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What Are the Most Underrated Features on the Mazda CX-50?

· 6 min read
Mazda CX-50

The Mazda CX-50 turns heads with its wide stance and outdoorsy styling, but the features that win owners over are the ones nobody mentions on the showroom floor. After a few weeks of driving, most CX-50 owners discover details that make daily life along the Grand Strand easier, from beach-day hauling to summer traffic on Highway 17.


At Beach Mazda in Myrtle Beach, our team knows the CX-50 inside and out, and these are the details that rarely make it into the brochure headlines. Here are eight underrated Mazda CX-50 features worth knowing before your test drive.

8 Underrated Mazda CX-50 Features

This SUV offers many compelling features you may not know of: 

1. Roof Rails Built to Carry Real Gear

The CX-50's roof rails aren't just decorative trim. Mazda engineered the CX-50 with high-strength roof rails plus reinforced B-pillars and door jambs, so the roof is ready for kayak carriers, surfboard racks, cargo boxes, and even rooftop platforms. That's a big deal if your weekends involve paddling Murrells Inlet or hauling boards to Surfside Beach. Always check the load limits in your owner's manual before loading up.

2. Mi-Drive Off-Road Mode and Real Ground Clearance

Every CX-50 comes with standard all-wheel drive, and the Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) switch lets you swap between Normal, Sport, and Off-Road modes. Off-Road mode adjusts the AWD system for loose surfaces like sandy access roads, gravel boat landings, and muddy trailheads. Pair that with 8.3 to 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and the SUV handles washed-out parking lots after a summer storm with ease.

3. A Towing Mode That Only Appears When You Need It

CX-50 Turbo models can tow up to 3,500 pounds, enough for a small boat, jet skis, or a pop-up camper. The underrated part is Towing mode, a dedicated Mi-Drive setting that only becomes selectable once a trailer is connected. It tunes the vehicle's behavior for trailer work, so launching at the boat ramp feels more controlled.

4. Mazda's First Panoramic Moonroof

The CX-50 debuted Mazda's first-ever panoramic moonroof, and it changes the feel of the whole cabin. Back-seat passengers get a sky view too, which makes coastal drives and sunset cruises down Ocean Boulevard feel a lot more open.

5. A Hybrid That Shines in Stop-and-Go Traffic

The CX-50 Hybrid is EPA-rated at 39 mpg city, 37 highway, and 38 combined, with 219 horsepower and standard AWD. Notice that the city number beats the highway. That makes the hybrid a smart fit for summer tourist traffic on Kings Highway and Highway 17, where gas engines waste the most fuel. For 2026, Hybrid trims also gained standard parking sensors and rear seat heaters. Learn more on our 2026 CX-50 Hybrid page.

6. Cylinder Deactivation on the Standard Engine

The standard Skyactiv-G 2.5 engine (187 hp) uses cylinder deactivation, shutting down two cylinders during light-load cruising to save fuel. You'll never feel it happen, but you'll notice it on long, steady highway runs to Wilmington or Florence.

7. Alexa Built-in and Wireless Phone Integration

Many drivers don't realize the CX-50 offers Alexa Built-in, so you can use voice commands for music, smart-home controls, and more without touching your phone. It also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and multiple USB-C ports. Available remote start lets you cool the cabin before you leave the beach on a 95-degree July afternoon.

8. Standard Safety Tech That Takes the Stress Out of Traffic

Every 2026 CX-50 includes Mazda's i-Activsense safety suite, including blind spot monitoring, Lane Keep Assist, and Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go. That last one manages the following distance in crawling traffic, which is a real help during peak season on the Grand Strand. The 2025 CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid also earned an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.

Which CX-50 Is Right for You?

The 2026 Mazda CX-50 comes in three powertrain families, and the best one depends on how you drive.



Powertrain

Trims

Output

Skyactiv-G 2.5

S Select, S Preferred, Meridian Edition, Premium

187 hp

Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo

Turbo, Turbo Meridian Edition, Turbo Premium Plus

256 hp, 320 lb-ft; tows up to 3,500 lbs

Hybrid

Hybrid Preferred, Hybrid Premium, Hybrid Premium Plus

219 hp; 38 mpg combined


Compare equipment trim by trim on our Mazda CX-50 trim levels page, or see how it stacks up against its sibling in our Mazda CX-5 vs. CX-50 comparison.

Mazda CX-50 FAQs

Yes. Every 2026 CX-50 comes with standard all-wheel drive. Gas models use i-Activ AWD, and the Hybrid model uses an electronic AWD system.
CX-50 Turbo models can tow up to 3,500 pounds using Towing mode. The CX-50 Hybrid is rated for up to 1,500 pounds when properly equipped.
The 2026 CX-50 Hybrid is EPA-rated at 39 mpg city, 37 mpg highway, and 38 mpg combined.
Gas models offer 31.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Hybrid offers 29.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the same 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded.
The CX-50 was designed for roof-mounted gear, with high-strength roof rails and reinforced B-pillars and door jambs. Check your owner's manual for load limits, and ask our parts team about genuine Mazda roof accessories.

Test Drive the Mazda CX-50 at Beach Mazda in Myrtle Beach

The best way to discover these features is to experience them yourself. Beach Mazda has been serving the Myrtle Beach area since 1995, and our non-commissioned sales team lets you explore at your own pace. We also back every purchase with our $1,000 Low Price Guarantee. Browse our CX-50 inventory, schedule a test drive, or stop by 851 Jason Blvd in Myrtle Beach. We proudly serve drivers from Conway, Carolina Forest, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, Georgetown, Florence, and Wilmington. Call our sales team at 843-279-2305 to get started.


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