5 Key Facts About The 2023 Mazda CX-50

"More than ever," says Mazda Canada President David Klan, "our customers are looking for a vehicle that can do more and take them further, and CX-50 will answer the call."

This is Mazda's newest SUV, the first in a trio that will include a larger CX-70 and eventually a CX-90. Designed with North American mindsets in mind, the 2023 Mazda CX-50 is roughly the size of the CX-5 but features a broader stance and roomier interior. They're different vehicles intended for different purposes, and the CX-50 won't be replacing the CX-5 in Mazda's growing SUV lineup.

The purpose of the CX-50 is to offer enhanced adventure capability. "This new Mazda vehicle has been developed for North America," Mazda North American President Jeff Guyton says, "particularly to support the active and outdoor lifestyles of customers in this region." That intention leads us to the first of 5 Key Facts About The First Ever Mazda CX-50.

#1: Mi-Drive

Just like the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 will come standard with predictive i-Activ all-wheel drive. i-Activ is a spectacularly capable AWD system that is constantly monitoring road conditions and a wide variety of vehicle factors through an abundance of sensors in order for a Mazda to predict each corner's need for traction rather than merely reacting to slip. The 2023 Mazda CX-50 will take i-Activ AWD to another level with a multi-mode Mi-Drive system, "technology that includes drive modes which enhance off-road and sport driving." Mazda CX-50's upgraded to the more powerful engine will also gain a mode specifically intended to aid in towing.

#2: Production

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is expected to go into production in January 2022 in a shared Alabama plant equipped to build 150,000 Mazdas and 150,000 Toyotas.

#3: Engines

Standard equipment under the hood of the 2023 Mazda CX-50 will be the Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter engine we all know well from the Mazda 3, Mazda CX-30, and Mazda CX-5. Just as those vehicles also offer a turbocharged version of the 2.5 with 320 lb-ft of torque, so too will the Mazda CX-50. In due time, Mazda says "the CX-50 will also be offered with electrified powertrains, including a traditional hybrid model."

#4: Panoramic

In the CX-50, for the first time in a Mazda, there will be an available panoramic sunroof. That's not the only first, of course. There are also new exterior and interior colour options, including Zircon Sand on the outside and terracotta inside.

#5: Roof

The heavy-duty roof rack Mazda is showing in its initial photos isn't just for show. Mazda is very serious about the CX-50's knack for accepting major loads, so the roof rails are made of high-strength material and the door jambs and B-pillars are reinforced. Mazda specifically designed the CX-50's height and length to make loading outdoor equipment on the roof more straightforward.