2020 Mazda CX-30 Quick Drive Review: Ballin' on a Budget
With CX-30, Mazda continues its trend of offering upscale luxury in a compact, affordable package.
SUVs are king right now, with people increasingly favoring these high-riding rigs compared to the four-door sedan. As such, car manufacturers are scurrying about, trying to produce as many SUV models as possible, to fill as many vehicle segments as possible.
Mazda is no exception, offering the diminutive CX-3, the excellent CX-5, as well as the larger CX-9, and, now, for 2020, a fourth SUV model is being added to the line-up in the form of the CX-30. It slots in between the CX-3 and CX-5 as the brand’s subcompact crossover offering. One can’t help but wonder what that makes the current CX-3 then, which is some five inches shorter than this new subcompact model.
Regardless, CX-30 could not have come at a better time. The compact SUV/subcompact crossover segment has never been hotter, and competition is abundant, with models like the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Nissan Rogue Sport and the Kia Soul, among others, all vying for your dollars.
Mazda claims CX-30, which starts at $21,900, is a step above the pack, with stronger performance, sharper handling and superior craftsmanship and interior materials. So, Mazda invited DBFR to sample the CX-30 outside of Palm Springs, in an effort to prove it. Here’s what you need to know.
First off, it’s handsome. CX-30 is a clear evolution of the styling showcased on CX-5, but tightened up. While the thick, full-length bodycladding isn’t exactly a personal favorite styling cue, the rest of the CX-30 exterior styling is excellent. Mazda employed a concept of “beauty by subtraction,” taking away any frivolous or extraneous bits. This is especially noticeable in the front of the vehicle, resulting in a very clean, minimalist look. It’s just headlights, a grille, and two very slim fog lights. Though, discerning readers will note that the lower valence has an opening with shutters in it. These open and close as needed to optimize the front end aerodynamics as well as balance out the need to feed air into the radiator.
Things are a bit more conventional under the skin, however. CX-30 is powered by the same 2.5-liter inline-four cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission found in the Mazda3 hatchback. This setup is good for 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is an available option on every trim level. This test car, which was fully-loaded at just under $30,000, had the AWD. The statisticians in the crowd will notice that compared to all other compact SUV options mentioned three paragraphs ago, CX-30 has class-leading power figures. It should likely come as no surprise then that its MPG figures trail some of the others, at 25 MPG city and 33 MPG highway for the front-drive model and 24 and 32 for the AWD model, respectively.
In practice, the Skyactiv-G engine offered completely sufficient acceleration in the real world. The 6-speed automatic transmission was similarly competent, usually doing an excellent job of blending into the background. In my time with CX-30 the in-dash fuel economy meter registered 27 MPG overall.
For the suspension nerds out there, CX-30 also uses the same suspension design as the Mazda3 as well, with independent McPherson struts up front and a semi-independent torsion beam rear axle at the back. The ride was compliant, even on the optional 18-inch wheels (16s are standard), with CX-30 striking a fair balance between smoothing out grated pavement and offering firm, responsive handling when the roads got twisty. Compared with CX-5, CX-30 is decidedly more sporty but it leaves its driver and occupants no worse for the wear because of it.
Occupants may, however, suffer elsewhere in CX-30, especially if those occupants are above-average in height. At 6’1”, I was able to get comfortable enough in all five seats of CX-30, though my 6’3” cohort couldn’t say the same thing in any seat. An inherent trade-off with a compact SUV, headroom is at a premium in CX-30, and limits passengers to those under 6’3”.
Curiously, the driver’s seat, in particular, offers a slightly higher seating position than the rest, even its lowest setting, which is unusual given the amount of space between the seat and the floor. The ability to lower the driver’s seat another inch or so would go a long way.
This is truly a shame for the vertically gifted, as CX-30 offers a fabulous cabin to spend time in. This top spec Premium Package model featured white leather seating, with brown and black leather interior trimming, and the overall effect is excellent. At just under $30,000 as tested, CX-30 feels like a much more expensive vehicle inside. The caliber of interior materials, combined with the thoroughly insulated cabin make for a serene driving experience. Much like it’s slightly bigger CX-5 brother, CX-30’s cabin is class-leading, at least, when the right options boxes are ticked.
In all, CX-30 comes across much like the CX-5 does, as being an incredible value, and a truly clever buy. The sharp styling, inside and out, along with its adept ride make for an incredibly competent compact utility vehicle, and a clear front-runner in the segment.
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