All-new Mazda CX-50
Good question. I'm betting - just like with Subaru's Outback Wilderness, they are aiming for a (slightly) different segment - those who 1. like the CX-5, but want something more capable/rugged to travel the backroads and 2. those who like the CX-5 and want to be seen driving something more capable/rugged to travel the backroads. I suspect the CX-50 will be several thousand dollars more expensive and be in fairly limited quantities. It will also be interesting to see if quality remains as high as the Japanese built CX-50.
Good question. I'm betting - just like with Subaru's Outback Wilderness, they are aiming for a (slightly) different segment - those who 1. like the CX-5, but want something more capable/rugged to travel the backroads and 2. those who like the CX-5 and want to be seen driving something more capable/rugged to travel the backroads. I suspect the CX-50 will be several thousand dollars more expensive and be in fairly limited quantities. It will also be interesting to see if quality remains as high as the Japanese built CX-50.
Bronco Sport vs Jeep Cherokee vs Mazda CX5
To say that I was surprised is an understatement.
I guess that is my question: Is it more capable off-road? The CX-50 is a FWD based car, just like the CX-5. It will have extra drive modes for AWD, but so will the refreshed CX-5. It just seems to be the same kind of car with fresh sheet metal (but the CX-5 will also have freshened looks for '22...) It may make more sense once the size of the CX-50 is revealed. It could be larger, or smaller than the CX-5, but as the CX-50 is based on the Mazda 3 chassis, being larger seems unlikely.
This brings me back to an article from earlier this year....
Bronco Sport vs Jeep Cherokee vs Mazda CX5
To say that I was surprised is an understatement.
Bronco Sport vs Jeep Cherokee vs Mazda CX5
To say that I was surprised is an understatement.
Exactly- if you tested the three on paved roads, sure, the CX-5 wins hands down, but take them off road and I would expect there is a vast difference in capability (and not in the CX-5's favor).
Car and Driver thinks differently, but it's only their opinion.
https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-50
https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-50
According to Mazda, the two will co-exist - of course what they say now can change at any time but given the two are geared towards two different segments, should the CX-5 get phased out I would imagine it would years away given the CX-5 is its sales volume leader. I personally see this as Mazda extending its most popular modal to capture more sales.
https://news.mazdausa.com/2021-10-06...ler-Facilities
Mazda will continue to sell the CX-5 in the US, where it recently announced a refreshed design and enhanced driving dynamics for the 2022 model year, arriving in dealers this winter. As new models are introduced with advanced technologies and design, Mazda will continue to cascade those features into existing vehicles, such as CX-5, regardless of platform.
Additionally, Mazda is making i-Activ AWD standard across its CX lineup, starting with the 2022 model year. This move to AWD supports the brand's dedication to deliver unparalleled driving pleasure for all owners.
Additionally, Mazda is making i-Activ AWD standard across its CX lineup, starting with the 2022 model year. This move to AWD supports the brand's dedication to deliver unparalleled driving pleasure for all owners.
Last edited by 187hp; Nov 29, 2021 at 05:03 PM.
https://www.autoblog.com/2021/11/15/...#slide-2362130
"Although Mazda is still keeping plenty of the specifics about the 2023 CX-50, its most rugged SUV, under wraps, Mazda engineer Dave Coleman provided plenty of information to give us a much better idea of the size of the vehicle and what it's based on. Generally speaking, it's bigger than the existing CX-5, and it's more capable.
The CX-50 is based on the same basic platform as the Mazda3 and CX-30. And that extends to the suspension design of MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear. This is because this platform was designed with the torsion beam in mind, and Coleman and Mazda contend that this suspension design was used to keep vehicle motions simple and natural-feeling."
It has a torsion beam rear suspension instead of the 4-wheel independent suspension on the CX-5. Cheaper and faster to build and install, but inferior ride and handling. Should be more profitable for Mazda - cheaper rear suspension, non-union hourly labor, same $1175 destination fee but can be shipped via rail and trucked to dealers instead of being shipped from Japan and then shipped by rail/truck.

"Although Mazda is still keeping plenty of the specifics about the 2023 CX-50, its most rugged SUV, under wraps, Mazda engineer Dave Coleman provided plenty of information to give us a much better idea of the size of the vehicle and what it's based on. Generally speaking, it's bigger than the existing CX-5, and it's more capable.
The CX-50 is based on the same basic platform as the Mazda3 and CX-30. And that extends to the suspension design of MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear. This is because this platform was designed with the torsion beam in mind, and Coleman and Mazda contend that this suspension design was used to keep vehicle motions simple and natural-feeling."
It has a torsion beam rear suspension instead of the 4-wheel independent suspension on the CX-5. Cheaper and faster to build and install, but inferior ride and handling. Should be more profitable for Mazda - cheaper rear suspension, non-union hourly labor, same $1175 destination fee but can be shipped via rail and trucked to dealers instead of being shipped from Japan and then shipped by rail/truck.

Last edited by Chocolate; Dec 2, 2021 at 09:28 PM.
Found this article from the CX-30 trying to explain the switch to a torsion beam suspension:
https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...spension-.html
https://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/...spension-.html
They can't say it was to cut costs where most customers won't see (at the expense of ride and handling). So they say it's to "keep vehicle motions simple and natural feeling."
For your consideration:
For your consideration:


