Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vs Mazda CX-50

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a bold new design that set it apart from its predecessors. With sharp, angular cues across the fascia and down its sides, the Tucson was longer and wider, making it unmistakable from the 2021 model. The grille, blending seamlessly with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, provided a dramatic, futuristic look, especially in the top-tier Limited trim with its dark chrome finish. The interior was spacious and airy, featuring heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat in the base Blue trim. The SEL Convenience trim added a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, while the Limited trim upgraded to 64-color ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, and memory for the driver’s seat.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50, with its blunt nose, long hood, and rakish windshield, exhibited a rugged yet seductive design. The exterior featured blistered and boxed fender swells, oversized air intake and vent designs, and fake front and rear skid plates. The standard black grille and mirror caps, along with available 20-inch wheels, added to its appeal. The interior, dressed in black leather with caramel-colored accent stitching, displayed Mazda’s traditional mix of driver-focused design, quality materials, and polished metallic trim. The vertical air vents surrounding the instrument cluster and the lone off-center vent in the middle of the dash were notable design elements. Overall, the CX-50 was a good-looking compact crossover, both inside and out.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its 1.6-liter turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined 226 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive system and six-speed automatic transmission provided responsive and direct steering. The suspension was outstanding, soaking up road imperfections while keeping the vehicle balanced through corners. The Tucson Hybrid achieved an EPA rating of 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined, with the Blue trim level rated at 38 mpg across the board. During testing, it averaged 36.5 mpg. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even better efficiency with an EPA rating of 80 MPGe and 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged version delivering up to 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The standard powertrain returned an estimated 27 mpg in combined driving, while the turbo variant averaged 23.4 mpg. The CX-50 Turbo provided smooth acceleration with minimal turbo lag and a broad power curve. The SUV featured Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, though the differences between them were subtle. The CX-50 felt firm in terms of ride quality and exhibited a hint of torque steer during tight turns. With up to 8.6 inches of ground clearance, it was capable of handling off-road situations, though it lacked a downhill assist control system.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid offered impressive cargo space with 38.8 cubic feet in the trunk and 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. It provided over 41 inches of front and rear legroom, and the rear seats reclined for added comfort. The cargo floor had a dual-level system, and the doors featured angled bottle holders. The front seats had two cupholders in the center console, and the rear seat had a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders. The Limited trim’s ambient lighting system added flair to the cabin.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 featured power-adjustable heated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and heated windshield wipers. The ventilated front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control effectively chilled the cabin. The driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat were comfortable for long drives, though they could use more side bolstering. The back seat was roomy enough for adults, and nearly all trims included rear air vents and charging ports. The rear doors opened to nearly a 90-degree angle, making entry and exit easier. The CX-50 offered 31.4 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 56.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The load floor was long but narrow between the wheel wells, with side bins and hooks for securing items.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim, though it only utilized about 8 inches when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were frustrating to use, but steering-wheel controls helped mitigate this issue. The Tucson provided plenty of USB ports, including two for rear-seat passengers, and the Limited trim had a Bose premium stereo.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 came with a Mazda Connect infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Mazda Connected Services. The base 2.5 S had an 8.8-inch display, while other trims included a larger 10.25-inch display. Mazda Connect historically lacked touchscreen control, but the CX-50 allowed touchscreen use for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The available 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint surround-sound system delivered a satisfying audio experience. The Active Driving Display (HUD) provided useful data within the driver’s line of sight, including blind-spot warnings.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The Tucson received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 was expected to perform well in safety tests, similar to other Mazda models. It offered a generous standard package of driving assistance systems, with additional features available on the CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. These included Traffic Jam Assist, active blind-spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors with reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The adaptive cruise control occasionally failed to recognize slower vehicles cutting into the gap ahead, requiring manual braking to avoid a collision.