2026 CX-50 Trim Comparisons

Not the CX-5. A different truck-adjacent Mazda entirely

Route 22 shoppers cross-shop the CX-50 against the CX-5 constantly, and it's an easy mix-up: they start within about a hundred dollars of each other ($29,900 vs. the CX-5's $29,990) and share both the 2.5-liter engine family and the Mazda badge. They're not the same vehicle. The CX-50 is wider, sits lower to the ground for its size, and was engineered from the start as the outdoors-leaning crossover, built at Mazda's Alabama plant with the Toyota joint-venture facility next door (which is exactly where the hybrid powertrain comes from). The CX-5 is the older, more city-shaped model. If a roof rack and all-terrain-capable trims matter to you, you're already in the right guide.

Every 2026 CX-50 is all-wheel drive — that's the headline most competitors bury

Mazda didn't make AWD an option this year; i-Activ AWD comes standard on the gas trims and e-AWD is standard on the Hybrid. Every 2026 CX-50 also ships with a 10.25-inch center display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, dual-zone automatic climate, and the full i-Activsense safety suite — Smart Brake Support, Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, and Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go. For 2026, the CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid both earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a 5-Star NHTSA overall rating, and Consumer Reports named Mazda its Safest New-Car Brand — worth knowing if safety is what tips a Route 22 commuter toward one dealership over another.

Three powertrains, one honest way to pick

The base 2.5 S engine makes 187 hp and is the quietest, cheapest way into a new CX-50 — fine for most driveways in Green Brook, Watchung, or Dunellen. The 2.5 Turbo is the one to cross-shop if you tow a small trailer or just want the CX-50 to move with more urgency merging onto I-78: up to 256 hp on premium 93 octane, or 227 hp if you run it on regular, with 3,500 pounds of towing capacity either way. The Hybrid splits the difference on power (219 hp combined) and wins decisively on fuel economy, at an EPA-rated 38 mpg combined versus 26 for the base engine and 25 for the Turbo — the trim that actually pays for a longer Route 22 commute over a few years of ownership.

Pick your 2026 CX-50

What Route 22 buyers actually say

Empire Mazda of Green Brook's Google reviews mention the CX-50 by name more often than any other model in the lineup, and the pattern in them is consistent: buyers naming a specific salesperson who slowed the process down instead of rushing it. Samantha G. put it this way after a test drive turned into a purchase: "Hossam asked me off the bat which features I would prefer in a new car; not the money I wanted to spend, not upselling me on the top tier trim level. He asked what I wanted and found it." Tyler M. had a similar experience picking a CX-50 with help from Christian: "Very quick and straightforward service." And Navpreet H., after working through the numbers on a new CX-50: "Christian Biuso... was transparent, professional, and dedicated to getting the deal done."

The service & repair guide covers what current CX-50 owners say about the drive-in service lane and video inspections once the car's actually on the road in central Jersey.

Owning one on Route 22

Green Brook Township sits at the intersection of I-287 and Route 22, which means most CX-50 owners here are putting highway miles on the odometer fast — merges, on-ramp acceleration, and the kind of stop-and-crawl traffic that Route 22 is locally famous for during rush hour. The service & repair guide covers Mazda's maintenance schedule, Empire's two complimentary first-year services, and what winter salt does to a crossover parked on this corridor. The pricing & leasing guide works through New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax, current manufacturer offers, and lease-versus-buy math specific to this dealership.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2026 CX-50 any good?

It's earned strong marks for exactly what it's built for: standard all-wheel drive across the whole lineup, IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and a 5-Star NHTSA rating for both the gas and hybrid versions, and a cabin that punches above its price with the Premium and Turbo Premium Plus trims. Where it gives ground to some rivals is rear-seat space and outright cargo volume — it's a wide, low crossover, not a boxy one, and that's a tradeoff, not a flaw, for buyers who prioritize the way it drives.

What are the disadvantages of the Mazda CX-50?

The honest list: cargo room is competitive but not class-leading against taller rivals, the base infotainment system uses a rotary controller rather than full touchscreen operation at speed (a deliberate Mazda safety choice, not an oversight), and the Turbo's headline 256-hp figure only applies on premium fuel — regular gas nets 227 hp. None of these are dealbreakers for most buyers, but they're worth knowing before a test drive rather than after.

Is Mazda discontinuing the CX-50?

No. The CX-50 is a current, actively updated model — 2026 alone added a second Meridian Edition, a white interior option, and standard front and rear parking sensors on Preferred. There's no announced discontinuation; if anything, Mazda has been expanding the CX-50 lineup, not shrinking it.

Is the CX-50 bigger than the CX-5?

Yes, in every meaningful exterior dimension — it's wider and rides on a longer wheelbase, though it sits lower than the CX-5's more upright shape. The CX-50 is also the newer platform of the two and the only one offered with a hybrid powertrain.

How much should I pay for a 2026 Mazda CX-50?

Start from the MSRP for the trim you want, add the $1,495 destination charge, then check what Mazda's national offers and Empire's own incentives are doing that month — 0% APR and customer-cash offers rotate monthly and materially change the real number. The pricing & leasing guide breaks down current examples and how New Jersey tax applies.

Ten trims, one lot to see them on

The trim guides below go deep on what each one adds over the last, but the fastest way to actually decide is sitting in a Select and a Turbo Premium Plus ten feet apart. Empire Mazda of Green Brook keeps the current CX-50 lineup on the floor at 220 US-22, alongside its used and Mazda Certified Pre-Owned inventory.