Mazda’s have long been known for their iconic driving characteristics and luxurious feel for a mainstream brand, which has led many buyers to their newest lineup of products. The compact and new CX-50 has been a standout in the segment since its debut, and that continues for 2026. This article will cover the spec breakdowns of the 2026 Mazda CX-50 but be sure to watch the video below for an in-depth design review!

What’s New for 2026?

  • Meridian now on base engine
  • Premium Plus 2.5L non-turbo discontinued 
  • New Turbo base trim
  • Some trims offer a new white interior color
  • Preferred adds Pano roof and rear parking sensors
  • Premium (Base Engine) gains 20-inch wheels Leather, Vented seats, 6-way passenger power, memory, and dimming mirror
  • Hybrid Premium Plus adds: Heated Rear Seats, Heated wheel, Signature lighting with adaptive abilities
  • All Turbos and Meridian Models get gloss black Mazda badging
  • New standard wireless charger

Trims and Pricing

MSRP w/ standard AWD

Select: $29,200

Preferred: $32,400

Meridian Edition: $33,150

Premium: $34,900

Hybrid Preferred: $34,750

Hybrid Premium: $38,150

Hybrid Premium Plus: $40,150

Turbo: $37,900

Turbo Meridian Edition: $40,400

Turbo Premium Plus: $42,900

 

Some trim levels rise in price for 2026, but there are also some lower price points as well on the top end of the lineup.

Air ball and slam dunk

Slam Dunk: The CX-50 Turbo trim offers a lot of value for the price

Air Ball: We wish Mazda would improve the cabin ergonomics and tech

CX-50 Front
CX-50 Side
CX-50 Rear
CX-50 Interior

Design and Features

As mentioned above, please watch the video linked below for a full in-depth exploration of the exterior design and differences. The Mazda doesn’t gain any huge design elements for this year. It retains its very sporty, yet more rugged, design with lots of variations throughout the trim levels.

Here is the full breakdown of what we currently know about the feature availability:

Feature

Availability

Exterior

LED Headlights

Standard with LEDs | Turbos and HEV Premium Plus: Adaptive Abilities

Fog Lights

Not Available

Wheels

17-19-inch alloys depending on trim

Mirrors

Standard BSM | Preferred+: Heating | Premium Plus and all Turbos: Power Folding | Turbo Premium Plus: Auto Dimming

LED Taillights

Full LED on upper end models

Dual-Exhaust Outlets

Standard, but larger on Turbo models

Forward Emergency Braking

Standard on all CX-50 Models

Adaptive Cruise Control

Lane Keep Assist

Auto High Beams

Rear Auto Braking

Turbo Premium Plus

 

When it comes to the Interior, the CX-50 will also be well-equipped on all trims.

Interior

Smart Entry

Standard

Seat Materials

Leatherette or Leather available

Seat Adjustment

Preferred+: 8-way Power | Premium+ and all Turbos: Memory

Push Button Start

Standard

Gauge Cluster

7-in digital display

Steering Wheel

Standard: Leather Wrapped | Heating on Premium Plus and Meridians

Head-Up Display

Standard on Premium Plus HEV and Turbo models

Wireless Charging

Standard

360 Degree Camera

Turbo Premium Plus+

2-Zone Climate Controls

Standard

Seat Climate

Heated Seats: Preferred+ | Ventilated Seats: Premium+ and all Turbos

Audio System

Standard: 8-Speakers | Premium+ and all Turbos: 12-Speakers Bose Audio

Screen

Standard: 10.25-inch display with limited touchscreen capability for Android Auto and CarPlay

Moonroof

Preferred+

 

The rear of the CX-50 is also well-equipped, making it one of the biggest in the segment.

Rear Amenities

Rear Vents and USBs

Standard

Heated Rear Seats

Meridian Turbo/Turbo Premium Plus/HEV Premium Plus

Tailgate

Power on Preferred+

 

For in depth details on the 2026 CX-50, watch our full first look review linked at the bottom of this article.

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What’s Under the Hood?

There are still distinct engine options for the CX-50, depending on your need for speed:

2.5S:

  • 2.5L I-4: 187 hp | 186 lb.ft
  • Paired with 6-Speed Automatic

Hybrid: Toyota Derived 2.5L I-4 + three electric motors

  • 219 hp | 163 lb.ft
  • eCVT

2.5 Turbo: 

  • 2.5L Turbo I-4: 256 hp | 320 lb.ft
  • Paired with 6-Speed automatic

AWD is standard on every Mazda CX-50 model. The fuel economy for each model is listed below, as rated by the EPA:

2.5 AWD: 24/30/26 MPG

2.5T AWD: 23/29/25 MPG

Hybrid: 39/37/38 MPG

We hope you have found this overview of the 2026 Mazda CX-50 helpful! For a more detailed first look of the CX-50, please watch our video below! What do you think of the 2026 Mazda CX-50? Let us know in the comments!