2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid

So, the new CX-50 Hybrid is basically a RAV4 Hybrid in a CX-50 costume, right? Not exactly, as it turns out. Mazda had to trim a couple inches of rear legroom to make everything fit, and the CX-50 Hybrid's also carrying about 300 more pounds than its Toyota cousin, which explains why it's slightly slower and less efficient. But if you like the CX-50 and aren't hung up on the reduced rear passenger space, this is a highly compelling package at a nice price.

Is the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid a Good SUV?

"The handsome CX-50 Hybrid starts with the Toyota RAV4's stout hybrid powertrain and adds a heaping dose of Mazda-ness, making for arguably the most appealing compact hybrid SUV on the market. We love the CX-50's muscular styling and responsive handling no matter what's under the hood, but the Hybrid strikes a unique balance between efficiency and performance, delivering nearly 40 mpg plus a healthy 219 horsepower when you need it. Since the CX-50 wasn't designed as a hybrid, Mazda had to make some packaging compromises that result in two fewer inches of rear legroom, an area where the standard model didn't have a lot in reserve. That fact plus the Toyota's big edge in cargo capacity earns it our nod, but the CX-50 Hybrid is a very close second."—Ranked #2 out of 11 Compact Hybrid SUVs

Which 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Should I Buy?

MotorDonkey's proprietary vehicle data identifies every significant version of each model so that you can compare and decide. There's only one standalone version of the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid, and here it is, along with our expert analysis and recommendations.

2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid (2.5 CVT AWD)

• Base Price: $33,970
• MPG Combined: 38
• Drive Type: All-wheel drive
• Engine: 2.5-liter inline-4
• Aspiration: Naturally aspirated
• Transmission: CVT
• Horsepower: 219 
• Torque: N/A
• 0-60: 7.6 sec
• Weight: 4,008 lbs
• Length: 186.1 in
• Towing Capacity: 1,500 lbs

The CX-50 Hybrid has the lowest towing capacity of any CX-50 at 1,500 pounds, trailing the Turbo by a whopping 2,000 lbs, but it compensates with nearly 40 mpg in combined driving. The RAV4-sourced powertrain provides decent pep, too, making this Mazda a have-your-cake-and-eat-it kind of proposition. It's not perfect, though. For one thing, it weighs about 300 lbs more than the RAV4 Hybrid, which is partly because the Mazda gets a heavier nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery versus the Toyota's lithium-ion pack — but whatever the reasons, that gap explains why the RAV is both slightly quicker and slightly more fuel-efficient. For another, that NiMH battery pack's placement under the floor causes rear legroom to drop by two inches compared to the non-hybrid CX-50s, and this rig didn't have a lot of rear legroom to spare. It's not exactly a seamless powertrain swap, then, but all things considered, we still think the CX-50 Hybrid is the pick of the litter.