By Philip Ruth–
My mom died. I did a lot of pre-grieving through her eight years of cognitive decline, but it was still devastating when it happened.
The week after the ceremony, I stuck around to keep my dad company, which led to a surreal evening of Turner Classic Movies showing us Tarzan, The Ape Man, Bo Derek’s appalling 1981 film, which leans heavily into soft-core porn. Neither of us anticipated that our grieving would include a nipply Bo.
I drove us around in a 2025 $42,670 Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition. It’s the fifth-highest of seven CX-50 trims, and it’s the sportiest in appearance, complete with a matte-black hood decal. That. combined with the $450 “Polymetal Gray Metallic” and black 18-inch wheels, gave this CX-50 a purposeful presence.
Another 2025 presser, a $30,680 Volkswagen Jetta, evinced a similar approach. SEL is the top Jetta trim below the raciest GLI, and this one showed up in vivid “Kings Red Metallic” paint ($450 extra) and polished 18-inch wheels. The CX-50’s styling is low-slung, with a flat hood and tall fender flares that draw attention to the flanks, while the Jetta’s carefully evolved sedan contours were sharp and nicely balanced.
Performance from both was respectable. The CX-50 crossover weighs about 700 pounds more than the Jetta sedan, and so it has more power—256 horsepower from its twin-turbo 2.5-liter four, versus 158 from the Jetta’s single-turbo, 1.5-liter four. The smaller Jetta’s engine works well with the eight-speed automatic to keep the turbo boost high, while the CX-50’s six-speed automatic channeled the engine’s thrust into a more muscular feel.
As with most Volkswagens, the Jetta takes curves well. Steering is sharp, and the firm suspension inspires confidence. Same goes for the CX-50, despite its greater bulk.
Inside, the tested CX-50 Meridian’s “Terra Cotta Leather” interior trim reminded me of a baseball glove, with light-brown seating and door panel surfaces, along with color-keyed diamond-pattern stitching on the dashboard. It’s a bold look that my normally car-blind father called out and admired. The driver’s touch points are amply padded, materials throughout look Lexus-adjacent, and opening the Meridian’s standard panoramic roof changes the interior from dark to bright.
The Jetta has Volkswagen’s typically supportive seats and tightly-limned plastic shaping. It’s a logical design that accurately reflects its Teutonic origin. Tall windows and the SEL’s big sunroof made this Jetta a pleasantly airy environment. The available brown-accented “Sevilla” upholstery adds a bit of flair, though it’s not offered with the tester’s red exterior finish.
The Mazda’s 10.25-inch infotainment system is compliant enough, with snappy reactions from the console-mounted dial. Physical buttons and knobs for the climate control were easy to use while keeping eyes on the road. The Volkswagen’s eight-inch “floating” center screen was also easily understood, though I’m still getting used to the smooth slider controls for inside temperature and such.
“Fun to drive” is baked into the brand DNAs for Mazda and Volkswagen, and the CX-50 and Jetta succeed in driving a bit more nimbly than the rest.
Philip Ruth is a Castro-based automotive photojournalist and consultant with an automotive staging service.
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Published on December 19, 2027
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