Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
Mazda is known to make a solid vehicle that can be a great daily driver and add some flare as well. The 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus continues down this same path and is stylish as well. The Mazda CX-50 is a compact-size crossover SUV manufactured since 2022. I am looking forward to whipping this one around for the review period that I have.
The CX-50 was officially revealed on November 15, 2021. The CX-50 is assembled at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) in Huntsville, AL so this a positive when it comes to the tariffs issue. Mazda and Toyota invested $2.3 billion for the joint venture plant, which will have the capacity to assemble up to 300,000 vehicles and employ up to 4,000 team members
The 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus is eye-catching as soon as you see the long sloping hood that leads to the large Mazda symbol which is prominently placed on the sharply angled front grille. Mazda provided us with a Soul Red Crystal Metallic hue 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus edition that shined so bright when the sun hit it. Mazda has beautifully designed the exterior with its’ steeply raked windshield and sweeping rear end. This two-row, 5 passenger SUV, sits on 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a Black Metallic and machine-cut finish. The exterior side-view mirrors fold in automatically when the doors are locked. The rear roof spoiler, roof mounted shark fin antenna and bright finish exhaust outlets added to sporty look to this compact-size crossover SUV. There are also LED Headlights, LED Daytime Running lights and LED Combination taillights.
Inside the CX-50 there is an equally lovely cabin, dressed in leather and high-tech features like a 360-degree-view exterior camera system, SiriusXM Travel Link, a digital gauge display. The CX-50’s rear row does a 40/20/40 split-folding bench seat to create a larger cargo area when needed.
The CX-50 dashboard features a 10.25-inch color display touchscreen. The system can be controlled via the touchscreen, a rotary knob, buttons on the center console near the shifter and voice commands. The CX-50 comes equipped with Bluetooth, USB ports and a wireless phone charger. The tunes were blaring from the twelve speaker BOSE system as we grooved throughout the city. It was a pleasure to be able to choose from Sirius XM, Pandora, Stitcher, Aha, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto bring a whole new bounty of possibilities to the Mazda experience. Both allow drivers to connect their compatible smartphones to the MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system and access all the features on their phone right there on the touchscreen. You can make calls, send messages, set up navigation routes, browse music playlists and more all without having to touch your phone.
The throttle response was quick and boost from the turbo is instantaneous. Sport mode in the six-speed automatic transmission definitely adds some pep in your step while the normal mode set us up for a more relaxed commute. The G-Vectoring Control system reduces engine torque to help settle the front end so the SUV would take the turns smoothly. The suspension setup has been refined to offer a smoother and quieter ride. The model that we tested was decent on gas averaging 23 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined.
Safety is not lost in the 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus. It comes with the full suite of Mazda’s i-Activsense safety and driver-assistance features such as Smart Brake Support, Blind-Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane-Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go, Automatic High Beams, Rear Occupant Alert, Vehicle Exit Warning, Windshield-projected Active Driving Display, Traffic Sign Recognition and Speed Limit Assist.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus top safety ratings and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the CX-50 as a 2026 Top Safety Pick+.
The warranty package for the 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus is thorough. The CX-50 has a standard warranty that includes a 3-year/36,000-mile basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Roadside assistance is also provided for 3 years/36,000 miles. Key competitors to the Mazda CX-50 are the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Subaru Forester, and the Nissan Rogue.
The 2026 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus is a great find, considering the size, safety and comfort of the vehicle. The model that we tested came in at $45,215.00. The CX-50 is spacious, stylish, comfortable and definitely a fun vehicle in my book. This two-row crossover is great for a week of shopping, darting around the town and hauling family around. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
