Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Crossover Is Half Toyota, Half Mazda

• Mazda swapped a Toyota hybrid drivetrain into its CX-50 crossover.

• The result is 219 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque on regular unleaded 87-octane fuel.

• Pricing starts at $35,390, about 5 grand more than the base CX-50 2.5 S Select.

Why blow the whole R&D budget on a new hybrid system when Toyota has one just sitting there? Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru are already sharing engines—heck, even Lotus has been known to use Toyota power. So this latest cooperation is only natural.

And share is what Mazda did with its new CX-50 hybrid, one of its top-selling crossover utility vehicles that was in need of hybridization to stay competitive in an increasingly competitive segment. After all, the “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing” facility in Alabama has been up and running since 2021.

Toyota’s been making the Corolla Cross there since it opened, and Mazda’s been cranking out the CX-50 there since 2022 on two side-by-side lines in perfect harmony. So why not put the Toyota drivetrain into the Mazda chassis? It only required a little bit of work on the CX-50 to get all the parts in.

“Adding a hybrid powertrain to the CX-50 lineup allows us to broaden the appeal to a wider group of customers,” said Mazda R&D’s Jay Chen. “The CX-50 hybrid buyer values an engaging driving experience, while also prioritizing strong fuel efficiency, which this vehicle delivers for the hybrid system.”

In other words, the CX-50 is like a practical Corolla Cross that’s fun to drive! It would be even more fun to drive if it didn’t have a CVT. But then you wouldn’t get the CX-50 Hybrid’s 38 mpg combined.

The Nuts and Bolts

The Toyota drivetrain starts with a gasoline a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder with a 14:1 compression ratio. That engine operates most efficiently with 93-octane gas (which you can’t get in California, the state where I did my test drive).

In addition to the 2.5 ICE, the CX-50 also has three electric motors. Two of them are on the front transaxle. One’s a small motor/generator that functions as both a starter and provides some drive power, while the other is a “much more powerful traction motor that does most of the heavy electrified lifting,” said Chen.

In between the ICE engine and those two electric motors is a planetary gear device that splits the power from the engine and the traction motor to the front driving wheels.

The rear axle is driven independently by a small, electric motor that provides driving force and grip off the line and during cornering.

Thus, all CX-50 Hybrid models come standard with all-wheel drive.

“When you put this all together, the CX-50 hybrid powertrain slots evenly between our SkyActive 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine and the SkyActive turbo,” said Chen.

Making It a Mazda

Mazda tuned the whole chassis and drivetrain to meet its own specifications: The accelerator pedal response is tightened up and it set its own tuned drive modes, such as Power and Trail, that “allow drivers to tailor their experience behind the wheel to match the situation at hand.” There’s even a 1,500-pound tow rating on the Hybrid.

“The CX-50 Hybrid delivers more power, stronger acceleration, and greater fuel efficiency, with about 40% improved MPG and over 100 miles of additional driving range compared to our naturally aspirated CX-50 2.5 S models,” Mazda said.

On the road it did feel more lively from behind the wheel than the Toyota Corolla Cross, with a fun level of turn-in and nicely controlled body roll. Still, that CVT reduces response in anything it’s put in, and it’s the only transmission available in the Hybrid.

Inside, even the entry-level Hybrid Preferred model gets features like built-in Alexa, a 7-inch TFT LCD screen and 10.25-inch full-color center display, eight-speaker audio, eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and dual-zone climate for $35,390 including destination.

The Hybrid Premium model adds a power panoramic moonroof, six-way power passenger seat, and Sirius XM for $38,820.

The top-of-the-line CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus adds ventilated front seats and 19-inch wheels wrapped in 225/55 tires for $41,470.

The hybrid model spreads the funner-to-drive CX-50 across a wider swath of buyers and promises they’ll have a better time behind the wheel than the more than 2 million shoppers who bought competitors in the class. If you’re forced by circumstance to sell the Miata and buy a crossover, but you want to feel alive and you want at least 38 mpg, try it out.

Does a Mazda crossover with a Toyota powertrain push your buttons? Please comment below.