Mazda is trumpeting its new CX-50 compact crossover as an alternative choice to its well-liked CX-5, however some observers predict the automaker will do what it has completed up to now — ultimately kill the older product in favor of the newer one.

“CX-5 needs to be round for a pair years, after which it is gone,” stated Ed Kim, president of AutoPacific.

“Mazda is spinning it as having two fashions in the identical section for various consumers. However in actuality, it is identical to what occurred after they launched the CX-30,” Kim stated. “CX-3 caught round a few years after which was gone.”

The CX-30 launched for the 2020 mannequin 12 months and supplied consumers a barely bigger footprint than the CX-3 subcompact crossover. One 12 months later, Mazda introduced that 2021 could be the CX-3’s closing mannequin 12 months.

One other analyst predicts the identical situation.

“The CX-5 will solely stick round for an additional one to a few years after CX-50 gross sales choose up,” stated Ivan Drury, senior supervisor of insights at Edmunds. The CX-50 is presently delivery to dealerships from the Mazda-Toyota manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Ala.

However chopping the CX-5 altogether would create a quantity problem for the model, since Mazda faces a manufacturing cap of 150,000 CX-50s a 12 months.

That is lower than the 168,500 CX-5 gross sales Mazda chalked up within the U.S. in 2021. The automaker has stated CX-5 quantity could be even greater if it had extra stock and that the CX-50 will take away a few of that burden from the CX-5.

No matter greater CX-5 quantity, Mazda could have to supply heavy incentives to encourage consumers, Drury stated. “Should you had been a buyer, it will make no sense to choose the CX-5 over the CX-50 — except you bought a reduction,” he stated.

For now, the addition of the CX-50 represents a plus for the Japanese automaker. Mazda says the CX-50 and CX-5 autos could also be comparable, however they aim completely different consumers. And it maintains that there’s sufficient exercise within the mass-market compact crossover section for 2 complementary choices.

Final 12 months, the section yielded 2.2 million gross sales industrywide.

Mazda has designed the CX-50 to enchantment to outdoorsy customers. It’s longer and wider than the CX-5 and has extra utilitarian styling. It additionally has a wider stance, extra cargo area, a bunch of accent choices and an off-road drive mode.

When outfitted with the turbo engine, its 3,500-pound tow ranking has a 1,500-pound enchancment over the CX-5’s.

Mazda maintains that, between the 2 fashions, the CX-5 would be the premium alternative for urbanites, particularly since a freshening for the 2022 mannequin 12 months gave it a entrance and rear face-lift, suspension adjustments and up to date seats.

Each autos provide customary all-wheel drive and have the identical 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed computerized transmission with 187 hp and 186 pound-feet of torque. Additionally they each provide an non-compulsory turbocharged improve that reinforces output to 256 hp and 320 pound-feet of torque.

Mazda says the CX-50 will provide the identical, if no more, on-road enjoyment because the CX-5. It is tuned for stability on highways and confidence on twisty roads, in addition to for off-road agility.

Gasoline economic system is comparable. Mazda says metropolis and freeway mixed for the turbo CX-50 might be 25 mpg vs. the CX-5’s 24 mpg. A fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain will be part of the CX-50 lineup, although Mazda has not confirmed timing. The engine might be collectively developed by Mazda and Toyota.

Pricing can be very shut. The beginning value of the 2022 CX-5 is $27,475. The CX-50 prices $28,025. Each costs embrace delivery. Meaning for $550, prospects can get a more moderen, barely bigger five-passenger car with extra cargo area.

Similar to the CX-3, the CX-9 is on the chopping block. Mazda confirmed it will likely be changed by the forthcoming CX-90, one other three-row crossover that provides bigger sizing. Additionally on faucet is a tweener crossover, the CX-70.

Dumping each the CX-5 and CX-9 would enable Mazda to streamline its naming conference — CX-30, CX-50, CX-70 and CX-90 — and give attention to bigger, extra adventurous choices tailor-made to the U.S.