The 2024 Mazda CX-50 is a stylish and well-equipped compact SUV. It offers a vast range of technological and safety features, along with various creature comforts in its cabin. However, it faces competition from many contenders, including the 2024 Subaru Outback.
Let us help you pick your next compact SUV with a Mazda vs Subaru comparison. We'll pit the 2024 CX-50 against the 2024 Outback across three crucial areas. Firstly, we'll check out each vehicle's interior amenities. We’ll also compare their performance capabilities. Finally, we'll see which model offers better safety features. Then, we can recommend the best compact SUV.
You can also explore the 2024 CX-50 range at Mazda of Port Charlotte. Contact our sales team for more information. They'll also explain each trim level and available Mazda offers in Port Charlotte, FL.
The 2024 Mazda CX-50 and the 2024 Subaru Outback offer two rows of seating. Hence, they can accommodate up to five adults in comfort. These vehicles also provide split-folding rear seatbacks that increase their cargo capacity. Doing this in the 2024 CX-50 gives you up to 56 cubic feet of space. Furthermore, the 2024 CX-50 has a remote fold-down feature for all trims. Higher trims can be specified with a power-operated rear liftgate for added convenience.
The 2024 CX-50 comes with a power-adjustable driver’s seat for all trims except the lowest one. Higher trims add power adjustment to the passenger seat, too, as well as heating and ventilation for both front seats. It also has dual-zone climate control available. The Outback, on the other hand, offers slightly more head and legroom, but its interior is lower quality than the CX-50's, which makes the driver and passengers feel like they’re wrapped in a luxury vehicle (without the luxury price tag).
Lower trims come with black leatherette upholstery. Higher trims get black or terracotta leather. Furthermore, all trims have a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift knob.
Both compact SUVs include standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ regardless of trim selection. MX-50 also offers Bluetooth® hands-free and wireless audio compatibility, while Apple CarPlay must be connected via a USB port for the Outback. The 2024 CX-50 also comes with dual USB charging ports for front and rear-seat occupants. Higher trims can be upgraded with a Bose sound system and a wireless phone charger. The Outback comes standard with two separate vertically stacked 7-inch touchscreens, while the CX-50 offers a 10.5-inch touchscreen as part of its standard package. Having a single touchscreen makes the Mazda simpler to operate, and its intuitive system is simple to navigate.
The 2024 Mazda CX-50 uses a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine for all trims. Lower trims receive it in naturally aspirated form, where it makes 187 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims get a turbocharged variant of the engine. Here, it can deliver 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque when fed with 87-octane regular pump gas. Choosing 93-octane premium gas increases outputs to 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque.
The 2024 CX-50 range gets Mazda’s i-ACTIV all-wheel drive system as standard. The system enables real-time monitoring that can dynamically send torque to wheels with the best traction conditions. All trims also have a 6-speed automatic gearbox with manual shifting capabilities. Some trims include steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for a sportier driving experience. Furthermore, the 2024 CX-50 can tow up to 3,500 pounds. It comes with a 187 horsepower engine as standard equipment, with the ability to upgrade to a 256-hp engine.
The Outback offers a 182 horsepower engine that provides 176 lb-ft of torque, compared to the CX-50’s standard 186 lb-ft of torque. The base model, it can only tow 2,700 pounds.
Mazda endows the 2024 CX-50 range with plenty of standard safety features. All trim levels have automatic emergency braking, a driver attention monitor, and a blind spot monitoring system. Mazda's radar-guided cruise control with stop-go functionality is also standard. Then, buyers get lane departure warnings, lane-keeping assistance, and rear cross-traffic alerts. Higher trims also get a 360-degree camera system and front cross-traffic alerts.
The Outback offers a strong slate of safety features, but lacks standard blind spot monitoring or a driver attention alert. Both of these are options for the Outback, while they are standard equipment on the Mazda CX-50.
The results of our compact SUV comparison are in, and the 2024 Mazda CX-50 takes the win. It has a luxurious and well-equipped cabin, while its powertrain is smoother and more capable than that of the 2024 Outback. Plus, it offers more standard safety features than the Outback.
So why not test-drive a 2024 CX-50 and see what it’s all about? Visit Mazda of Port Charlotte in Port Charlotte, FL, and we’ll put you behind the wheel.