Watch out Forester: Mazda reveals the rugged CX-50

Mazda has just revealed an all-new crossover, and no, it's not the CX-10. Officially making its world debut is the 2022 CX-50. While it seems like this will be the replacement of the CX-5, that's not the case.

Instead of a replacement, the CX-50 is part of Mazda's five all-new SUVs which are comprised of the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. The automaker plans to reveal all five crossovers within the next two years, with the CX-50 serving as the pioneering model. But what makes the CX-50 different from the CX-5?

For starters, Mazda's newest crossover features a more rugged iteration of the Kodo – Soul of Motion design language. It comes with an all-black front grille, black plastic cladding on the wheel arches, skid plates for the front and rear, an optional roof rack, and additional black trim on the headlights and bumpers.

Inside, the CX-50 keeps Mazda's signature driver-focused layout. It features a minimalist dashboard with a large floating touchscreen infotainment system, vertical air vents on each corner, and a simple climate control panel. There are also leather seats, a digital instrument panel, a large panoramic sunroof, a Terracotta interior color, and additional cubby holes for storing items.

Under the hood, the CX-50 is available with two SkyActiv-G engine options. These include a naturally-aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four and a more powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder motor. Both engines are connected to a six-speed automatic transmission with sequential shift. Output figures have yet to be revealed, but we suspect they could produce 190 PS and 250 PS, respectively.

Since it's meant to take on the road less traveled, the CX-50 is equipped with Mazda's i-Activ all-wheel-drive system. It comes with selectable driving modes that can be accessed via Mi-Drive to ensure there's traction across any terrain.

The Mazda CX-50 will enter production in early 2022 at the new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) plant located in Alabama. That said, the CX-50 could be exclusive to the North American market for the time being.

But with four more CX models to arrive, we could expect crossovers like the CX-60 to make their way to the Philippines instead.