Mazda is a relatively small company compared to rivals like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, so it may seem surprising that the brand has not one, but two models of similar size and pricing in the compact crossover category. The CX-5 and CX-50 have a similar design language, and both have attractive, upscale interiors, so what is the difference? Mazda describes the distinction between the two as the CX-5 being designed for routine family and urban life, and the CX-50, a newer model with 2023 as its first model year, is a little longer, lower, and more focused on off-pavement operation.

While both are powered by a 2.5-liter engine producing 187 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of peak torque, the CX-50 is also available with a turbocharged version producing 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, beginning at 2000 rpm. The CX-50 pairs both engines to a 6-speed automatic with paddle shifters on upper trims. There is also a hybrid model that uses the 2.5-liter engine as its core and pairs it with a CVT. Total system power is 219 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. All CX-50 models come standard with all-wheel drive (AWD). Trim levels with the base engine include S Select, S Preferred, S Meridian, Edition, and S Premium. There is a base Turbo trim level, as well as the Turbo Meridian Edition and Turbo Premium Plus. Hybrid models are available in Preferred, Premium, and Premium Plus trims.

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CX-50 vs. Toyota RAV4

The RAV4, first released in early 1995 as a 1996 model, is the original compact crossover. Its car-based platform proved to be a vehicle that drives like a car, offers comfort, and provides SUV space and versatility—making it a winner. Today, the compact crossover is the industry's most popular category.

For 2026, the redesigned RAV4 leads with a full hybrid lineup. The model lineup ranges from the affordable LE to the rugged Woodland and posh Limited, including plug-in hybrids for gas-free EV use and convenient long trips.

• Both the CX-50 and RAV4 have starting MSRPs within $100 of each other ($31,995 vs. $31,900), though the RAV4 includes a hybrid drivetrain, while the CX-50 includes AWD.
• Toyota doesn’t publish total system torque for its hybrid models, but its horsepower is nearly identical to that of the CX-50 turbo models.
• The CX-50 has a significantly longer wheelbase for a more stable highway ride (110.8 vs. 105.9 inches).
• The base CX-50 has slightly more ground clearance than the RAV4 (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), though both the off-road-focused CX-50 Meridian and RAV4 Woodland offer 8.6 inches of ground clearance.
• The CX-50 offers more space than the RAV4 in most interior measurements (all figures in inches):
• Front headroom: 39.1 vs. 36.7
• Rear headroom: 38.6 vs. 36.7
• Front legroom: 41.7 vs. 41.0
• Rear legroom: 39.8 vs 37.8
• Rear hip room: 51.7 vs. 49.6
• The 6-speed automatic on the non-hybrid CX-50 is responsive and provides more predictable, familiar behavior than the CVT on the RAV4.
• There is a clear difference in the interior, where the CX-50's elegant design and soft materials look significantly more upscale than the RAV4's harder, more utilitarian dashboard.
• Some features standard on all CX-50s that require an option or trim upgrade on the RAV4 include:
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Intermittent rear wiper
• Roof rails
• Rear USB ports
• Amazon Alexa
• As with most Mazda models, the CX-50 chassis has been tuned for driver engagement, with responsive steering and a sporty, though not harsh, ride-and-handling combination. The RAV4 is comfortable, but being fun to drive is not one of its priorities.
• The 2026 CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid were awarded an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+, which the Toyota RAV4 did not achieve.
• The CX-50 models also achieved an Overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA. As of this writing, the 2026 RAV4 has not yet been tested.

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CX-50 vs. Subaru Outback

Long a raised version of the Legacy Wagon, that all changed for the 2026 model year because there was no more Legacy to base the model on. The 2026 Outback jettisons its wagon roots and now has a more upright SUV appearance. Its taller, squared-off body places it in the mid-size SUV category, with increased vertical cabin and cargo space.

Like the CX-50, the Outback features standard AWD and is powered by a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter engine available for more power. The base engine pairs with a CVT, while the turbocharged model uses an 8-speed automatic. The Wilderness trim is the Outback’s off-road-focused model, with all-terrain tires, 9.3-inch ground clearance, and off-road-specific drive modes. Other trims include Premium, Limited, and Touring. Limited XT and Touring XT models indicate the turbocharged engine.

• The CX-50 has a $3,000 lower starting MSRP than the Outback ($31,995 vs. $34,995).
• The CX-50’s base engine provides more power than the Outback’s, with both horsepower (187 vs. 180) and torque (185 vs. 178 lb-ft).
• The CX-50’s turbocharged engine is slightly shy of the Outback’s in horsepower (256 vs. 260) but beats it significantly in torque (310 vs. 277 lb-ft).
• The CX-50’s 6-speed conventional automatic is likely to provide a more satisfying driving experience than the CVT on the non-turbocharged Outback.
• EPA-mpg estimates for both base engine models are identical: 25 in the city and 31 on the highway, with the CX-50 mathematically edging out the Outback in combined mileage (28 vs. 27).
• There is no hybrid Outback, so there is no model to compete with the CX-50’s EPA-estimated mpg of 39 city, 37 highway, and 38 combined.
• With its new size, the Outback beats the CX-50 in most interior measurements, except where it likely counts the most: rear legroom. Here, the CX-50 has a slight advantage (39.8 vs. 39.5 inches).
• Both models have identical 108.1-inch wheelbases.
• Both models earned a TOP SAFETY PICK + rating from the IIHS. The CX-50 also earned an Overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA, while the Outback has yet to be tested.

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CX-50 vs. Kia Sportage

Debuting in 1995, just a few months after the RAV4, the Sportage can claim to be one of the founders of the compact SUV category. At first, it was a pure SUV with body-on-frame construction, available in 4WD with a two-speed transfer case, and powered by a Mazda engine. However, the Sportage transitioned to a crossover in its second generation and has remained one since. The current Sportage is in its fifth generation, which began in 2023 with revised front-end styling for the 2026 model year.

Sharing its platform with the Hyundai Tucson, the Sportage is one of the largest models in the segment. Like the CX-50, the base engine is a 187-hp 2.5-liter inline-4. The hybrid model, however, uses a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine as its base, with a total system output of 232 horsepower. Trim levels include LX, EX, X-Line, SX, SX Prestige, and X-Pro Prestige for non-hybrid models, and LX, S, EX, X-Line, and SX Prestige for hybrid models.

• The Kia Sportage has a lower entry MSRP ($28,790 vs. $31,995). However, when you add $1,800 for AWD, which is standard on the CX-50, the price gap narrows.
• While the non-hybrid engines share the same 187 horsepower, the CX-50 has 185 lb-ft of torque, compared with the Sportage’s 178.
• The Sportage hybrid has less total system horsepower (227 vs. 232), but the CX-50 makes up for it with significantly more torque (310 vs. 271).
• The CX-50 has better EPA-estimated city/highway/combined mpg than the AWD Sportage (25/31/28 vs. 24/20/26).
• The CX-50 hybrid also achieves better fuel economy ratings than the Sportage Hybrid with AWD (39/37/38 vs. 35/36/35).
• Car and Driver describe the Sportage as having “dull road manners,” whereas they describe the CX-50 as “dynamically delightful” and as providing “a joyful driving experience.”
• Key standard features on the Mazda CX-50 not standard on the Sportage include:
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Intermittent rear wipers
• Power-folding side mirrors
• Dual-zone climate control
• 8-Speaker audio system (vs. 6 speakers)
• Alexa voice command
• In-car WiFi
• Both models earned a TOP SAFETY PICK + rating from the IIHS and an Overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA.
• The CX-50 has a higher maximum towing capacity. With the base engine, the difference is a close 2,700 vs 2,500 pounds, but the turbo engine bumps the capacity up to 3,500 pounds for the CX-50.

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CX-50 vs. Ford Bronco Sport

Ford brought out its rock-climbing, Jeep Wrangler-fighting Bronco with great fanfare and, at the same time, launched the Bronco Sport. Given that timing, the Bronco Sport name, and its overtly similar styling, Ford is probably hoping many will simply see the Bronco Sport as a smaller, more affordable Bronco. In fact, it is a unibody crossover, like the other models in these comparisons, and is based on the same platform as the now-discontinued Ford Escape.

Still, Ford has taken steps to give the Bronco Sport more off-road capability than your average crossover, and the very square body provides good interior space. Most Bronco Sports are powered by a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine that is pretty small, though the turbocharging brings power into CX-50 territory. AWD is standard across the model line. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine is reserved for the Badlands trim. The off-roading theme permeates the trim level names, which include Big Bend, Freewheeling, Heritage Outer Banks, and the aforementioned Badlands.

• Starting at $31,845, the Bronco Sport is $140 less than the CX-50's starting MSRP.
• The CX-50 base engine has more horsepower (187 vs. 181) and an extra cylinder for smoother operation, but the Bronco Sport counters with slightly more torque (185 vs. 190 lb-ft).
• Despite the Bronco Sport's small base engine, the CX-50 has a slight edge in EPA-rated fuel economy (25/31/28 vs. 25/30/27).
• The larger Badlands engine produces less horsepower (227 vs. 250) than the CX-50’s turbocharged engine, but the CX-50 then handily beats it in torque (310 vs. 280 lb-ft).
• The turbocharged CX-50 has better fuel economy than the Bronco Sport Badlands model (23/29/25 vs. 21/27/23.
• There is no Bronco Sport hybrid; thus, the model line has nothing to compete with its 39/37/38 EPA est. fuel economy.
• With the base engine, the Bronco Sport’s maximum towing capacity is 2,200 pounds. With the larger 2.0-liter engine, it can match the CX-50’s 2,700-pound capacity, but that is it. There are no Bronco Sport models that match the CX-50 Turbo’s 3,500-pound capacity.
• The Bronco Sport’s dash gets the job done, but it lacks the elegance and refinement of the CX-50’s.
• Despite the Bronco Sport’s image, the base CX-50 actually has higher ground clearance than all but the most off-road-focused Bronco Sport trims (8.3 vs. 7.8 inches).
• The Bronco Sport is pretty roomy in other areas, but it has almost three fewer inches of rear legroom than the CX-50 (39.8 vs. 36.9 inches).
• Unlike the CX-50, the Ford Bronco Sport did not receive any accolades from the IIHS, likely because it received a “Moderate” rating in the “Moderate” overlap front impact test, an “Acceptable” rating in the side impact test, and was found to have poor whiplash prevention.

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