Whether it’s a short trip to the park or a long, adventurous drive, our Golden Retrievers enjoy every minute they spend in the car. They love riding in the car, so when choosing a vehicle such as an SUV, we make their comfort and safety a top priority.
During a recent weekend trip to Santa Barbara, California, Mazda provided us with a 2024 Mazda CX-50 for a test drive and for the dogs to enjoy. The Mazda CX-50 is a crossover SUV (CUV), which means it combines features of both a traditional car and an SUV.
Eight things to love about the 2024 Mazda CX-50
1. Room size is especially important for owners of large dogs
The Mazda CX-50 seats five, and there was plenty of legroom in the front seats.
What about the back seat? The back seat was able to accommodate two golden retrievers weighing over 70 pounds. First of all, there was just enough headroom to sit and stand.
It was handy to have a dog car hammock cover with extension in the back seat. The extension allowed the hammock to lie flat and fill the gap between the front and back seats. Our golden retriever was able to lie down and take a nap during the car ride.
2. Safety comes first
Whenever you’re looking for a new SUV, safety should be a key factor, especially when driving with pets.
We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Mazda CX-50 has received an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award. The full report can be found on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website.
I found the blind spot detection and lane departure warning to be useful safety features when driving. I heard a few warning tones while driving, but my dog didn’t react. They were faint warning tones.
According to Mazda, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 has been actively and passively designed to enhance safety, giving drivers the peace of mind they need.
I felt safe both as a driver and as a passenger, and it was great for long drives and traveling with dogs.
3. Comfort is a must!
The Mazda CX-50 was comfortable to drive, and best of all, our golden retrievers were also comfortable inside.
Our younger dog, Kenzo, easily jumped into the car, but our older dog, KB, struggled with the seat, which was high off the ground (a dog car ramp would have been useful), but KB found an ingenious way to get into the car by first standing on the floorboards and then climbing into the seat.
Yes, our golden boys were very comfortable in the car. They were able to lie down and relax during the 2.5 hour drive to Santa Barbara, California. KB stayed lying down, while KENZO sat up and enjoyed looking out the window.
4. Say yes to luxury
We test drove the 2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo Edition, which comes with every luxury feature, and we loved the Zircon Sand Metallic color, which matches our golden retriever’s coat.
I was pleasantly surprised by how nice the interior was – the terracotta brown/orange seat color combination with the black contrast trim was very unique and suited the SUV very well.
5. Budget-friendly
The Mazda CX-50 is great on gas. I was able to fill up on gas and drive to Santa Barbara, California, about 145 miles away, and only had to fill up on the way back. The money I saved on gas goes towards my dog’s health fund.
6. Navigation A Plus
While the Mazda has its own navigation system, during our test drive we found it easier to plug in our iPhone and navigate routes using Apple CarPlay, meaning we could spend more time adventuring with our dog and less time wasting driving.
7. Luggage space
For a weekend trip, the luggage space was adequate for the essentials, but we would have liked a roll-out rear cargo cover, and if you plan on bringing a large or XL-sized crate, it needs to be foldable.
8. Off-road capable
The Mazda CX-50 offers a variety of drive modes through its i-Activ AWD system, perfect for long drives with dogs and for dealing with changing road and weather conditions. Unfortunately, our trip consisted of only highway driving, but it’s reassuring to know the Mazda CX-50 is capable off-road.
Verdict: Dog-friendly Mazda CX-50
Overall, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 is a top contender for a large dog-friendly SUV, with a spacious interior, award-winning safety features, and upscale appeal that will provide comfort and peace of mind to drivers with dogs as their primary passengers.
If you are looking for an SUV, here is a great article to guide you through your choice. How to Choose the Best SUV for Your Family.
Want to know more about Mazda CX-50Please visit your nearest Mazda dealer and enjoy a test drive.
As Mazda’s tagline states, “Feel Alive,” you and your dog will be full of energy and ready for any amazing adventure.
