The 2023 Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition Tries On an Outdoorsy Theme
Zoom-zoom? Try dirt-dirt, because Mazda is billing this CX-50 variant as "rugged and capable."
Chances are that when most people hear the phrase "rugged off-road SUV," they aren't thinking of anything offered by Mazda. One glance at the automaker's line up and there isn't a single model that screams "take me off the beaten path;" instead there are a host of stylish, fun-to-drive cars and crossovers aimed squarely at paved-road use. Considering that Mazda has spent the last few generations reinventing itself as a value-luxury brand and is leaning less on its motorsport background, it looks like there is some room for that to change. Following the introduction of the 2023 Mazda CX-50, a more burly CX-5 alternative, Mazda is rolling out the CX-50 Meridian Edition that, it says, is "designed for the most adventurous customers."
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The Meridian Edition takes the standard CX-50 2.5 Turbo model and adds a host of aesthetic changes along with two performance upgrades that should help its off-road capabilities a bit. Most noticeably, the package adds exclusive headlight garnish, a matte-black hood graphic, and chunky rocker panels.
"Polymetal Gray" and "Zircon Sand" are offered as two exclusive exterior paint colors, but the interior only comes in Mazda's saucy Terracotta leather with black accents. Mazda's "i-Activ" AWD system comes standard on all Meridian packages; AWD is always helpful when it comes to finding grip on loose surfaces so it's a welcomed addition. That setup is backed up by a set of 18-inch "outdoor-focused" gloss black wheels wrapped in all-terrain Falken tires. Those looking for more equipment can opt to add the "Apex" package which includes roof-mounted black crossbars, a roof platform to secure extra gear or a tent, and splash guards (front and back).
Admittedly, that is not very much in the way of off-road upgrades, but, hey, it's better than nothing. Considering Mazda is just getting its feet wet (or dirty) in off-roading, we suppose that we shouldn't expect too much. With a price of $41,225 (including destination fee) we are curious to see how the Meridian Edition package competes against similar offerings in its class like the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road.
Andrew Beckford’s passion for cars started as a middle schooler when his friend Richie explained how an internal combustion engine works. He was bitten by the bug and the rest, as they say, is history. He dug deep into the tuner scene and eventually wrote for Turbo Magazine, Import Tuner, Super Street. He covered car shows, feature builds, and reviewed racing games for those magazines in addition to covering motorsports including Formula Drift, Indy Car, and F1 for his personal blog. Eventually Beckford joined MotorTrend to cover the daily automotive news beat. Besides being a gearhead, Beckford has been a gamer since the ’80s and is a huge fan of the arcade racing games of the ’90s like Daytona USA, SEGA Rally, and Ridge Racer. Beckford’s a movie buff as well, especially comic book films from DC and Marvel. When car culture crosses over with gaming and entertainment, rest assured Beckford is aware of it. In addition to serving as a consultant on a “triple A” racing titles, he’s reviewed major racing games such as Forza Motorsport, Need for Speed, Gran Turismo, F1, and more. He’s also interviewed blockbuster directors including Steven Caple Jr. (Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Neill Blomkamp (Gran Turismo). His biggest profile to date was with Robert Downey Jr. on his love affair with cars and his show Downey’s Dream Cars on MAX. Beckford’s profile of Downey Jr. was the first print cover story written by an African American in MotorTrend’s history. Along with KJ Jones, Andrew Beckford also heads up MotorTrend’s celebration of Black History Month by spotlighting diverse voices in the automotive industry and motorsports. Beckford’s first car was a 1982 Nissan Stanza affectionately named “Stanley” by his late mother.
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