A strong comeback for a brand that was once heading to obscurity. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Jan. 3, 2025 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid A good looking and fuel efficient addition to the Mazda compact CUV lineup. The all-new 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid bolsters Mazda's electrified line-up. What the Mazda folks have always provided is superior driving dynamics. What they have been missing is an efficiency story despite a decade of SKYACTIV this and SKYACTIV that that ended up being more of a distraction than anything close to efficient. 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Trim Pricing Preferred - $33,970 Premium - $37,400 Premium Plus - $40,050 D&H adds $1,420 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Overview and RAV4 HEV comparison The 2025 Mazda CX-50 HEV models include unique wheel designs, a different lower front bumper design, and the availability of a new red leather interior option vs the conventionally powered CX-50. And most important, the CX-50 HEV platform was designed around the Toyota Hybrid System (THS), a powertrain package that is comprised of a 2.5L I4, hybrid battery, three electric motors, Electronically-controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT), and standard Electric AWD (eAWD). I cannot state emphatically that it is the RAV4 Hybrid drivetrain, but it appears identical with the same 219 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque, 2.5L I4. The CX-50 Hybrid provides an EPA estimated 39/37/38 city/highway/combined rating whereas the RAV4 Hybrid is rated at 41/38/40 city/highway/combined. Towing cap for the CX-50 is 1,500 lbs. whereas the RAV4 Hybrid is rated at 1,750 lbs. On the volume front, the Mazda CX-50 HEV offers 97.0 cu. ft. of passenger volume, 29.2 cu. ft. of cargo volume behind the second-row seats and 56.3 cu. ft. when the rear seats are folded flat. This falls short of the RAV4 HEV's 98.9 cu. ft. of passenger volume, 37.5 cu. ft. of cargo volume behind the second-row seats and 69.8 cu. ft. when the rear seats are folded flat. Given the CX-50s 110.8" vs RAV4 HEVs 105.9" wheelbase, I find the Mazda's passenger and cargo volumes suspect. Having looked at one of the cargo area press shots, it appears that the width and top to bottom opening is far less than that offered in the RAV4 so maybe that accounts for the significant volume shortfall more than anything else? Mazda CX-50 HEV top, RAV4 HEV bottom. Like most Mazda's, a pleasing interior focus including higher quality materials, clean design, and supportive seating front and rear could make your next road trip more than just a destination. 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Trims CX-50 Hybrid Preferred – Standard 17” alloys finished in black, 10.25” infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, an 8-speaker audio system, four USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, Alexa Built-in integration, power rear liftgate, and heated front seats, amongst many other niceties. CX-50 Hybrid Premium – Standard black roof rails and black exhaust pipes. Inside, owners receive leather seating in black or red, one-touch power sliding panoramic moonroof, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system with Centerpoint, AudioPilot, and SiriusXM, plus with Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop and go ability, Speed Limit Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition. CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus – Standard 19” Alloys in a split black and machine polished finish, bright roof rails and exhaust pipes, automatic power-folding side mirrors, an auto-dimming rear view mirror with HomeLink, 6-way power passenger seat and 2-position memory setting for the powered driver seat, black metal painted interior trim inserts with available camel stitching on the black interior, ventilated front seats and a full-color Active Driving Display that is projected onto the windshield. 2024 Mazda US Sales Overview Mazda 2024 US Sales of 424,382 were up 16.8% above the 363,354 sold in 2023. 2024 Mazda US Sales Highlights 3 sales of 38,877, up 27.3% over the 30,531 sold in 2023 CX-30 sales of 96,515, up 25.2% over the 77,075 sold in 2023 CX-50 sales of 78,551, up 76.1% over the 44,595 sold in 2023 CX-50 Hybrid sales of 2,890 vs 0 in 2023 CX-90 sales of 54,676, up 77.4% over the 30,821 sold in 2023 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV GM retains its #1 ranking in terms of US sales. All the while the Chevrolet Silverado EV is easily the best EV Pickup available today. Top 15 2024 US OEM Sales GM - 2,705,080 vehicles sold in 2024, up 4.3% over the 2,594,698 sold during all of 2023 Toyota - 2,332,623 vehicles sold in 2024, up 3.7% over the 2,248,477 sold during all of 2023 Ford - 2,078,832 vehicles sold in 2024, up 4.2% over the 1,995,912 sold during all of 2023 Honda - 1,423,857 vehicles sold in 2024, up 8.8% over the 1,308,186 sold during all of 2023 Stellantis - 1,303,570 vehicles sold in 2024, down 14.6% below the 1,527,090 sold during all of 2023 Nissan - 924,008 vehicles sold in 2024, up 2.8% over the 898,796 sold during all of 2023 Hyundai - 836,802 vehicles sold in 2024, up 4.4% over the 801,195 sold during all of 2023 Kia - 796,488 vehicles sold in 2024, up 1.8% over the 782,451 sold during all of 2023 Subaru - 667,725 vehicles sold in 2024, up 5.6% over the 632,086 sold during all of 2023 Tesla - 633,762 vehicles sold in 2024, down 5.6% below the 671,616 sold during all of 2023 Mazda - 424,382 vehicles sold in 2024, up 16.8% over the 363,354 sold during all of 2023 VW - 379,178 vehicles sold in 2024, up 15.2% over the 329,029 sold during all of 2023 Mercedes - 374,101 vehicles sold in 2024, up 0.3% over the 373,103 sold during all of 2023 BMW - 371,346 vehicles sold in 2024, up 2.5% over the 362,244 sold during all of 2023 Audi - 196,576 vehicles sold in 2024, down 14.0% below the 228,550 sold during all of 2023 On the 2024 US OEM sales front, the big news was Stellantis falling from #3 to #4, now settling in behind Honda for the first time ever due to its terrible 2024 showing here in the US. Tesla has fallen to #10 just behind Subaru while Mazda leapt two places to #11 placing both VW and Mercedes in its rear view. VW also jumped up two spots to #12, now ahead of both Mercedes and BMW. 2025 Toyota RAV4 PHEV A name change from "Prime" with the next gen set for a 2026 MY release. Top 10 2024 US Model Sales Ford F-Series incl. LD and HD - 765,649 vehicles sold during 2024, up 2.0% over the 750,789 sold in all of 2023 Chevrolet Silverado incl. LD and HD - 552,836 vehicles sold during 2024, down 0.4% below the 555,148 sold in all of 2023 Toyota RAV4 - 475,193 vehicles sold during 2024, up 9.3% over the 434,943 sold in all of 2023 Honda CR-V - 402,791 vehicles sold during 2024, up 11.4% over the 361,457 sold in all of 2023 RAM P/U incl. LD and HD - 373,120 vehicles sold during 2024, down 16.1% below the 444,926 sold in all of 2023 Tesla Model Y - 372,613 vehicles sold during 2024, down 6.6% below the 398,782 sold in all of 2023 GMC Sierra incl. LD and HD - 322,946 vehicles sold during 2024, up 9.2% over the 295,737 sold in all of 2023 Toyota Camry - 309,876 vehicles sold during 2024, up 6.6% over the 290,649 sold in all of 2023 Nissan Rogue - 245,724 vehicles sold during 2024, down 8.7% below the 271,458 sold in 2023 Honda Civic - 242,005 vehicles sold during 2024, up 20.6% over the 200,381 sold in all of 2023 Comparing individual models, Pickups still dominate with Ford and its F-Series dominating all comers. 2024 US F-150 sales of 460,915 fell behind the RAV4 at 475,193 by 14,278 vehicles. RAM has fallen precipitously from its decades long, former #3 spot to #5 with Toyota’s RAV4 and Honda’s CRV now outpacing it. Tesla’s Model Y fell two places from #4 to #6 as the RAV4 and CRV passed it in 2024. As expected, Honda’s award winning compact Civic moved into the #10 spot with the value-oriented Corolla falling short of this year’s list by just over 9,000 vehicle sales. 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E Ford's EVs had a good 2024 in terms of sales although the pair are still losing $s per vehicle sold. And onto the EV sales finish... Top 10 2024 US EV Model Sales Tesla Model Y - 372,613 vehicles sold during 2024, down 6.6% below the 398,782 sold in all of 2023 Tesla Model 3 - 189,903 vehicles sold during 2024, down 17.4% below the 230,015 sold in all of 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E - 51,745 vehicles sold during 2024, up 26.9% over the 40,771 sold in all of 2023 Hyundai Ioniq5 - 44,400 vehicles sold during 2024, up 30.9% over the 33,918 sold in all of 2023 Tesla Cybertruck - 38,965 vehicles sold during 2024 vs 0 sold in 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning - 33,510 vehicles sold during 2024, up 38.7% over the 24,165 sold in all of 2023 Honda Prologue - 33,017 vehicles sold during 2024 vs 0 sold in 2023 Chevrolet Equinox - 28,874 vehicles sold during 2024, up 6163% over the 461 sold in all of 2023 Cadillac Lyriq - 28,402 vehicles sold during 2024, up 210.3% above the 9,154 sold in 2023 Rivian R1S - 26,934 vehicles sold during 2024, up 23.4% over the 21,831 sold in all of 2023 2025 Tesla Model Y A new year and finally a refreshed design may help slow the sales slide? Through all of 2024, Stellantis took the largest hit with not just the sales decline but in lockstep, the market share falloff of 1.6% shows how poorly it performed last year. Mazda's 0.4% and GMs 0.3% increase were well deserved. With 20 years’ worth of US Automotive sales data to rely upon, 2024's US Automotive Sales of 15.92 million units increased by 2.5% over the 15.53 million sold in 2023. That total was the highest achieved since Covid decimated the global economy back in 2020. The 2024 US sales totals were unfortunately nowhere near the 17 million plus unit peaks in 2005 and 2015 - 2019. Estimates to reach 16.5 million in 2024 are to me a bit optimistic as Government downsizing – Government employment disappearing, is going to be a noticeable drag on consumer spending and the second largest purchase decision most make is not going to be immune. Wayne
Hi Mendel: I am shopping for the Sonata HEVs replacement and the Mazda CX-50 HEV was a brief consideration to join the 21 Prius Prime and 20 RAV4 HEV. The base trim lacks Radar CC while every trim of the Corolla Cross Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid includes it which is a small but important hit. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 HEV is priced as shown: Base Preferred at $34k Premium at $37.5k Premium Plus at $40k This does not compare favorably with the larger and more efficient 2025 Toyota RAV4 HEV: LE at $32k XLE at $33.5k SE at $34.6k XLE Premium at $36.3k XSE at $37.5k Limited at $40.2k The 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross HEV has a smaller passenger volume but a similar total cargo volume as shown below. 2025 Mazda CX-50 HEV: 97.0 cu. ft. of passenger volume, 29.2 cu. ft. of cargo volume behind the second-row seats, and 56.3 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down. 2025 Toyota Corolla Cross HEV: 88.4 cu. ft. cu. ft. of passenger volume,17 cu. ft. of cargo volume behind the second-row seats, and 44 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded down. 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross HEV One of its most endearing features is the large rear hatch opening and large volume for loading whatever life brings your way. The latter is the lowest price offering of course but it is smaller when it comes to the driver and front passenger than either the CX-50 HEV and RAV4 HEV for sure. Wayne
I won't be holding my breath for that one. Thanks , VW. I was a bit disappointed that they never offered the 3 with Sky-activ 1.5 and 6MT. Now they're all 2.5. Zoom,zoom,zoom.
And the Mazda 2.5 is the Ford Duratec 2.5 that hit the road 16 or 17 years ago. Mazda pairs it with a Toyota transmission (Aisin) while Ford pairs it with their 6F35 or 8F35. So the Zoom Zoom comes from putting the engine from an Escape into a restyled Ford Focus which is quite a bit smaller and lighter than a cute-ute.
