Mazda CX-50 hybrid | Resilience factor

Mazda has always been known for its contrarian choices. This led him, among other things, to continue the development of the rotary engine or to create, very recently, an in-line six-cylinder engine which only runs on gasoline. To conquer without danger, we triumph without glory, don't we?

However, increasingly restrictive environmental legislation is forcing the small Hiroshima brand – other manufacturers too – to fall into line. To prefer efficiency to originality. And in doing so, Mazda loses, just like its CX-50 hybrid, a bit of its soul.

Mazda, the rebel brand, realizes today that its strengths do not help it in any way to negotiate the energy shift with complete peace of mind.

The need for “clean” and preferably exciting engines has become urgent. To make up for lost time, the Japanese firm must work harder and seek the intervention of its partners. And Toyota is one of them. This is a valuable ally as the Japanese giant has established expertise in the field of hybrid engines. This offers nothing more and nothing less than a turnkey project to Mazda: transplanting one of its powertrains into the belly of the products of its compatriot, but no less rival.

And so the CX-50 Hybrid was born. This is driven by a two-headed mechanism identical to that found under the hood of the RAV4. In theory, this should allow the CX-50 hybrid to lower its consumption by almost 3 L/100 km. Indeed, Mazda claims a combined average (city/highway) of 6.2 L/100 km compared to 8.9 L/100 km for the “regular” CX-50 with a naturally aspirated engine.

At the time of writing these lines, Natural Resources Canada had still not validated this data, nor the pollution that this engine generates (CO₂). And frankly, it was impossible for us to obtain such results during this test. No more than two of our readers, in fact. Should we attribute this poor performance to vehicles which are still going through their break-in period? In the colder weather of the last few days? No doubt, but these two factors do not justify the difference observed. The weight then? The CX-50 hybrid is in fact heavier than its gasoline alter ego and this inevitably has an effect on consumption.

A little less “zoom-zoom”

The weight of the CX-50 hybrid penalizes it dynamically. The rather cheerful behavior of the other CX-50s is modified here. When accelerating, the engine seems to struggle, largely due to the continuously variable transmission (CVT) throttling it.

More clumsy, this Mazda still benefits from well-weighted power steering and contained body movements. On the other hand, the suspension appeared even firmer and the irregularities encountered at low speed were rather disturbing.

Heavier, a bit longer, but a little less habitable (including for your luggage if all the seats on board are occupied), the CX-50 hybrid does not have the versatility of its brothers in arms. Its towing capacity is lower, as is its ground clearance. Its off-road capabilities are also affected, but very slightly.

Apart from these points and a few decals, meters and switches, the CX-50 hybrid is in every way identical to the other products in the range. Impeccably finished, with materials that exude quality, this Mazda utility vehicle is undoubtedly, in this aspect, the most rewarding in its category. The driving position and the ergonomics of the (physical) controls allow you to become one with this vehicle. However, the infotainment screen can be criticized for its banal integration into the dashboard and its unintuitive interface. But in this segment, we have already seen worse.