Mazda CX-50: Australia an outside chance, still no timing for right-hand-drive

UPDATE: Mazda Australia’s desire to add the CX-50 to local showrooms is as strong as ever with the brand reaffirming the rugged mid-size SUV is still firmly on its wish list.

Top brass from Mazda’s local division has confirmed their hand is still raised with company HQ to import the CX-50 if the new SUV is given the green light for right-hand-drive production.

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Currently, the CX-50 is left-hand-drive only and is built for the American and Canadian markets at a manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama, that’s jointly run by Mazda and Toyota. That means it’s currently off the table for Australia.

If it was to become available, the CX-50 would complement the CX-5 and incoming CX-60 in Mazda Australia’s mid-size SUV line-up. Exactly when that might happen, though, is unclear.

“No, no movement,” replied Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi when asked if there was any progress in securing production. “It’s still on the wish list, though.”

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November 16, 2021: Mazda CX-50 revealed

The new 2022 Mazda CX-50 has been unveiled today, and… so much for our speculative renderings. Where we imagined a sleek, road-focused and coupe-like design, Mazda has turned to a more rugged and muscled look.

Mazda confirmed the CX-50 in October, alongside news of new CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 nameplates bound for the global stage.

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So we’re missing out for now, but what does North America get?

The CX-50 revealed today showcases a wider body design, with surprisingly boxy guards and a host of protective cladding elements along its wheel arches and lower edges.

Other evolved styling elements include a new lighting signature with two LED rings in place of Mazda’s usual one, along with wide outboard intakes and vents at both ends.

The interior likewise brings significant styling changes, with a taller and more masculine look to the dashboard and vents – although the air-conditioning controls, centre console and steering wheel are all familiar Mazda fare.

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The CX-50 will be offered with Mazda’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engines in both naturally-aspirated (non-turbo) and turbocharged designs, with other “electrified” options to debut later, “including a traditional hybrid model”.

Output numbers reveal no surprises, with the N/A engine offering 139kW and 252Nm, while the turbo engine will deliver 186kW and 434Nm.

Likewise, Mazda’s ageing six-speed automatic transmission remains the only shifter on offer, matched to its i-Activ all-wheel-drive and ‘Intelligent Drive Select’ systems – the latter referred to as Mi-Drive.

Unlike the CX-30, which debuted in early 2020 as a bigger Mazda 3-based companion to the compact CX-3, the CX-50 is being presented – at least in these initial marketing shots – as a family-oriented SUV will light off-road capability.

Off-roading in the CX-50 will be limited to fairly lightweight touring, with US-market research suggesting most road-tripping buyers will do less than 30 kilometres of driving on unsealed roads on any holiday journey.

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“Compromising all of that on-road driving, just for a little bit of improvement off-road doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” said Dave Coleman, Mazda North America’s vehicle dynamics boss, during the CX-50’s reveal event.

“Especially if you’re Mazda, with our expertise on-road. So we resolved to get the best off-road performance that we could without making any compromises in on-road driving.”

The company has not offered deep mechanical detail at this stage, but it has confirmed the CX-50’s handling of unsealed roads will come through drive mode calibration, essentially using software smarts to manage traction.

Unlike many new ‘soft-roader’ offerings, Mazda is sticking with a simple ‘off-road’ mode, eschewing the slew of options that often include modes for snow, sand and gravel. Mazda says these options do little more than confuse drivers in this market segment – although it did not confirm if this conclusion was the result of buyer research.

When will we see the CX-60?

Reveal timing for the CX-60 has not been confirmed, but we would expect to see it sometime after the new-generation, rear-wheel-drive Mazda 6 debuts in the first half of 2022.