I have had my CX 50 hybrid since early April, and I’ve driven 3000 miles in about three months. I am averaging about 40 miles per gallon in combined driving. I traded in a 2019 RAV4 hybrid and can’t help comparing the two vehicles, but will stick to comments about the Mazda. I like the looks of the car, the ground clearance, leather upholstery, and interior features in general, and decent cargo space. The things I’m not as thrilled about, and remember, these are just my personal preferences: the seats are very firm, uncomfortable on a long drive. I am fairly short, and felt like the seating position was too low, making it difficult to see over the hood. I’ve since bought a seat cushion, and this is no longer an issue. Cupholder placement for the driver and front seat passenger interferes with the controls somewhat, with a larger cup or water bottle. I like the position of the inductive charger, though others have criticized it. It keeps my phone out of the way, but does seem to charge very slowly. I should’ve mentioned that wireless CarPlay is a feature that I very much enjoyed. Not that using a USB cable is that big a deal, but it adds a little more convenience. The cooling system and air conditioned seats are awesome. The air conditioning is quite loud however when I get into a hot car and have it on high. Handling is so so, not as good at cornering as the RAV4. The ride is a little jittery, but improves if I’m carrying any weight in the back. Safety features are fairly standard for 2025, but are very helpful. My biggest issue is the cornering and tracking, and road noise. All-in-all, I like my Mazda, but I’m not in love with it.
I experienced the hybrid system malfunction warning light once. For a brief time, the car would not go into gear, but it resolved itself on restarting several times. The dealer was not helpful, and in spite of a TSB, which outlines the fix, said that only Toyota has the equipment to do the reset of the GPU (!). They told me to bring it in immediately if it ever happened again and not to turn the car off so they could document it and reach out to the manufacturer. OK, so if I’m several blocks away during the time that the service department is open, they might be able to offer a fix. Accessories like a tow hitch are not officially available through the dealership, although I have read that there is a workaround from Curt. The hitch accessory that they offer cannot tow, and they don’t recommend using a bike rack that keeps the bikes vertical. So I guess it’s for carrying a cooler or storage box. I hope more accessories will become available over the course of time.
