From twisting Appalachian backroads to the everyday bustle of Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC offers a full spread of driving experiences. And if there’s one vehicle designed to handle it all with finesse, it's the 2025 Mazda CX-50. With its trim lineup tailored for versatility and traction, the 2025 Mazda CX-50 finds its rhythm on everything from city pavement to gravel paths that lead out to the Blue Ridge foothills.
This blog takes a deep dive into how each 2025 Mazda CX-50 trim responds to the local terrain around Spartanburg; exploring real-world performance, comfort, and driving character that speak to residents who live life between commutes, country drives, and Carolina adventures.
2.5 S Select: The Spartanburg Street Companion
The 2.5 S Select is where the 2025 Mazda CX-50 experience begins. With a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 187 horsepower, this trim brings a grounded and confident feel when navigating Spartanburg’s downtown corridors. The standard all-wheel-drive system adds assurance during those sudden summer rain showers that turn Blackstock Road slick in a hurry.
On narrower city blocks, this SUV’s tight steering and modest footprint work in your favor. You can thread through tight parking at Barnet Park concerts without breaking a sweat, and the road feedback is just right for urban driving.
2.5 S Preferred: Made for Weekend Errands and Weekday Commutes
Step up to the Preferred trim and you’ll start to appreciate the small things like heated front seats for brisk fall mornings and a power liftgate when your hands are full at the Spartanburg Farmers’ Market. The seats offer a touch more comfort for longer drives, too. On I-26, it’s easy to settle into a quiet cruise, and road noise is surprisingly well-muted for a vehicle in this class.
You’ll also notice Mazda’s suspension tuning keeps things firm enough to inspire confidence without punishing you on patched-up backroads. Heading toward Woodfin Ridge Golf Club or Lake Bowen feels easy, comfortable, and refined.
2.5 S Premium: Scenic Comfort for Scenic Drives
The Premium trim adds just enough luxury to make it a favorite among those who love a weekend drive into the foothills. The panoramic moonroof opens up Spartanburg’s open skies and transforms even a routine ride along Highway 11 into a rolling postcard.
Inside, the 12-speaker Bose® sound system helps fill the cabin with clarity. The interior doesn’t feel overworked or flashy. Instead, there’s a sense of thoughtful layout and materials that reflect Mazda’s understated style.
2.5 S Premium Plus: Refined for Real-World Traffic
In this trim, technology starts to take more of the spotlight. The head-up display is a useful addition for keeping eyes on the road, especially around traffic-heavy stretches like I-85 and downtown intersections. Ventilated seats are also a blessing during South Carolina’s muggy summer afternoons.
It’s in this trim where daily driving feels a bit easier. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist all work together in the background, allowing you to stay focused without constantly managing inputs. It’s a trim for those who value comfort in motion and people who drive daily and want something that stays easy, quiet, and poised.
2.5 Turbo Meridian Edition: Trail-Ready for South Carolina’s Backroads
If you’re the kind of driver who regularly seeks the road less paved, this is your trim. The Turbo Meridian Edition was built with a different attitude. It includes added exterior cladding, Falken all-terrain tires, and a more robust presence that leans into adventure without losing the signature Mazda poise.
With 256 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque using premium fuel, it delivers the kind of push that matters when climbing hilly routes near Jones Gap or when towing your weekend gear. Unlike many crossovers with off-road aspirations that end in marketing talk, the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Meridian truly excels on unpaved roads leading to the Broad River or secluded hiking trailheads.
It’s also more composed than expected once you’re back on pavement, handling turns along SC-292 or Highway 9 with a planted feel that inspires trust even with the all-terrain rubber.
2.5 Turbo Premium: A Driver’s Trim with Extra Polish
Drivers who value performance on both urban roads and winding backroads will enjoy what the Turbo Premium trim has to offer. The turbocharged powertrain remains quick and smooth, ideal for merging onto highways or zipping through traffic with confidence. It makes the 2025 Mazda CX-50 feel a bit sportier without leaning too far into raw aggression.
The suspension calibration feels particularly well-dialed on this trim. Rough patches on country roads are soaked up with minimal drama, and you’ll appreciate the precision steering when slicing through turns near Lake Blalock or heading into the mountains.
With premium interior finishes and features like a heated steering wheel and traffic sign recognition, it also caters to those who spend plenty of time behind the wheel and want comfort that keeps up with performance.
2.5 Turbo Premium Plus: All the Comforts, All the Confidence
For drivers who want everything, the Premium Plus trim wraps the 2025 Mazda CX-50 experience in a high-end package. This is where Mazda places its most advanced driver assistance systems and cabin luxuries, including ventilated front seats and an expanded digital interface.
You’ll notice how smoothly it handles transitions between stop-and-go traffic in Boiling Springs and faster highway speeds out toward Greenville. The 2025 Mazda CX-50 doesn’t feel bloated or oversized. Instead, it delivers refined, confident control with the muscle to back it up.
And thanks to the added tech, long drives become far less tiring. This trim isn’t only about features, it’s about reducing the friction between you and the road, letting you stay present and comfortable wherever you’re headed.
Hybrid Trims: Efficient Cruising with Quiet Strength
The 2025 Mazda CX-50 trims are particularly well-suited for drivers around Spartanburg who want efficiency without compromising everyday usability.
The Hybrid Preferred offers a blend of 219 horsepower and estimated 38 MPG combined fuel economy. That means fewer stops at gas stations around town and more time spent enjoying scenic routes like Highway 176 or Berry Shoals.
Step into the Hybrid Premium and you gain additional amenities like leather seating and a panoramic moonroof, making your morning commute or weekend escape that much more pleasant.
For maximum comfort, the Hybrid Premium Plus offers ventilated seats and a head-up display, providing the kind of polish that’s easy to appreciate during South Carolina’s hot summers or long evening drives back from the mountains.
Hybrid trims also boast a smooth, responsive feel thanks to the electric motor’s instant torque. This makes stoplight launches and steep uphill climbs surprisingly easy.
The Final Word: Built to Fit Spartanburg’s Lifestyle
No matter the trim, the 2025 Mazda CX-50 is tuned for the kind of everyday versatility that Spartanburg roads demand. You get traction when it rains, poise through curves, and enough power to handle both city speeds and backroad climbs. And with options ranging from simple and rugged to feature-packed and refined, every driver has a version that fits their lifestyle.
This crossover caters to a diverse range of needs. It’s a thoughtful machine shaped for the realities of Upstate South Carolina driving, with enough room for gear, friends, or whatever your day requires.
Ready to find the right trim for your Spartanburg drives? Schedule a test ride today at McKinney Mazda near Spartanburg, SC. Discover how the 2025 Mazda CX-50 feels on your favorite roads and choose the version that fits your life.
