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 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid 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. This two-row crossover is a commuter’s dream. It is great for a week of shopping, darting around the town and hauling family around.
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
Compared to the smaller CX-5, the vehicle is designed with emphasize in “active and outdoor lifestyles”. Mazda designed a lower roof for the CX-50 to grant easier access to the roof racks. The Mazda CX-50 is the first ever from the brand to feature a panoramic sunroof as an option. Mazda provided us with a Polymetal Gray Metallic hue 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus edition that shined so bright when the sun hit it.
The CX-50 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 has beautifully designed the exterior with its’ steeply raked windshield and sweeping rear end. This two-row, 5 passenger SUV, sits on 19-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 is an equally lovely cabin, dressed in terracotta and high-tech features like a 360-degree-view exterior camera system, SiriusXM Travel Link, a digital gauge display. The luxurious Signature trim comes with a new wood trim inside and exclusive exterior badging. The CX-50 Signature also has NAPPA leather surfaces, leather-stitched leather wrapping for the steering wheel and LED accents in the area around the gear shifter. The CX-50’s rear row does a 40/20/40 split-folding bench seat to create a larger cargo area when needed.
Technology is not lost in the CX-50. The 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 hybrid system pairs a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors and a continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), kicking out 219 hp. The model that we tested was very good on gas averaging 39 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway and 38 mpg combined. The hybrid system is Toyota sourced but tuned by Mazda for a more engaging driving experience.
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus has earned top safety ratings from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The CX-50 Hybrid received a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating, earning 5 stars for frontal and side crash tests and 4 stars in the rollover test. The CX-50 Hybrid was named a 2025 Top Safety Pick+, earning “Good” ratings in all crash tests, including the updated moderate and side impact tests.
Every 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, including the Premium Plus trim, 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 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus 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, and a 5-year/unlimited-mileage corrosion perforation warranty. The hybrid and high-voltage electrical system components are covered for a longer period of 8 years or 100,000 miles. 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 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus is a great find, considering the size, safety and comfort of the vehicle. The model that we tested came in at $41,920.00. The CX-50 is spacious, stylish, comfortable and definitely a fun vehicle in my book. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
