3 Dealbreakers of the CX-50 (on Road Trips)

Today we have another instalment of a long-term owner's review of the 2023 Mazda CX-50. I've owned this car since the end of 2022 and although I love this it, it's not perfect. Just getting back from a proper road trip, I noticed 3 main issues, specifically on longer several hour drives. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

🚗 Vehicle in This Video:
2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Package
MSRP: $41,000
Engine: Intercooled turbo inline 4-cylinder
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Horsepower: 227 hp @ 5000 rpm
Torque: 310 @ 2000 rpm
Curb weight: 3,900 lbs

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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:48 - Driver Assistance
03:22 - Fuel Efficiency
04:56 - Engine Tuning

[ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

I am getting one. One the first test drive, I noticed a little lag when smashing the gas pedal. On the second test drive, I told the salesman about it, he said to put it in "Sport" mode. No lag. Immediate smash and go. As for the cruise control, lane departure, etc...my GMC Sierra has that and does the same thing. You can disable it all or "adapt" to it. It's all nice with safety in mind, but I learned to actually drive in the 1970s before all this technology and we had longer attention spans

[edschobs]

You can go into the settings and turn the adaptive cruise control off so that next time you use cruise control, you’ll have to use it the normal old school way

[christophera]

16 mpg is horrific. You must tend to drive rather aggressively.
2 observations: As you were discussing overtaking vehicles and others overtaking you- you were passing people on the right, which tends to annoy many motorists.
Also, briefly tapping your turn signal before lane changes doesn't adequately warn other drivers of your intentions. I could be wrong, but you may be one of those drivers you so dislike.

[G_dan]

Currently own the cx 5. I've put 60k miles in 2 years. My average mpg is 26 and that includes alot of city driving. Brilliant car.

[ArchYeomans]

Handsome manly styling. Look ma, no CVT!

[davidpinkowski]

I just bought a new 2025 CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus. I went on a trip today, I averaged 29MPG and the car isn't even broken in yet. It only dad 150 miles when I started the trip. The driver assist worked flawlessly and I experienced none of the issues that you described. I'm guessing the software has been updated.

[robbrown]

2023 CX5 owner here in Canada. Just last Sunday coming home on the highway I decided to test the radar cruise for the first time. It was misty out, first 2/3 of the 1 hour drive were fine, then out of nowhere it just shut the entire cruise control off completely saying front sensor blocked. It was quite a quick deceleration before I could get my foot back on the gas, thankfully no vehicles following closely behind or it could have been rear ended. I'm one and done using it and am not a fan of all this safety/self driving, auto braking crap.

[photog]

I just ordered a 2024 CX-50 Turbo Premium...should be in any day now. I don't plan on using the radar cruise control...staying with the tried and true...I don't want to rely on a computer to speed up or slow down the vehicle...I'd prefer to be in control as much as possible. There are some bells and whistles I don't need, and this is one of them. I can also do without i-stop, but at least that can be disabled.

[michaelbottrell]

I just did a trip from Fort Collins Colorado to Phoenix and back. We averaged 32 mpg with a non turbo 25 CX-50. Great car and fun to drive. Very comfortable.

[johnsanford]

Fuel efficiency of 16mpg running from Vegas to Cali in the summer durìng the day? Not surprising. You're running the A/C CONSTANTLY, you're running 65mph+, and you're going over multiple mountain passes.

[RCEOLP]

I owned a '23 CX50 Turbo and I hated all these things you mentioned in this video! So much I got rid of the car and got a Volvo V60. Immediately noticed how bad the CX50s Cruise Control/Lane Keep was, Gas Mileage, and also felt it was pretty slow altogether. There's pros to the cx50, especially the looks...looks frkn great, but there's just some things like these that were so annoying to me.

[marcpavich]

Great vid. What’s up with the two watches tho? Lol

[scotthall]

I have those issues on my wife's 2019 CR-V with the Adaptive Cruise and Lane Keeping Alert (doesn't "assist, " just shakes the steering wheel). After the Lane Keeping shook the steering wheel a couple of times when I got close to the center line on a deserted country road the first time I drove it, I turned it off and have never turned it back on. I just found it annoying and unnecessary. (I sometimes wonder if some of these so-called safety systems just simply promote bad driving habits.) I also turned the adaptive cruise off and usually just use the standard cruise for the very same reasons you give. The CR-V's ACC will even start to brake on a multi-lane roadway straightaway if the car to my right and ahead of me gets a little too close to the line. So I would end up hugging the line to my left so that wouldn't happen. Not sure that's a safe practice. Granted, I live in a rural area and drive over 50% rural two-lane roads, but I appreciate being able to choose to turn off these features if I want to. One other thing I do really appreciate about the CR-V (1.5T) is that we regularly average around 34 mpg on round trip road trips (several hundred miles) while driving between 60 and 75 mph. (Of course my 2014 Accord 2.4L will do at least that good, too.)

[DOTZIK]

I agree with all the points in the video. I also experienced those problems with safety in mazdas, they keep improving them with time. (I owened 2019 cx5 GT, have 2021 cx30 natural aspirated and 2022 cx9 GT) I also learned that you can override the breaking or slowing down of the radar cruise using accelerator pedal. Manual controls always take priority. Also there are some twicking available under safety settings. Nothing is perfect in this world... I tried Toyota safety 2.0 in 2019 highlander and it was Bad comparing with Mazda cx9 at that time, lane keep was beeping too much telling everyone in the car I was doing somthind wrong where mazda just qwietly vibrated my steering wheel for me and moved it in the right direction so no one noticed, etc. Also BSM in 2019 cx5 was too agressive, but they fixed it fast in the later models becouse everyone was complaining, try to find enother car company that listens to its customers.
Yes, lane centering would be nice, it will come soon, remember mazda is a small company...
Also want to say about MPG, it's the 6-speed tranny problem. Once they upgrade to 8-speed it will be better especially on the highways. They already have it in cx90...

[bruceheadley]

I bought the 2025 CX-50 Meridian w/o the roof rack .. get about 28 mpg on the highway.

The Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Detection and Lane Assist functions have limitations .. they cannot function as quickly and efficiently as a human can. They are driver assists.

Personally, I love everything about my CX-50!

[bobhaddock]

MY NEIGHBOR BOUGHT 2023 CX50. ON HIS ROAD TRIP THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS SO UNCOMFORTABLE HE COULD ONLY DRIVE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR....

[jackshrader]

I have used the lane assist on one trip. and I turned it off. Traveling down a state highway a tractor trailer's trailer started to veer into my lane. I went to turn a little to give the driver a little space between us and the lane assist wanted to turn me back closer to the trailer. It was annoying.

[GranTigerGaming]

I appreciate your videos! I just got a used 2020 CX-5 but I'm interested in the CX-50 Hybrid once it comes out. I'm in the same area as you and road trip all over the surrounding states too, see you around!

[gegezz]

Expecting Delivery at end of August for my CX50 Turbo Ingot Blue with terracotta interior. Can't wait! Any suggestions on the first 3 things I should do for the first few months? Does the car need a break in period? Thanks
Great videos by the way. Keep up the good work!

[ErikS]

I have not found the safety assists to be a problem in my CX-50. I have had it all summer in SC with temps up to about 105f, not LV hot but hot and I haven't seen a hit on mileage (24.5 around town and 27 HW). I will see how it does in cold weather. You adjusted your driving in other cars, why not this one when driving where you need more smash? Use the sport mode, manual shift using the paddles or stick to get the TQ/HP you want. The 320 ft/lb of torque is great for me. My complaint? Damn Meridian Falken tires are loud on rough surfaces and the Apex roof rack adds to the wind noise.