2026 CX-50 2.5 S Preferred
Quick Answer: 2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred
The Preferred starts at $32,400 MSRP, a $2,500 step up from the Select, and it's the trim where the CX-50 stops feeling entry-level. It adds a power liftgate, an 8-way power driver's seat with lumbar, heated front seats, heated mirrors, and — new for 2026 — a power sliding panoramic moonroof and front-and-rear parking sensors that used to be reserved for pricier trims. Same 187-hp engine, same standard i-Activ AWD, same full safety suite as the Select underneath it. Of the ten 2026 CX-50 trims, this is the one Empire Mazda of Green Brook's sales team says most Route 22 households actually drive home in.
The trim where the moonroof and liftgate finally show up
Two of the most-requested features on any crossover — a power liftgate and a moonroof — arrive right here, and for 2026 Mazda made the Preferred meaningfully better on both fronts. The moonroof switched from a fixed panoramic panel to a power-sliding one, so it actually opens instead of just letting light in. The parking sensors are brand-new for this trim year, front and rear, which matters more than it sounds like the first time you're threading a Preferred into a tight spot outside the Green Brook Township municipal building or backing out of an angled space at the Bridgewater Commons lot.
The power driver's seat with lumbar support is the other quiet upgrade worth noting — the Select's seat is manually adjusted, and going from that to 8-way power with proper lumbar is the kind of thing you stop thinking about within a week and would notice instantly if it disappeared.
Still the base engine, and that's fine here
Preferred keeps the 187-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four, EPA-rated at 24 city / 30 highway / 26 combined, running on regular 87 octane. It's the same engine as the Select and the Premium above it — the trim ladder in the 2.5 S line is entirely about comfort and convenience equipment, not power. If you want more shove for merging onto Route 22 or I-287, that's what the 2.5 Turbo is for; the Preferred's job is comfort at a reasonable price, and it does that job well.
What separates it from the Meridian and Premium
The new-for-2026 2.5 S Meridian Edition costs $750 more and trades some of the Preferred's comfort focus for an outdoorsy look — all-terrain tires, black-finish 18-inch wheels, exclusive black leather. The 2.5 S Premium, $2,500 above the Preferred, adds Bose audio, real leather, ventilated seats, and driver's-seat memory. The honest comparison: Preferred is the value pick with the features most buyers actually use daily (liftgate, moonroof, heated seats); Premium is for buyers who want the cabin to feel closer to luxury; Meridian is for buyers who want the look more than either.
What buyers say
Empire's reviews of CX-50 buyers lean heavily toward exactly this kind of practical, well-equipped-but-not-extravagant purchase. Ryan B. leased a CX-50 and credited "Brandon Gonzalez, customer service, and the finance team" for being "attentive, helpful, and most of all honest and reasonable when it came to my wants and preferences." That's the Preferred conversation in a nutshell — a buyer with a clear list of wants, not chasing the top trim, getting matched to the right one.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 2026 CX-50 2.5 S Preferred cost?
MSRP is $32,400, before Mazda's $1,495 destination charge and New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax. See the pricing & leasing guide for current lease and finance examples.
Is the moonroof on the Preferred the same as the Premium's?
Both use a power sliding panoramic moonroof for 2026 — the Preferred didn't get a smaller version, it got the same upgrade the whole 2.5 S line benefits from this model year.
Does the Preferred have a more powerful engine than the Select?
No — same 187-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four in both. Power steps up only when you move to the 2.5 Turbo line.
What's new on the Preferred for 2026 specifically?
Front and rear parking sensors are newly standard, and the moonroof upgraded from fixed to power-sliding. A $200 white interior option is also available on select colors this year.
Where can I test drive a Preferred in Green Brook?
Browse current Preferred inventory at Empire Mazda of Green Brook, or request a quote online before visiting the Route 22 showroom.
The bottom line
The Preferred is the trim where the 2026 CX-50 stops feeling like a base model, for $2,500 over the Select. Power liftgate, real moonroof, heated seats, parking sensors — the features people actually use in year one of ownership, not the ones that look good on a spec sheet and get forgotten.
MSRP figures exclude Mazda's $1,495 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates. Equipment and availability can shift with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Empire Mazda of Green Brook. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Empire Mazda of Green Brook.