Mazda unveiled a new interior design language a few years ago with the redesigned Mazda3, and it was so well received that every subsequent vehicle that is redone (or is completely new) gets a variation on that interior. The trend continues for the new 2023 Mazda CX-50.
The luxurious look, a generous helping of feel-good knobs/buttons and an enticing combination of colors and styling make the CX-50’s cabin one of the best — if not the best — in its segment. My tester is a Turbo Premium Plus, the highest possible trim level of the CX-50. It starts at $42,775, which on the surface is wildly pricey, but step in and the interior definitely feels its price.
Specify the Terracotta leather option, and you’ll get a tan interior that looks orange in bright light. The seats have a striking centerline in black with contrasting stitching. Mazda does the doors in a two-tone look, and you get faux (but convincing) leather cushions on both the dash and doors. These are also accentuated with contrasting stitching that just feels wonderful to brush over your hand. There is no wood or aluminum trim to be found here, but the way Mazda has styled the interior makes such flashy bits unnecessary.
The controls are all logically and ergonomically arranged. You get a traditional gear lever that doubles as a nice hand rest for long-haul cruising. The infotainment system is pushed fairly deep into the dash to keep your head from turning away from the road to use it. It’s close enough to touch it (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are touchscreen controlled), but doesn’t encourage you to do so. Much better use is made of the tactile dial that spins, tilts and presses to control the infotainment. Button shortcuts for navigation and music make it easy to switch between the two (they even work to switch between navigation and music apps in CarPlay and Android Auto), and a dedicated “home” and “back” button button are also greatly appreciated.
The fusion of digital and analog continues in the instrument panel. Analog meters flank a digital screen that can be mistaken for an all-analog setup until you notice that the display information may change. You can choose to make the screen look like a traditional speedometer, switch to driver assistance monitor and others. It’s easily one of the most readable and easy-to-use meter setups out there.
Volume and temperature controls all have a knurled design that makes them easy to grip and pleasant to the touch. The cushioning of Mazda’s buttons also stands out, as they press with a sense of luxury and although serious work has gone into making them really great buttons. Everything you touch and feel in this interior gives the feeling of a car priced much more expensive, and it’s those little things that make everyday ownership so much more enjoyable.
As for the bad, Mazda seems to insist on using piano black plastic in horrible places. For example, it is what is used as the gearshift rim. Within a few days to a week it was already covered in dust and smudges and just looked dirty – to illustrate this we haven’t wiped it down over the course of a week with normal use, and the photos directly below are it result. If you want your car interior to look neat and tidy, bring a cloth with you to wipe the piano black surfaces regularly. And even if you do this, the glossy surface can scratch and show pride over time.
The rear seat is about as useful as the rear seat on the CX-5, which is a little disappointing considering the CX-50 is both longer and wider than the CX-5. It may seem like a generously sized SUV from the outside, but others like the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson still beat it for space in the back. Finally, we found that the wireless phone charger was also too small and would give charging error codes when we tested some larger phones.
You will not find a compact crossover in this size and price range with such a premium interior as the CX-50 offers in its high quality finish. If that’s what you value most, it will treat you well. Competitors may offer hybrid powertrains, flashier tech and more space, but Mazda is the only one to subvert the entry-level luxury SUV alternatives and chase it up when it comes to quality and design.
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