Compare the2025 Mazda CX-50VS 2025 Lexus UX

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-50 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lexus UX has not been tested.

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

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 UX 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.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-50 is much safer than the UX:

The Mazda CX-50 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The UX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

There are over 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-50’s warranty.

The CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 33 lbs.-ft. more torque (185 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 23 more horsepower (219 vs. 196) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (163 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The CX-50’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (256 vs. 196) and 168 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 152) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-50 is faster than the Lexus UX:

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 UX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the CX-50 Turbo/Hybrid and the UX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All CX-50 Turbo/Hybrids have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The CX-50 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (14.5 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The CX-50’s standard fuel tank has 5.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (15.9 vs. 10.6 gallons).

For better stopping power the CX-50’s brake rotors are larger than those on the UX:

The CX-50 stops much shorter than the UX:

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

The CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the UX’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo has standard 20-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

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 UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-50’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the UX (110.8 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the CX-50 is 4.2 inches wider in the front and 4.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the UX.

The CX-50 handles at .87 G’s, while the UX 300h F Sport Handling pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the UX AWD (26.8 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-50 Hybrid Preferred has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the UX (7.6 vs. 6.3 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 2.3 inches higher than on the UX (8.6 vs. 6.3 inches).

The CX-50 has 9.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (100.3 vs. 90.4).

The CX-50 has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.3 inches more rear headroom, 6.7 inches more rear legroom and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

The CX-50 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (31.4 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

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

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

The CX-50 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The UX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The CX-50’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The UX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the CX-50’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the UX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The UX F Sport’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.

Both the CX-50 and the UX 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 UX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-50 and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-50 outsold the Lexus UX by almost 9 to one during 2024.