Whether a short trip to the park or a long adventure ride, our golden retrievers enjoy every minute of their time in the car. They love their car rides, so we prioritize their comfort and safety when choosing a vehicle, such as an SUV.

On our recent weekend trip to Santa Barbara CA, Mazda provided us with a 2024 Mazda CX-50 to test drive and for my dogs to enjoy. The Mazda CX-50 is a crossover SUV (CUV), which means it combines features from both a traditional car and an SUV.

8 Things We Like About 2024 Mazda CX-50

1. Interior Size Matters Especially for Large Dog Owners
The Mazda CX-50 can accommodate 5 passengers. We had sufficient legroom in the front seats.

How’s the backseat? The backseat accommodated our two 70+ lbs golden retrievers. First, the headroom was just right – they could sit or stand.

It was beneficial to place a dog car hammock cover with an extender on the backseat. The extender made the hammock lay flat and filled the gaps between the front and back seats. Our golden retrievers were able to lie down and take a nap during their car ride.

2. Safety As The Top Priority
Safety should be an important factor whenever you are looking for a new SUV, especially when driving your furry friends.

We are happy to share that the 2024 Mazda CX-50 won the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK award. You can read the detailed report at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety website.

We find that the blind spot detection and lane departure warnings are useful safety features when driving. We heard a few warning beeps during our drive, and our dogs did not react. They were subtle beep sounds.

According to Mazda, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 is designed to be both proactive and reactive to enhance safety, giving drivers the peace of mind they need.

We felt safe as both a driver and a passenger. We also felt secure going on a long drive and bringing our dogs.

3. Comfort A Must!
It was comfortable driving the Mazda CX-50, and most importantly, our golden retrievers had comfy car rides.

My younger dog, KENZO, jumped into the car easily, but my older dog, KB, struggled with the seat high off the ground. Having a dog car ramp would have been helpful. However, KB found a creative way by stepping onto the floorboard first and then onto the seat.

Yes, my golden boys had very comfortable car rides. During our two-and-a-half-hour drive to Santa Barbara, CA, they were able to lie down and relax. KB stayed lying down, but KENZO sat up and enjoyed looking out the window.

4. Say YES to Luxury Appeal
We drove the 2024 Mazda CX-50 Turbo edition, which was equipped with all the luxury features. We loved the Zircon Sand Metallic color, which nicely complemented our golden retrievers’ fur.

We were surprised by how beautiful the interior was. The terracotta brown/orange seat color with black contrasting trim was a very unique combination and looked great in an SUV.

5. Budget Friendly
The Mazda CX-50 has good gas mileage. With a full tank, we made it to Santa Barbara, CA, about 145 miles away, and only refueled halfway back home. The money we saved on gas can now go towards our dogs’ health fund.

6. Navigation A Plus
Mazda has its own navigation system, but for this test drive, we found it easier to connect our iPhone and use Apple CarPlay to navigate our route. This way, we didn’t waste driving time and spent more time with our dogs adventuring.

7. Cargo Space
For our weekend trip, the cargo space was sufficient for our necessities. However, we wished it had a roll-out rear cargo cover. Additionally, if we were to bring a large or XL crate, it would need to be foldable.

8. Off-Road Ready
The Mazda CX-50 offers different drive modes through its i-Activ AWD system. It’s pawfect for long road trips with dogs and handling changing road surfaces and weather conditions. Unfortunately, for this trip, we only did highway driving, but it’s good to know that the Mazda CX-50 is off-road ready.

Verdict: Dog-Friendly Mazda CX-50

All in all, the 2024 Mazda CX-50 is a front-runner to be a dog-friendly SUV for large dogs. The spacious interior, award-winning safety features, and luxury appeal provided us with comfort and peace of mind as drivers with our dogs as our main passengers.

If you are looking for an SUV, here’s a great article to guide you in your selection, How To Choose The Best SUV For Your Family.

If you want to learn more about the Mazda CX-50, visit your nearest Mazda dealership for a test drive.

As Mazda’s tagline says, ‘Feel Alive’, you and your dog will feel spirited and ready for any amazing adventures.