Mazda has confirmed to be a lower above many others the place you discover extra premium interiors and a sportier driving perspective than competing segments, which have each paid off properly for the model. In the current couple of years, Mazda has launched new fashions that widen its attraction, corresponding to the brand new Mazda CX-50 I had an opportunity to take a look at once more, solely this time within the distinctive Meridian Edition trim that touts a extra rugged attraction together with a number of specialised add-ons to make it extra off-roading pleasant over the present gamut of trims ranges.
Utilizing comparable ideas of the favored Mazda CX-5, the brand new CX-50 brings a barely rugged edge to the equation however doesn’t depart from the sporty road-going nature that you just discover within the CX-5. The CX-50 makes an attempt to foreshadow a extra rugged attraction with its plastic cladding and elevated floor clearance however doesn’t essentially take away its feeling at house on paved roads, the place most patrons will spend their time with such a automobile. However, having a Meridian Edition trim affords some gentle off-roading with out fear as a result of having customary all-terrain tires and a relatively giant roof rack with built-in crossbars prepared for mounting lively way of life gear or hauling slightly additional exterior of what the 31 cubic ft of cargo house supplies.
Performance and Driving Character
Just like in my earlier evaluate of the brand new Mazda CX-50, there’s a revered sporty nature that you just get, and having the extra highly effective turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine within the Meridian Edition trim elevates your driving expertise. The turbocharged engine is nice for 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque utilizing common unleaded gasoline. If you utilize premium gasoline, that energy will increase to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, which is distributed via a 6-speed computerized transmission. All Mazda CX-50s are all-wheel-drive and embrace a Sport and Off-road drive mode.
See Also: 2023 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus Review & Test Drive
The method the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition drives isn’t any totally different than some other trim with the turbocharged engine. The Falken all-terrain tires do properly to restrict highway noise and show to be compliant even on moist highway surfaces as an alternative of affected by being considerably slippery like different all-terrain rubber. The suspension, which is barely re-tuned for the 2024 mannequin 12 months, feels considerably agency however not overly stiff. In all, the CX-50 rides glorious with a refined sporty nature that conjures up confidence on the highway at nearly any authorized velocity.
The energy from the turbocharged engine utilizing premium gasoline feels substantial with the candy spots principally within the midrange from the amble torque. Zero to 60 mph ticks off proper at 7 seconds, however you need to deal with the elective giant roof rack on the Meridian Edition trim as a part of the Apex package deal, which is definitely so as to add a very good little bit of wind resistance as there’s an abundance of wind noise that enters the cabin at freeway and interstate speeds.
Towing capability will increase with the turbocharged engine to three,500 kilos, up from the two,000-pound restrict for the bottom, non-turbo engine trims.
Fuel Economy
Fuel consumption is usually constant and doesn’t depart far in the true world from the EPA estimates of 23 mpg metropolis, 29 mpg freeway, and 25 mpg mixed. However, my take a look at automobile appeared to by no means actually attain the 29-mpg freeway determine, which I attribute to the big roof rack, inflicting a bit of additional drag.
Interior and Technology
Mazda has pulled off a number of magic methods with its inside by providing an total premium really feel that doesn’t add a lot to the pricing scale. In the CX-50 Meridian Edition trim the inside is elevated a bit from the decrease trims with contrasted stitching all through the smooth contact areas of the trim, together with contrasted coloured Terracotta-colored leather-based seats with entrance seat heating and energy changes. The driver’s seat will get energy lumbar, top changes, and reminiscence settings.
The seating areas have a very good quantity of room for a compact crossover, and are principally simple to seek out an optimum seating place up entrance. The rear seats are accommodating for many adults on the outboard seats, however the middle seat would require somebody saddling the ground hump.
There’s a welcomed easy operation of the infotainment system, which principally commits you to utilizing a central management knob and a set of major perform buttons. However, the ten.3-inch infotainment display screen does have contact performance however solely when utilizing the mixing of wi-fi or USB-connected Apple CarPlay or Android Auto when the automobile is stationary. Otherwise, the display screen doesn’t allow contact for any of the core capabilities at any time. The wi-fi charging pad is conveniently situated just below the latch for the middle armrests.
There’s a welcomed simplistic method to the CX-50’s inside and controls, which is mimicked via a lot of the Mazda lineup. The dual-zone computerized local weather controls are additionally simplistic and have a devoted set of bodily knobs and buttons for management, along with rear seating space vents behind the entrance armrests.
The cargo space is respectable, and also you get simply over 31 cubic ft of storage behind the rear seats. If you fold the 60/40-split rear seatbacks down, you could have simply over 56 cubic ft of storage, which is all accessed by an influence lift-gate.
Safety
A full array of lively security options is included throughout the board for all trim ranges, together with radar cruise management with cease and go, blind-spot screens with rear-cross visitors alert, lane departure warning with lane hold help, and driver consideration alert. Unfortunately, my CX-50 Meridian Edition trim doesn’t embrace the 360-degree digicam system, nor does it have the rear good brake assist, visitors jam help, and blind spot help programs, that are reserved for the very top-level CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim.
Price
New Mazda automobiles appear to be a wonderful worth for the decrease and mid-level trims whenever you issue within the variety of customary facilities and lively security options bundled up with every trim, which begins at $30,300 for the bottom 2.5 Select trim. My mid-level CX-50 Meridian Edition trim take a look at automobile involves $40,800 earlier than including within the choices of the Apex package deal (roof rack platform with cross bars), cargo internet, engaging Zircon Sand paint possibility, and the supply/processing charge of $1,375, which then involves a complete of $43,960.
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Source: www.automotiveaddicts.com