,490 | 7.6 cents | 73.7 cu ft | 227 hp |
Compared with 1,092 trims of other makes, SUVs, 2026.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
- 2 or more sources
- 1 source
- Model-level, rule or estimate
- Sources disagree