Rent Mazda CX-5 2023 in Dubai

Most compact SUVs in this price bracket are front-wheel-drive crossovers that look the part and stop at the tarmac. The Mazda CX-50 2023 is the one that actually backs it up, because all-wheel drive is standard on every version, and we can have one outside your building within one to two hours of booking. It rents as a five-seat compact SUV with more ground clearance, more width and more grunt than the CX-30 or CX-5 we also keep on the fleet. The case for it is simple: this is the Mazda to rent if your Dubai week includes graded desert tracks, a Hatta run, or just loaded highway driving where you want the security of drive at all four wheels. For pure city pottering it's more car than you need.

Why the all-wheel drive matters here

The CX-50 was designed around AWD from the start, so it isn't a front-driver with a clutch pack bolted on. On loose gravel approaches, sandy graded tracks and the steeper community ramps, that traction is genuinely useful, and it shrugs off a wet underpass or a slick fuel-station forecourt without a moment's drama.

Be clear about the limit, though. This is a capable crossover, not a Wrangler. It handles graded desert tracks and the easier Hatta routes confidently, but soft dune bashing still calls for a proper body-on-frame 4x4. For everything short of that, the CX-50 has the legs.

Engine, and how often you'll fill up

Under the bonnet sits a 2.5-litre petrol four making 187 hp, paired with a six-speed automatic. That's the strongest engine across our three Mazda SUVs, and you feel it. Overtakes on Sheikh Zayed Road happen without planning, and a fully loaded car still climbs the E11 inclines without straining.

The trade is fuel. Expect real-world consumption around 8 to 9 L/100 km in Dubai city use, more when the AC is working hard in July. The 60-litre tank offsets that, so you're still looking at most of a week of mixed driving between fills, and a couple of airport runs to DXB or DWC won't leave you hunting for a station.

Spec at a glance

The table is reference. The figures that change your trip are the clearance, the boot and the tank, so each gets a plain read below.

Ground clearance and where it'll go

At 211 mm the CX-50 sits noticeably higher than the CX-5, and you notice it on the rough stuff. Community speed bumps, the lips on mall entrances and broken edges on a desert access road all pass underneath without a wince. Combined with the standard AWD, that clearance is what lets you take the car places a normal crossover would scrape or bog down on.

The flip side is size. At 1852 mm wide it's a broad car, so tight multi-storey bays and the narrowest Marina ramps need a bit more care than a CX-30 does. It's far from unwieldy, but it isn't the small-footprint option.

Boot space and the cabin

The CX-50 has the biggest load bay of our three Mazdas. There's room for several large cases plus soft bags on an airport pickup, and folding the rear bench opens a long, near-flat floor for camping kit, a bike with the wheel off, or a fortnight of shopping runs. Two adults, two kids and a week of luggage fit without a game of Tetris.

The cabin is wide and well finished, with the upright SUV view drivers want. Cooling is a real concern from May to September, when an hour in open sun leaves any cabin baking. The CX-50's climate system pulls the temperature down steadily once you're moving, the front vents hit hard, and rear passengers get their own outlets, which matters with kids in the back on a long drive.

What you pay, and who should rent it

You cover Salik tolls as you pass the gantries, and RTA fines during the rental pass to you, so keep everyone belted and watch your speed on the E11. Children under four need a car seat by law, and we can fit one. If you'd rather not tie up your card, ask for the no-deposit option when you book.

Rent the CX-50 2023 if your Dubai plans run past the city limits: Hatta, graded desert tracks, or long loaded highway hauls where the standard AWD and the extra power earn their keep. It's also the right pick for a family that wants the biggest boot of the three. If you're staying inside the city for errands and the school run, the smaller CX-30 is cheaper to feed and easier to park, and for keen drivers who never leave the tarmac the CX-5 handles a touch sharper. But for genuine all-surface confidence at this rental level, the CX-50 is the one to take.