Key Points
- The CX-50 nearly matched the redesigned CX-5’s 2026 sales through September, trailing by only 411 vehicles.
- Its hybrid, turbocharged engine, broader trim selection, and competitive pricing attract buyers seeking efficiency or performance.
- The CX-5 remains ahead but loses its dominance, partly because of limited powertrains and screen-heavy controls.
The Pupil Outshines the Master
When the Mazda CX-50 debuted in 2023, its first full year of sales couldn’t come close to the brand’s best-seller, the CX-5. That year, Mazda sold 153,808 CX-5s and moved 44,595 CX-50s. That amounts to a little more than a quarter of the CX-5’s sales volume. Now, fast forward to 2026 and factor in the redesigned 2026 CX-5.
Things have changed, and the CX-5 is no longer the overwhelming sales leader it was just a few years ago. Touted as a more rugged stablemate, the CX-50 seemed like a niche vehicle compared to the crowd pleaser. Things moved quickly. CX-50 sales rose 19.7% compared with the first nine months of 2025, while CX-5 sales fell 9.5%. For an SUV that communicated “outdoorsy” rather than the more urbane CX-5, the CX-50 is certainly showing up its once dominant leader.
What the Figures Actually Show
Mazda
While the CX-50 has actually outsold the CX-5 in six months since its introduction, the figures don’t point to a full sales dominance takeover, but it’s an indication of where consumer preferences lie. September reflects a strong lead for the CX-5 after a rough August. The CX-5 sold 11,345 vehicles in September, comfortably ahead of the CX-50’s 9,147.
Mazda
That said, the 2026 year-to-date lead for the CX-5 is slim. Through September 2026, the longtime CX-5 sales leader sold 95,762 units stateside. The CX-50 reached 95,351. That leaves just 411 vehicles separating the established favorite from its younger stablemate. The CX-5 still remains ahead, but its lead is marginal. So, what happened over the course of just a short period of time?
The Introduction of the CX-50 Hybrid
Kyle Edward
The CX-50 offers something the new CX-5 still lacks: a hybrid buyers can purchase now. Its available powertrain combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, three electric motors, an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, and electric all-wheel drive. Combined output is 219 horsepower, with an EPA-estimated 38 mpg combined. The CX-50 Hybrid starts at $34,750 before destination. While that’s more than the $29,990 MSRP for the 2027 CX-5, the fuel efficiency factor weighs in heavily.
The CX-5 gets one engine choice, and it’s not even a turbo. The 187-horsepower 2.5-liter gasoline engine and six-speed automatic show up in ever CX-5 trim level, from the base 2.5 S to the $38,990 2.5 S Premium Plus. Mazda says additional powertrain options will be announced in 2027, but the gas-only mill is the only one customers can get now.
Mazda
When competitors like the Toyota RAV4 are hybrid only, and the Honda CR-V has hybrid variant, the CX-5 without a hybrid offering is a missed opportunity. Would it have been so difficult for the brand to use the same Toyota RAV4 hybrid powertrain that’s in the CX-50 Hybrid for the new CX-5? We think not.
But this isn’t simply a story about buyers rejecting the redesigned CX-5. The sales figures cover each nameplate’s total deliveries, not a clean comparison between two specific model years. They also don’t identify why individual customers made their decisions. Still, the product differences explain why the CX-50 has become such a formidable alternative.
The CX-50 Gives Buyers More Powertrain Choices
As successful as the CX-50 Hybrid has been, it’s not just fuel misers who want the CX-50. The CX-50 offers more than just one gas engine, in addition to the Hybrid. Its lineup includes a potent turbo engine with up to 256 horsepower. The new CX-5 gets no turbocharged option. This means shoppers can choose based on purchase price, stronger performance, or efficiency in a single model line.
Jared Rosenholtz/Autoblog
The new CX-5’s single available engine makes its lineup simpler, but also quite limiting. You might love the new CX-5’s styling (who doesn’t?), but you can opt for better fuel efficiency or a more spirited driving experience. The CX-50’s big advantage is less about any single specification than its sheer number of choices. The CX-5 offers just three trim choices. The CX-50 has nine, between the gas and hybrid variants.
The CX-5’s Screen Dominant Controls Don’t Help
Cole Attisha
Mazda has long been known for providing some of the best physical controls in the industry. Coupled with stunning design and upscale materials, Mazda’s generally look and feel more premium than similarly priced competitors. The last CX-5 was one of the best. All that (and more) has changed with the redesign. Mazda gave the new CX-5 an upsized infotainment display, even on its lower trim models. The old one was 10.25″, and the 2026 CX-5 gets 12.9″ or an upgraded 15.6″.
Cole Attisha
While that, alone, isn’t big news, Mazda has ditched its lauded climate control and audio knobs. Even the center console-mounted Commander control knob is gone. The adjustments have to be made on screen for climate, and much of it requires menu diving. You can make audio adjustments on the steering wheel, but those controls are no longer separated switches and buttons, so they’re challenging to use, as well.
James Riswick
The CX-50, however, remains largely analog. This makes it easier to operate while driving, and true to how Mazda has done things so well for so long. When I tested the new CX-5, I found it frustrating to use, and the interface is far from intuititve. Those who are loyal to Mazda might find it difficult to migrate to a screen-only CX-5. The change is stark, and the brand still has some gremlins in the software to work out.
Final Thoughts
The CX-50 is winning momentum, not yet the overall sales crown. Its broader powertrain selection, available hybrid, distinct positioning, and competitive starting price give buyers more reasons to consider it. The CX-5 still has substantial demand. What it no longer has is an uncontested place at the top of Mazda’s compact SUV lineup.
About the author
Amos Kwon
Contributing Writer, Autoblog