How to Compare Mazda CX SUV Options

Photo Source/Copyright: Mazda USA

Picking Mazda is usually the easy part; the driving dynamics and upscale interior touches practically sell themselves. The hard part comes when you stare at the badges on the tailgate. Five distinct nameplates share the showroom floor, and the numbers don’t line up in the neat, linear progression you might expect.

Most car shoppers naturally assume a bigger badge number equals a heftier price tag. However, Mazda doesn’t sort its lineup that way. In fact, a couple of the pricing gaps look flat-out strange until you unpack what each vehicle is engineered to do.

The Roster at a Glance

Physical footprint sorts this family far better than window stickers. Engine layout comes second, which creates the real branching points. Some of these crossovers share identical powertrains, while others share nothing beyond a design language.

*Pricing excludes destination fees.

Study the top half of that table and an immediate oddity jumps out. The rugged CX-50 actually undercuts the classic CX-5 by ninety dollars. Ninety bucks. That is functionally identical money for two five-passenger crossovers built for entirely different weekends.

Farther down the page, you’ll notice the three-row CX-90 starts significantly cheaper than the two-row CX-70. That isn’t a typo, nor is the CX-70 somehow superior; Mazda simply starts the CX-70 trim ladder on higher, better-equipped rungs. Dismissing the larger CX-90 on assumed cost alone means missing the whole picture.

Two Compacts, Two Distinct Personalities

The redesigned CX-5 lands its updates right where daily drivers notice them. A longer wheelbase yields genuine knee and leg room in the second row, alongside an expanded cargo bay. Up front, Mazda dropped in its largest screens ever: a standard 12.9-inch touchscreen or an available 15.6-inch center display featuring built-in Google services. Standard all-wheel drive seals the deal for bad-weather pavement commuting.

The CX-50 takes that exact compact footprint off the asphalt. It rocks a wider stance, an Off-Road drive mode, and an available Meridian Edition riding on aggressive all-terrain rubber. Opt for the Turbo variant, and you’re rated to pull 3,500 pounds, assuming towing mode is engaged and a genuine Mazda hitch is installed. Rolled out of a joint facility in Huntsville, Alabama, it offers a firmer, trail-ready vibe. Same price bracket as the CX-5, wildly different Saturday.

The Big Six-Cylinder Twins

Step up to the CX-70 or CX-90, and you step onto Mazda’s longitudinal, rear-biased architecture. Both run an e-Skyactiv-G 3.3-liter inline-six turbo pumping out 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque on regular gas (jumping to 340 horsepower in Turbo S trim). Both carry a heavy-duty 5,000-pound tow rating.

The entire decision collapses into one question: do you need to haul extra kids, or extra gear? The CX-90 carries a third row for up to eight passengers. The CX-70 deletes that back row entirely and banks the deep floor space for oversized cargo.

Electrified Options and Final Verdict

If skipping gas stops is your priority, the CX-50 Hybrid leads the standard gas models at 38 MPG combined, delivering 551 miles of range on a single tank. Both the CX-70 and CX-90 offer plug-in hybrid (PHEV) powertrains, while a CX-5 hybrid is officially on the horizon.

When it comes time to buy:

• Choose the CX-30 or CX-5 for tight city maneuvering and a cabin that feels way above its price tag.

• Choose the CX-50 if there’s a dirt trail, small boat trailer, or roof box in your regular plans.

• Choose the CX-70 or CX-90 if inline-six muscle, heavy towing, or passenger headcount drives your search.

Spec sheets can only clarify so much. Sit in two back-to-back at the dealership; usually, one cabin immediately fits your lifestyle, and one does not.