Do you have friends that you always see around the holidays? For us, it seems like we usally end up reviewing Mazdaʻs CX-30 around this time of year – and itʻs always a great visit, because this is one of the best hatchback/crossovers around – especially for drivers.
But in the past year weʻve made some great new friends, like the Toyota Corolla GR, and Hyundai Elantra N. So does the CX-30 still get the guest bedroom, or does it end up sleeping on the pull-out couch? Letʻs find out!
Hot, High Hatch
With the popularity of Crossovers and SUVʻs, the CX-30 manages to find a sweet spot in the Mazda lineup. Sitting taller than the elegant Mazda 3 sedan and the low-slung Mazda 3 hatchback, it still manages to look sleeker than the larger CX-5 SUV.
We think itʻs gorgeous, with great porpotions and an upscale vibe.
Up front you get a prominent grille, but itʻs not the questionable schnoz that weʻre seeing on some of the latest Lexus and BMW models. Part of that is the way the grille flows effortlessly into the LED headlights which have a clean projector beam design. On our Premium Plus trim you get some nice extra bling, with a chrome surround on the grille and headlights.
Come around to the side, and thereʻs a definite coupe-like line to the 5-door hatchback, with swept back A-pillars and agressively cut-back C pillar. Sleek meets capable with a tall 8-inches of ground clearance and thick blacked-out fender flares, framing tough-looking black 18-inch alloy wheels.
The rear echoes the clean lines of the front, with some added menace, courtesy of LED taillights that wrap around the corners with a round, afterburner like shape. Giving some depth is a curved in rear hatch, while a contrasting lower fascia with chrome trim gives a premium look, and chrome badging calling out the specifics like AWD and Turbo. Finishing off the look are two large exhaust pipes that add some street cred.
Perhaps our favorite part of the exterior is the beautiful Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint. To ensure visual perfection, a new process was developed. Called Takuminuri, which translates to English as “artisan coloring,” painting robots were effectively taught to duplicate the techniques of Mazda’s best craftsmen. Wow.
Premium Plus, Indeed!
Mazda has been making a concentrated effort to take the brand upscale in the last few years, and the interior really helps sell the point.
Open the door and your eye is greeted with a rich ivory leather on the seats, while a two-tone black and toffee brown interior looks, feels and smells rich. It could easily be a Volvo or an Audi – itʻs that impressive. It begs you to come in, so why wait?
Once you park yourself in those front seats, youʻll find them meeting that European vibe with firm cushions and a nice shape, even for taller drivers. Well tall is okay up front, but the coupe-like dimensions mean the rear seats are a tight fit for adults. On the bright side, we found the cargo bay spacious even with the rear seats up, and they easily fold down for larger items. That said, if carrying big folks is common for you, weʻd step up to the larger CX-5 or CX-50 models.
Elegance rules the day, here, with a thick leather-wrapped 3-spoke wheel (heated, too!) and Mazdaʻs beautiful combo of analog and digital displays – that speedometer will fool you, it looks like analog, but itʻs really a 7-inch LCD display. And Mazda gave a lot of thought here – cleverly illuminating parts on the screen to show things like speed limits, your cruise control settings and more, in a way that’s never busy. Itʻs a thing of beauty that you appreciate the more you drive.
Infotainment is served up by a large 8.8-inch color display in the center of the dash, accessed by circular dial and switchgear that’s right behind the shift lever. It works well, but these days you really wish for a touchscreen – although that would be a long reach here!
One thing that is no reach here is the impressive amount of luxury, including dual-zone climate control, advanced keyless entry, 12-speaker Bose audio system, heated leather steering wheel with paddle shifters, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, Head-up display, auto-dim mirrors, and navigation.
From the Company that Brought You the Miata
Driving the CX-30 is a great exeperience, too.
Thereʻs good news if you opting for the non-turbo engine – for 2023, the 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder gets a 5 horsepower bump, up to 191, and two miles per gallon more in all measures, getting up to 29 mpg combined.
That said, we have a hard time not going for the optional 2.5-liter turbo, with 250 horsepower and a mountainous 310 lb-ft of torque. Thatʻs a load of power and the CX jumps off the line and pulls hard, popping off shifts through the 6-speed automatic – especially in Sport mode. Adding to the fun are wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
If you can keep your foot out of it – and thatʻs a big if with the rush of turbo power – you should be able to meet the EPA 25 mpg combined rating. We also love the sound of the engine – a deep thrum that reminds us of the Subaru warble as it pulls through the rpm range.
Of course being part of the company that makes the Miata, the CX-30 is also a great handler. The standard all-wheel drive gives plenty of grip, the steering has a nice, precise feel, and thanks to the tall suspension, the ride is comfy, too. A sporty performer thatʻs relaxed and easy on the freeway, the CX is a lovely blend of real world performance.
Living in the real world, itʻs nice to have a comprehensive safety package, which the CX-30 serves up with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Lane Departure and Lane Keep Assist, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Blind Spot Monitoring.
More, you say? Well the Premium Plus adds a 360° View Monitor with front and rear parking sensors, Rear Direction Base Safety, which includes Smart Brake Support-Rear and Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, Traffic Jam Assist, Homelink added to the frameless auto-dim rearview mirror, and auto-dim driver’s door mirror. Thatʻs impressive tech, through and through.
Upscale Price, Too?
That depends on your passion for power and options. The line up starts with the CX-30 2.5 S at $22,950. With the great looks, standard all-wheel-drive, and a nice level of standard equipment, itʻs a bit of a bargain. In fact with the average new-car cost being $48,000, (gulp!) it may be one of the screaming deals of all time.
Our 2.5 Turbo with Premium Plus package is the full enchilada model, and starts at $35,400. Add in $595 for the Soul Red Metallic Paint, $135 for a stainless rear bumper trim, and $1,275 for Destination, and we range the bell at $37,405.
The CXʻs part crossover, part hot hatch brings a wide choice of competitors. A VW GTi is notable hot hatch, but it is a bit more at $41,850, and youʻll have to forego all-wheel-drive. The Lexus UX crossover offers up a heaping serving of luxury, but at $45,520 loaded up, itʻs significantly more expensive – and while it doesnʻt have the Lexus name, the Mazda is a stronger performer.
With great perfomance, stunning looks and impressive luxury, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 remains one of our favorite – and affordable – small crossover vehicles.
Ben Lewis grew up in Chicago, and after spending his formative years driving sideways in the winter – often intentionally – moved to sunny Southern California. He now enjoys sunny weather year-round — whether it is autocross driving, aerobatics, and learning to surf.