2024 Mazda CX-50 Meridian Amplifies the All-Terrain Aesthetic

A New Wave of Soft Roaders

Today’s crossover SUV market spans as far as the ice cream aisle at a grocery store. There is so much variety, sharing the same core goal of satisfying our consumer need to enjoy a frozen treat. Variants like the 2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Meridian fall into a niche subcategory of compact SUVs with rugged trim levels designed to provide a weekend’s worth of off-road capability. Featuring all-wheel drive as standard with jagged all-terrain tires and some adventuring accessories like undercarriage skid plates, a heavy-duty roof rack, or a snazzier paint scheme. It’s gotten to the point where these vehicles are categorized as “soft roaders.” 

I understand why fellow car geeks refer to the CX-50 as a soft-roader. Even though it offers 8.6 inches of ground clearance, the car’s demeanor does not inspire a desire to blaze a trail in wild terrain. It’s a boy scout wearing military fatigues. Its rugged appearance feels more suited for a mindset that buys Red Wing boots and Carhartt jackets for fashion rather than function, which is perfectly fine.

AWD with Your Choice of Turbo or Non-Turbo

The Mazda CX-50 offers eight trim levels with standard all-wheel drive. These trim classes are evenly split between non-turbo and turbocharged variants of the 2.5L four-cylinder engine. The naturally aspirated models produce 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and the turbocharged models get a power boost making 256 horsepower and a brawny 320 pound-feet of torque (with 93 octane fuel). If you burn 87 octane gasoline the performance figures drop to 227 hp and 310 lb.-ft.

Opting for the turbocharged engine also increases the max towing capacity from 2,000 to 3,500 pounds. However, regardless of trim level, every CX-50 model uses a six-speed automatic transmission. Driving impressions speak to Mazda’s reputation for engaging handling, and the turbo-aided engine will quench your thirst for dynamic trills when you put your foot down. 

CX-50 Styling Includes Eye lashes

Mazda’s current lineup of SUVs follows a Russian nesting doll pattern in size and styling. However, the CX-50 Meridian Edition could be seen as the family’s black sheep thanks to its rugged approach to exterior styling with matte black hood graphics, 18-inch matte alloy wheels and black cladding around the fenders and rocker panels. These dark accents contrast aesthetically with the Zircon Sand Metallic exterior color ($450). One design detail I find particularly charming is the texture lines in the headlight’s housing that give the appearance of eyelashes dripping with mascara. 

The interior of this CX-50 Turbo Meridian features a delightful Terracotta design that will impress anyone who steps inside. Moreover, the seats manage to retain their upscale look and comfortable feel as you ease into them. Folding the rear seats down gives you a better view of the CX-50’s wagon-like cargo space with plenty of real estate to fill when you visit Costco, the beach, or a regional state park. 

I appreciate that in this day and age of trying to reinvent the wheel to claim contemporary design, Mazda gives you a straightforward, down-and-up, PRNDL-style automatic shift lever. Everything inside the CX-50 feels well put together with a sense of lightness, from the velvet smooth but responsive steering to the dense clicking sensation of its toggle switches and buttons. 

Fuel economy is less than I expected from a four-pot, subcompact SUV with an average of 25 mpg (23 city and 29 highway). It’s not exactly a fuel sipper and has a taste for premium fuel. Moreover, the optional roof platform ($899), which goes over the roof’s cross bars, certainly doesn’t help conserve fuel aerodynamically and makes an annoyingly hard to ignore wind noise at highway speeds. 

Nitpicking the Mazda CX-50 Turbo

However, the seat belt warning alert system is my biggest pet peeve with the CX-50 and all current Mazda vehicles. When I sit in the driver seat, I start the car first before settling into the seat and then fasten my seat belt. But in a modern Mazda, you better click it before hitting the ignition button or you’ll be greeted with an ear-pinching dinging from the dashboard demanding that you put on your seat belt with an intensity in decibels that can trigger irritability before you shift into drive. 

A Well Styled Soft Roader

Nevertheless, the CX-50 Turbo is a well-styled crossover with beauty sewn into its details. The Meridian Edition is an all-terrain glamor package meant to enhance character of the crossover. Its capability is more than enough the handle the rain soaked highways, muddy trails, and seasonal weather. However, its perfectly fine to stay in the city.

Engine: Turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder

Transmission: 6-speed automatic

0 to 60: 7.2 seconds

Starting Price: $30,300 (Select)

Price as Shown: $43,860 (Meridian Edition)