Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-50 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Alfa Romeo Tonale doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The Mazda CX-50 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Tonale doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The CX-50 has standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Tonale doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the CX-50 and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Tonale’s Rear Cross-Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-50 and the Tonale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-50 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Tonale has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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

There are over 4 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-50’s reliability 35 points higher than the Tonale.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-50 2.5 4-cylinder Hybrid CVT gets better fuel mileage than the Tonale running its gasoline engine (39 city/37 hwy vs. 29 city/29 hwy).

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

The CX-50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (14.5 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-50’s standard fuel tank has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (15.9 vs. 11.2 gallons).

The CX-50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Tonale doesn’t offer a CVT.

The CX-50 stops shorter than the Tonale:

For better traction, the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tonale (245/45R20 vs. 235/45R19).

The CX-50 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Tonale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 7 inches longer than on the Tonale (110.8 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Tonale.

The CX-50 handles at .87 G’s, while the Tonale Veloce pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-50 Hybrid’s turning circle is 2.5 feet tighter than the Tonale’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The CX-50’s turning circle is 1.9 feet tighter than the Tonale’s (36 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 Hybrid Preferred has a 2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tonale (7.6 vs. 5.6 inches), allowing the CX-50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The CX-50 2.5 S Premium Plus’ minimum ground clearance is 3 inches higher than on the Tonale (8.6 vs. 5.6 inches).

The Mazda CX-50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 400 pounds less than the Alfa Romeo Tonale.

The CX-50 has .3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear legroom than the Tonale.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Tonale with its rear seat up (31.4 vs. 22.9 cubic feet). The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Maximum trailer towing in the Alfa Romeo Tonale is limited to 2000 pounds. The CX-50 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Tonale doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

When the CX-50 Turbo is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Tonale’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Mazda CX-50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Alfa Romeo Tonale isn't recommended.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by over 21 to one during 2023.