Luxury doesn’t always have to come with a luxury price. In 2025, one compact SUV proves that premium design, upscale features, and refined driving dynamics can still be found in an affordable package, making it a standout in its class.

This SUV impresses with a sleek exterior, a high-quality interior, and a ride quality that rivals more expensive models. From soft-touch materials and intuitive infotainment to advanced safety tech and responsive handling, it delivers a premium experience without pushing past the $40,000 mark. It’s just as comfortable on a daily commute as it is on a weekend escape.

For buyers who want a touch of elegance without overextending their budget, this compact SUV offers the perfect balance. It shows that you don’t need a luxury badge to enjoy upscale comfort and style. Here’s why it’s one of the best value-packed premium SUVs on the market today.

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Mazda’s 2025 CX-50 Is Sleek, Stylish, and Surprisingly Affordable

Mazda is best known for their ability to make great handling cars, and the CX-50 is no exception. In recent times, though, Mazda has generated an equal reputation for delivering luxury on a budget, with their cars featuring impressively equipped cabins. The CX-50 is one of the best crossovers in its segment for precisely this reason.

2025 Trims and Pricing

The starting price for the 2025 Mazda CX-50 puts it on par with its core rivals in the compact SUV segment, but you’d think it was more expensive just looking at it. It can be had with three different powertrains, with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder, a turbo-four, and a hybrid being offered. The hybrid powertrain can only be had in the Preferred, Premium, and Premium Plus trims.

Mazda has made a ton of changes to their compact SUV for the 2025 model year. They have dropped the smaller 8.8-inch infotainment screen that used to be standard, with all models now getting the upgraded system instead. Driver assist systems have been upgraded, with a rear-seat alert being added, along with the improvement of pedestrian detection at night. The wireless smartphone charging pad, which used to only come in Premium Plus models, is now standard in every model bar the Select.

Best Value Trim

Finding the best value CX-50 to go for isn’t as straight-forward as it may seem. Every model feels well-priced based on the equipment on offer. The model we would stay away from, though, is the Select, due to the fact that it is missing some desirable features. We’d instead either go for the non-turbo Premium Plus or the Turbo Meridian Edition.

The Premium Plus is the way to go if you’re looking for the most refined interior for the money you pay. It comes loaded with features that make the CX-50 feel much more luxurious than its price tag would suggest. The Turbo Meridian Edition forgoes some of these features but comes with the 250-horsepower turbocharged engine.

Warranties and Maintenance

• Limited Warranty – Three Years or 36,000 Miles
• Powertrain Warranty – Five Years or 60,000 Miles
• Hybrid Component Warranty – Eight Years or 100,000 Miles

Mazda’s warranty plan is pretty average, especially when you consider what its competitors are offering. Kia and Hyundai, for example offer ten-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranties. This is disappointing considering that the Japanese brand offers much better warranty plans in other markets. They don’t offer any complimentary maintenance either.

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Mazda Offers Contemporary Class Inside the 2025 CX-50

In our opinion, Mazda does interiors better than basically any other mainstream automaker at the moment. The CX-50 is the perfect example of this, with tasteful interior design and an impressive build quality. It also offers plenty of interior space for both passengers and cargo.

Interior Dimensions and Comfort

Whether you’re sat in the front or the back, the CX-50 offers plenty of legroom. Its sleek styling does mean that headroom in the back is slightly lower than some of the Mazda’s rivals. The CX-5 is another choice that offers better headroom. The trunk is impressively spacious, with up to 75.4 cubic feet available if you fold the second row away.

Mazda offers some pretty impressive features in a crossover with a mainstream badge. You can get power-adjustable front seats, heated and ventilated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power-operated panoramic sunroof. Many models can also be had with leather upholstery as well. Most surfaces are covered in soft-touch materials.

Infotainment and Technology

As mentioned earlier, the standard infotainment system in the CX-50 has been upgraded for the 2025 model year. Now instead of an 8.8-inch unit, all models get a 10.3-inch screen. We appreciate how Mazda integrates the screen into the dashboard, avoiding making it a gaudy centerpiece as is often the case in new crossovers. The new system also offers Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant as standard.

Every model comes with wireless capability for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which isn’t yet the norm in this segment. An eight-speaker sound system is standard kit, but top models get a 12-speaker premium Bose system instead. Every model comes standard with a wireless smartphone charging pad.

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The CX-50 Is Just as Fun to Drive as It Is Comfortable

We mentioned earlier that Mazda is pretty renowned for the agility of their cars, with fantastically tuned chassis being their bread and butter. The CX-50 may not exactly be a sports car, but it carves back roads better than just about anything else in this segment. The turbocharged models also offer much more speed than you’d expect.

Performance Specifications

There are three powertrains to choose from when you pick up a new CX-50. The base engine is a naturally aspirated inline-four while Turbo models get a turbocharged engine that can put down up to 250 horsepower if you use premium fuel. Hybrid models borrow the powertrain from the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. All-wheel drive is standard on all models.

If fun is what you’re after, we’d stick with the gas-only models. The CVT in the hybrid is enough to sap some of your enjoyment away. While the base engine isn’t going to win performance awards, it feels much quicker than it is thanks to its tight chassis. Turbo models are quick off the line, quicker than most of the CX-50’s rivals. Regardless of which you go for, the CX-50 delivers accurate steering while still offering a comfortable ride.

Fuel Economy

If efficiency is one of your top priorities, then obviously the hybrid model is the way to go. Toyota is an industry leader when it comes to hybrid powertrains and this shows in just how light on fuel the CX-50 is. Non-turbocharged models actually hold their own pretty well, coming close to 30 miles per gallon combined. Considering the bump in performance offered by the Turbo models, the drop in efficiency isn’t all that bad either.

Key Safety and Driver Assists

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop‑and‑Go
• Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keep Assist
• Smart Brake Support with Pedestrian and Night Detection
• 360° View Monitor with See‑Through View
• Adaptive Front‑Lighting System and High‑Beam Control

The standard safety features in the CX-50 are pretty impressive, with things like smart cruise control and lane-keep assist being included from the get go. Automatic high beams and a 360-degree camera are, however, optional. The NHTSA gives the CX-50 five stars out of five for safety and the IIHS grants the crossover their Top Safety Pick+ award.