Staying the Course: The 2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus

We are decades past the era when automakers would make changes to their cars every single year just to appear "fresh".

Every single one of the cars in that TV commercial for the 1969 Chevrolets was fundamentally unchanged from the 1968 version, but trim was changed, there were new grilles, headlights and taillights---to be able to sell the "new!"

The industry as a whole largely walked away from that practice in the 1970s, and even if it hadn't, it's in the interest of smaller automakers like Mazda, with finite resources, to make the car they want to sell for the next three or four years (when a mid-cycle refresh that often includes styling usually occurs) and then make only very minor changes, if any at all, inbetween.

When a vehicle is as deep-down good as the Mazda CX-50, it's a wonderful thing. The car you see here and the 2025 CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus I reviewed 14 months ago have only one difference. More on that later.

Completely unchanged is the powertrain---a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. On 93 octane fuel, those numbers bump up to 256 hp and 320 lb-ft. It's all-wheel-drive. Figure on zero-to-60 times around 6.5 seconds, which is quick for the class. The EPA fuel economy estimate remains 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway, with an estimated 398 miles of range on a full tank.

Also unchanged is the CX-50's cargo-carrying capacity---31.4 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, and 56.3 with that row folded.

What is new for 2026 in the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim is the White Interior Option with white leather seats, 20-inch Silver alloy wheels with all-season tires, and silver roof rails. Other new features include ventilated front seats, power six-way passenger seat, two-position seat memory, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink. And our beautiful Cypress Green CX-50 was equipped with that option. For those who complain that there are no good color combinations in cars anymore, take note.

The base price of the 2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus is $42,900---$44,395 including destination. That money buys a healthy amount of standard equipment not mentioned in the paragraph above (see the window sticker at the end of the review).

The extra-cost options on our tester were the White Interior Option ($200) and a retractable cargo cover ($225), bringing the bottom line on the window sticker to $44,820.

The CX-50 Turbo plays in a crowded compact SUV field, along with the Hyundai Tucson, Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. What sets it apart is an upscale, premium feel to its interior, and the baked-in enthusiastic handling that's a part of most Mazdas. Leaving far more than good enough alone is a brilliant strategy.

2026 Mazda CX-50 Turbo at a glance

Price: $42,900 base/$44,820 as tested

Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder

Horsepower: 227 (256 on 93 octane fuel)

Torque: 310 lb-ft (320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel)

Transmission: Six-speed automatic

Curb Weight: 3,915 lbs.

0-60 Acceleration (estimated): 6.5 seconds

EPA Fuel Economy Estimate: 23 mpg city/29 mpg highway

Fuel tank capacity: 15.9 gallons

EPA Range Estimate: 398 miles

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