Which is cheaper, the 2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred or the Hybrid Preferred?

The 2.5 S Preferred, by $2,350 in starting price: $32,400 to the Hybrid Preferred's $34,750.

2026 Mazda CX-50 · Trim vs trim

2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred vs Hybrid Preferred: what's the difference?

Q: 2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred vs Hybrid Preferred: what's the difference?

The Hybrid Preferred costs $2,350 more. Live Mazda list prices checked October 17, 2026; exclude $1,595 destination ($1,640 Alaska), taxes and fees. Hybrid Premium Plus is $40,450 in the live configurator, versus $40,150 in the launch release. White leatherette on Preferred is $0 live; white leather on eligible trims is $200. It starts at $34,750 with the 2.5L Hybrid, and the 2.5 S Preferred at $32,400 with the 2.5L. The Hybrid Preferred adds a hybrid powertrain and a rear motor. It also changes the rear axle. It gets 38 combined mpg, 12 more than the 2.5 S Preferred's 26. It makes 219 hp, 32 more than the 2.5 S Preferred's 187.

The Hybrid Preferred costs $2,350 more. Live Mazda list prices checked October 17, 2026; exclude $1,595 ($1,640 Alaska), taxes and fees. Premium Plus is $40,450 in the live , versus $40,150 in the launch release. White leatherette on Preferred is $0 live; white leather on eligible is $200. It starts at $34,750 with the 2.5L Hybrid, and the 2.5 S Preferred at $32,400 with the 2.5L. The Hybrid Preferred adds a hybrid powertrain and a rear motor. It also changes the . It gets 38 , 12 more than the 2.5 S Preferred's 26. It makes 219 , 32 more than the 2.5 S Preferred's 187.

Our CX-50 data has all ten US 2026 CX-50 trims across , and conventional Hybrid , 17/18/19/20-inch wheels and the White Interior Option on four gas trims. It doesn't have other , finishes, , cargo measurements and towing load calculations yet, so something missing from this page may still be offered.

2.5 S Preferred$32,400

Hybrid Preferred$34,750

What changes, as they come

Numbers
What	2.5 S Preferred	Hybrid Preferred
Horsepower	2.5 S Preferred187 hp	Hybrid Preferred219 hp
Combined mpg	2.5 S Preferred26 mpg	Hybrid Preferred38 mpg
City mpg	2.5 S Preferred24 mpg	Hybrid Preferred39 mpg
Highway mpg	2.5 S Preferred30 mpg	Hybrid Preferred37 mpg
Cargo behind rear seats	2.5 S Preferred31.4 cu ft	Hybrid Preferred29.2 cu ft
Ground clearance	2.5 S Preferred8.3″	Hybrid Preferred7.8″

Parts
What	2.5 S Preferred	Hybrid Preferred
Engine	2.5 S PreferredSkyactiv-G 2.5L four-cylinder	Hybrid Preferred2.5L hybrid gasoline engine
Transmission	2.5 S PreferredSkyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic	Hybrid PreferredHybrid electronically controlled continuously variable transaxle
Rear axle	2.5 S Preferredi-Activ AWD mechanical rear drive	Hybrid PreferredElectric AWD rear axle
Rear motor	2.5 S PreferredNone	Hybrid PreferredIndependent rear electric traction motor

Equipment
What	2.5 S Preferred	Hybrid Preferred
Mi-Drive Sport and Off-road modes	2.5 S PreferredYes	Hybrid PreferredNot included
Hybrid rear electric drive; no mechanical driveshaft	2.5 S PreferredNot included	Hybrid PreferredYes
Mi-Drive Power and Trail modes	2.5 S PreferredNot included	Hybrid PreferredYes

Build your own

Switch to the 2.5 S Preferred in the trim list to see what goes away, or add to either and watch the drawing change.

The Hybrid Preferred, as it comes

↑ The answer

Hybrid Preferred

$34,750

Hybrid Preferred

$34,750

MPG: mpg; ·
Power: hp; ·
Cargo: ft³; ·
Clearance: ″; ·

Combined mpg: mpg; 39 city · 37 hwy
Horsepower: hp; Hybrid system total
Cargo space: ft³; Behind second row
Ground clearance: ″; Unladen · published
Curb weight: lb; Published powertrain-group figure

Has AWD
Has Hybrid
Has Panoramic roof
Has Heated seats
No Ventilated seats
No Bose
No 360° camera
No Meridian

Build

Mi-Drive

Situation

Electric AWD · Normal

Rear motor helps

Electric AWD can respond to lost front traction by powering the rear wheels independently. The front wheels may still slip; rear assistance does not guarantee grip or motion. There is no mechanical driveshaft between axles.

How this works

Gas and Turbo use mechanical rear drive. Hybrid uses a separate rear electric motor and has 219 hp combined system output. These motor peaks cannot be added together. No fixed torque split, axle lockers or low range. Meridian tires do not change the drive architecture.

Illustrative wheel states, not a traction test. Towing mode needs the correct Turbo towing accessories and is outside this demonstration. No FWD variant is offered.

Choose a trim

Packages & options

What your options change

This is a stock Hybrid Preferred. Pick a package and every part it swaps shows up here, and in orange on the SUV.

Has AWD
Has Hybrid
Has Panoramic roof
Has Heated seats
No Ventilated seats
No Bose
No 360° camera
No Meridian

Drive: Electric AWD
Transmission: Hybrid e-CVT
City / hwy: 39 / 37 mpg
Cargo, folded: 56.3 cu ft
Rear legroom: 37.8″
Tires: 225/65R17
Terrain: All-season
Touchscreen: 10.25″ · wireless phone mirroring
Instruments: 7″ TFT display
Seats: half leatherette seats
Audio: 8-speaker audio
Moonroof: Power panoramic
Heated wheel: Not equipped
Tow rating: 1,500 lb · properly equipped
Mi-Drive: Normal / Power / Trail
Towing mode: Not modeled / not fitted

Open this build in the full CX-50 guide →

2026 Mazda CX-50 2.5 S Preferred vs Hybrid Preferred: what's the difference?

What changes, as they come

More CX-50 answers

Build your own

Hybrid Preferred

Hybrid Preferred

Choose a trim

Packages & options

What your options change

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