Mazda CX-50: not a clone of Toyota Corolla Cross, but a full-fledged competitor to Subaru
Mazda has unveiled a new compact crossover CX-50 for the North American market with brutal aesthetics, an emphasis on adventure and standard all-wheel drive.
In September of this year, at the same time as the premiere of the updated CX-5 crossover, Mazda announced a new marketing strategy for the US market: now all Mazda crossovers in this region will have all-wheel drive as standard. Thus, Mazda wants to enter the territory of Subaru, which, with a more compact lineup, sells more vehicles in the United States, with 292,732 and 499,619 vehicles sold respectively from January to October this year. Now Mazda is not only an exquisite prize, but also masculinity, a spirit of adventure, a willingness to get dirty on rough terrain: in the debut photo shoot of the Mazda CX-50 crossover, there is not a single shot on the pavement!
The CX-50 is the first of five new Mazda crossovers announced in October, three of which are primarily targeted at North America (US and Canada). Production of the Mazda CX-50 will begin in January 2022 at a joint plant with Toyota launched this year in Huntsville, Alabama, the same plant that has already dominated production of the American version of the Toyota Corolla Cross. We, like many colleagues in the American media, thought that the Mazda CX-50 would be a clone of the Toyota Corolla Cross, but in fact it turned out that these two models had little in common. Carscoops magazine, citing a Mazda spokesperson, reports that the CX-50 and Corolla Cross have different platforms and key components.
As part of the first virtual correspondence form, Mazda did not publish the technical specifications and dimensions of the CX-50, so it is difficult to objectively assess its relationship with the Corolla Cross. The proportions of these crossovers seem normal, the doors are very similar, but the A-pillars are still different. If the dimensions of the CX-50 are about the same as those of the Corolla Cross (total length 4460 mm, wheelbase 2640 mm), then we have a direct competitor to the Subaru XV / Crosstrek (total length 4465 mm, wheelbase 2670 mm), which will be occupied by Mazda Training located between the CX-30 and CX-5 crossovers.
Is the niche too narrow? The CX-30, CX-50 and CX-5 are too close in consumption quality, especially since the engines for the CX-50 are advertised as being the same as those of the CX-30 and CX-5, namely the 2.5-litre petrol ” quattro” Skyactiv-G in atmospheric and supercharged versions in combination with a 6-speed hydromechanical “automatic”? In terms of performance, the three models are likely to be very close, but the CX-50 is more off-road oriented, and this is emphasized by its exterior with a plump, unpainted plastic perimeter kit and an optional Expedition roof rack. Also, let's not forget that in the next generation Mazda CX-5 (expected in 2023), the platform will change from “transverse” to “longitudinal”, that is, in terms of size and price, it will move away from the CX-30 and CX. -fifty.
While there are no details about the i-Activ all-wheel drive system of the CX-50 crossover, we believe that it is fundamentally no different from the Corolla Cross system. Recall that specifically for the American market, the Toyota crossover was equipped with a mechanical all-wheel drive with a rear axle PTO, while in Japan, the Corolla Cross has an E-Four hybrid all-wheel drive with an electric motor on the rear axle, i.e. the engine and gearbox are not mechanically connected to the rear wheels. Mazda promises that the CX-50 will later have a hybrid modification, but again without details.
The interior of the Mazda CX-50 looks tighter and more expensive than that of the Toyota Corolla Cross: the narrow multimedia screen does not dominate the front panel, but is pushed forward towards the windshield. The central air ducts are spaced apart, creating a feeling of emptiness “in the most obvious place” – a bold and stunning design decision by today's standards. The three-dial instrument cluster is an example of healthy conservatism, even if the centrally located speedometer is still painted.
Mazda CX-50 prices and specifications have not yet been announced. In addition, it is not yet known whether this crossover will be offered outside of North America.
