By now, it is obvious Mazda has decided to reinvent itself. Its recent models spoil us with a sporty yet elegant design, but more importantly, the whole lineup is moving towards a more upscale segment. But, a more upscale lineup commands a more premium pricing, and we already know the prices for the 2023 Mazda CX-50.

Mazda CX-50 is the third Mazda model, after the CX-30 and MX-30, since the brand decided to completely reinvent itself as a premium brand. Interestingly enough, Mazda will not be discontinuing the similarly-sized CX-5, even after the CX-50 goes on sale, at least for now. The two models are occupying the same segment, although the CX-50 looks sportier and is expected to be a bit wider.

Pricing

With the Mazda CX-5 as its internal competition, it is interesting to see how the two cars stack up, in terms of pricing. The starting price for the 2023 Mazda CX-50 is $28,025, with a destination charge ($1,225). This makes the base CX-50 $900 more expensive than the base CX-5. Things mellow-out for the S Select and S Preferred trims levels, where the difference in price between the CX-5 and CX-50 is $300 and $340, respectively.

The most expensive non-turbocharged version of the CX-50 - S Premium Plus - will set you back $37,625, with a destination charge, which is $2,450 more than what a similarly equipped CX-5 costs. All non-turbo versions come with the 2.5-liter Skyactiv G inline-four unit that makes 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet (252 Nm). The CX-50 is expected to arrive with the familiarsix-speed automatic, unlike its bigger counterparts that will feature the new eight-speed automatic.

2023 Mazda CX-50 prices

No inline-six engines for the CX-50

The CX-50 Turbo starts from $37,650, with a destination charge (just like the CX-5 Turbo), but the range-topping CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus will set you back $42,775 (destination charge, included), which is a $2,900 premium over the range-topping CX-5. The CX-50 will not make use of Mazda’s new platform, which means no inline-six engines, here. The CX-50 Turbo will make use of the 2.5-liter Skyactiv G Turbo, which means 250 horsepower and up to 310 pound-feet (420 Nm). All versions of the Mazda CX-50 will feature all-wheel drive as standard.

There will be a more rugged version called the Meridian Edition. That would feature a black protective trim, roof rack, new 18-inch wheels, and a few other goodies, making it ideal for off-road exploration. The CX-50 will have a hybrid version as well, which is expected to be identical to the 219-horsepower powertrain, used in the RAV4 hybrid}. As with the Meridian Edition, no official pricing for the CX-50 hybrid has been announced. That said, the competition’s hybrid propositions in the segment, based on the Genesis GV70 and Lexus NX, are in the $40,000 to $42,500 range, so expect similar pricing for the CX-50 hybrid.

Final thoughts

Mazda’s future lineup looks and sounds pretty impressive, especially with the introduction of the inline-six engines and new rear-wheel-drive-biased platform. Although like the CX-30, the CX-50 is based on Mazda’s familiar platform and not its latest, both models serve as a solid stepping stone towards the brand’s future.

Moreover, based on Mazda’s 2020 portfolio, the Japanese carmaker has been ranked as the most reliable brand of the year. The CX-50 will be produced in Huntsville, Alabama, alongside the Toyota Corolla Cross,} which makes it the first Mazda to be produced in the U.S. since Ford’s partial ownership of Mazda.