2023 Mazda CX-50 Review: Mazda's Off-Roader

Off-roading and adventuring are as popular as ever and automakers have noticed. Extra cladding, more space and special off-road modes are becoming staples of compact and midsize crossovers. Naturally, Mazda isn’t going to ignore this popular trend and drummed up the CX-50. While the CX-50 shares the same bones as the CX-50 it's larger, has extra cladding and now features a standard all-wheel-drive system. Powering this CX-50 is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder mill that mates to a six-speed automatic. In base trim, this 2.5-liter makes 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. If that’s not good enough, Mazda also offers its turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that makes 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on 89 octane gasoline.

On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of Mazda’s latest crossover and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Mazda CX-50 to show off its style, features and interior. After the tour, Wren takes you along for a live-recorded drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Wren is joined by Patrick Carone, and the pair talk about the differences between this Mazda and its crossover stablemate the CX-5, off-roading crossovers and more. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2023 Mazda CX-50 special.