The 2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Meridian Edition SUV

What is a CX-50? The CX-50 is a compact crossover SUV built in the Madison, Alabama assembly plant and sold in North America by Mazda. The CX-50 is the updated version of the CX-5 with more cargo space, higher ground clearance, more towing capacity at 3,500 pounds with the turbocharged gas engine. The Mazda CX-50 is roughly the same overall size of the CX-5, but features a broader stance and a roomier interior.

This week Mazda sent me a 2024 CX-50 to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this Turbo Meridian Edition is $40,800. The options on the test SUV are: the metallic paint for $450, the premium carpeted floor mats for $150, and the Apex package for $1,235. The manufactures suggest retail price (MSRP), including the $1,375 delivery charge is: $44,010.

After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $49,511. At $489 under $50,000, this premium edition SUV is just above the 2024 average sales transaction sale price of $48,800. If your budget is capped at $50 Grand, then you should take a hard look at it.

So, what do you get for $50K in today’s automotive market place? A lot when you consider that this 2024 Mazda CX-50 has a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder with a twin scroll turbocharger gas engine, 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, bolted to a 6 speed automatic transmission, routed into an all wheel drive traction control system.

This 2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition has a list of standard equipment that is over 75 items long and is loaded with comfort, safety and tech features. They start with leather trimmed seats, a power drivers seat with lumbar support and 2 position memory, a power passenger seat, heated front seats, an electronic parking brake, a leather wrapped steering wheel, a leather wrapped shift knob, push button start, paddle shifters, keyless entry, a rear view camera, and a power lifting rear tailgate.

The safety and security features are: lane departure warning assist, lane keeping assist, rear cross traffic alert, G-Vectoring control plus, hill launch assist, terrain select traction control for normal, sport, off road and towing, an adaptive front lighting system, LED headlights with auto on and off, LED tail lights and automatic high beam control.

The Apex package adds black roof cross bars, front and rear splash guards and a roof platform. The Meridian Edition includes: a panoramic sunroof, rear privacy glass, a 10.25″ color center display screen, a multi function commander control knob, dual zone climate control, rear a/c vents, 4 USB ports, Bluetooth hands free phone and audio, an auto dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, Android Auto, Apply CarPlay, a wireless phone pad, and an AM/FM/HD radio with 8 speakers. There’s more than enough toys to play with.

The gas mileage is 23 MPG in city driving, 29 MPG on the highway and it gets 25 MPG in overall combined driving. The green house gas rating is a 5 and the smog rating is a 5; both out of 10. These are all very nice numbers for a compact crossover SUV with premium features that is comfortable, spacious and well appointed, with an interior that looks and feels a cut above anything else in this class, plus it’s quick and fun to drive.

All trims of the 2024 Mazda CX-50 have a new type of steering damper and an electric recalibrated power steering assist system. Both enable the CX-50 to have a smoother, more agile riding experience on paved streets and off road. Value wise, 3 years after buying your new 2024 Mazda CX-50, the CX-50 can retain up to 69% of its initial purchase cost. That’s a pretty good deal on a very nice compact crossover SUV that looks and drives great too.

Mazda vehicles are known for lasting over a decade and more, between 200,000 and 250,000 miles, with many going even longer than that. The key to any long lasting vehicle is to keep it running with proper maintenance, getting it serviced on time, and driving it safely.

Call, click or visit your local Mazda dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on a new 2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Meridian Edition SUV. And remember that the base price for a new CX-50 starts at only $30,300. Mazda – Zoom Zoom.

Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.

This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net