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I’ve at all times been keen on the little SUV’s that Mazda places out. Whereas they’re not quick or particularly sporting, they’ve received loads of mid-range grunt, are comfy, and may haul fairly a little bit of our day-to-day detritus. They’re additionally pretty enticing, which is vital within the crowded segments they inhabit. In spite of everything, no person desires to drive an unpleasant automotive. However they by no means actually had any…machismo. No, the CX-3, CX-5, and CX-9 have been enticing in a reasonably however younger skilled form of means. So when Mazda launched the CX-50 final fall, I discovered myself leaning in in direction of my monitor for a greater look.
The CX-50 has a extra muscular design. Swollen, muscular fenders and broad wheel arches. A large, flat hood. Aggressive and hungry-looking intakes and vents. It appears…rugged. Succesful. Dare I say…powerful. This didn’t have that “young-mother-headed-to-Goal” look. This seemed like one thing a man with a beard and a pair of mountain climbing sneakers may climb out of. It was actually sharp wanting. So we hurriedly requested Mazda if we would spend a while driving one. They graciously agreed and delivered to us a turbocharged AWD Premium Plus mannequin that was priced within the low-forties USD.
The automotive we obtained was sporting an fascinating colour paint that Mazda known as “Zircon Sand Metallic.” What’s Zircon Sand, you could ask. Effectively, because it seems Zircon sand is an historic mineral sand that’s mined solely in Southern Africa and Australia and is used within the ceramics and foundry industries. And whereas it is available in a number of completely different colours, once we Googled it, the images that got here up the place the identical colour as our CX-50. It’s an attention-grabbing colour and we had a number of folks touch upon it whereas we had it.
The within was equally eye-catching. It was known as Terracotta – for good cause – because the color-blocked Terracotta leather-based within the black and grey inside seemed implausible. I’ve to present credit score to Mazda for his or her Premium trim degree interiors. They’re so inviting and cozy, so pleasing to the attention, that you could’t assist however be impressed. Lesser trim ranges must make do with extra boring colours and plain design however the Premium degree hits it out of the park. Or the Zircon Sand pit. Whichever.
Below the hood, coupled to a 6-speed computerized transmission and a succesful AWD system, is a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder Skyactive gasoline engine that delivers 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. This engine strikes the CX-50 alongside decently, and although you’re not going to win any races with it, it should shock you. In my expertise, when launching from a light-weight, it initially felt sluggish. Trying down on the speedometer, I’d see the needle swinging previous 25 mph in direction of 30 mph. I’d look as much as examine visitors, then look again on the speedometer solely to seek out it sweeping previous 70 mph. So it’s sluggish off the road but it surely’s received prodigious quantities of mid-range and upper-range energy. This makes it a little bit of a shark in freeway visitors. You’ll end up dicing by visitors like an F1 champ catching up after a sluggish pit cease. On the freeway, stepping out to go somebody was by no means a difficulty. There was truckloads of torque out there to slingshot it previous slower visitors and get you safely again in your lane. So it’s received it the place it counts. Mazda charges it’s towing capability as 3500 lbs, which is respectable.
The suspension is compliant however sporting. Chances are you’ll initially decide it as too gentle, however you quickly notice that the primary inch or so of journey is gentle however then issues agency up and the suspension delivers succesful efficiency. After awhile, you be taught to belief it when it begins to lean right into a sweeping nook as a result of you understand it’s going to agency up and take in any bumps effortlessly whereas conserving the steadiness and agility that Mazda’s are identified for. We by no means encountered any roads that have been too awful to upset it – and we encountered some awful roads. The experience remained compliant and accommodating and cozy.
The brakes have been admirable. Pedal really feel was wonderful and efficiency was wonderful as effectively. They repeatedly hauled the little SUV down from severe speeds with no drama and reassuring stability.
We logged fairly just a few miles within the CX-50 and located that we actually loved it. It was comfy on lengthy drives, pleasurable to drive, and surprisingly fast. It felt wider and extra spacious inside than the CX-5, which we assumed it was primarily based upon. Because it seems, it’s truly primarily based on the CX-30 platform however enlarged barely to make it a mid-sized SUV. No matter. It really works. The infotainment system/sat-nav system is improved this 12 months over these discovered within the CX-5 and CX-30.
Gasoline effectivity was spectacular. We drove it arduous all week and by no means needed to refill the tank, which was an sudden shock. A lot of the SUV’s we drive want no less than one fill-up whereas we now have them they usually usually have bigger tanks than the CX-50.
The CX-50 2.5 naturally-aspirated mannequin begins at $27,550. The CX-50 Turbo begins at $37,150 and is definitely worth the $10k premium for the extra energy. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus like we had begins at $43,250. That’s not a lot cash for a good little SUV and that makes it price testing.
Total, we appreciated the CX-50 Turbo AWD Premium Plus. It’d be nicer with slightly extra energy, but it surely does fairly effectively with what it’s imbued with. The heat and design of the outside and inside drew us in, however the perky engine and the graceful suspension received us over.
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