Compare the2023 Mazda CX-50VS 2022 BMW X2

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X2 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Smart Brake Support-Reverse that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The X2 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-50. But it costs extra on the X2.

The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has a standard 360° Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The X2 only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The CX-50 has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the X2’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-50 has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the X2.

The CX-50’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The X2 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-50 and the X2 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-50 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X2. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X2 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 54 percent more Mazda dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, BMW is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 12th.

The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (256 vs. 228) and 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 258) than the X2’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder gets better fuel mileage than the X2 M35i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder xDrive (24 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-50 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The X2 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mazda CX-50 higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the BMW X2 (3 to 7). This means the CX-50 produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X2 every 15,000 miles.

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X2 (245/45R20 vs. 225/50R18).

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the X2 (110.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X2.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the X2’s (36 feet vs. 37.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the X2 (8.3 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 Premium/Turbo’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the X2 (8.6 vs. 7.2 inches).

The CX-50 has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X2 (100.3 vs. 94.1).

The CX-50 has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom and 3.1 inches more rear legroom than the X2.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X2 with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 21.6 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X2 with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 50.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the CX-50 Select/Preferred/Premium/Turbo’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The X2 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The CX-50 has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The X2 has no towing capacity.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-50 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X2 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The X2’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-50 Turbo’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-50 has standard extendable sun visors. The X2 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Both the CX-50 and the X2 offer available heated front seats. The CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the X2.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The X2 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.