2024 MAZDA CX-30

The ground floor of Mazda’s crossover lineup, the CX-30 doesn’t skimp on comfort, driving fun, or standard content. It’s smaller inside than rivals like the Chevy Trailblazer, Kia Seltos, and Volkswagen Taos, but the CX-30 is one of the few subcompact SUVs to come standard with AWD. Within its circle of rivals, you’ll be hard-pressed to find the CX-30’s combination of a well-crafted cabin, sporty driving dynamics, and high volume of standard features.

The Select trim expands its name to Select Sport. It now includes dual-zone automatic climate control, black-metallic 18-inch wheels, black outboard mirror caps, and other black accents. Mazda also added a new Carbon Turbo grade to the CX-30 stable. It leads off the 2.5 Turbo trims and comes in a unique Zircon Sand paint finish with a Terracotta-colored leather interior and black-out wheels. A new 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard for upper grades.

Before buying the Mazda CX-30, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. To date, the Mazda CX-30 hasn’t performed as well as many in its segment for retaining its value.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 offers a choice of two 4-cylinder engines, one of them turbocharged. The most powerful base engine in the segment generates 191 horsepower and will motivate the CX-30 to 60 mph in about eight seconds. That’s on the quicker side for the segment. This is the more popular engine in the CX-30 lineup and the sensible choice for most buyers.

The same flow, feel, fun, and fleetness that comes in other Mazda vehicles are all here in the CX-30. We believe anything better than this probably has a BMW badge and a price to match. The steering is outrageously responsive, and the suspension is tuned like a Stradivarius. We’re convinced that Mazda had Tennessee’s twisting Tail of the Dragon stretch of road in mind when it engineered this spirited little crossover.

Over and over again, our readers praise the CX-30 for its quiet and comfortable cabin. Indeed, the CX-30 provides one of the more high-end cabins in its class. Granted, the suspension may feel somewhat stiff to more comfort-oriented drivers; however, that’s worth the trade-off for this little SUV’s steering and handling dynamics. “It makes you forget you’re driving a compact SUV,” quipped one reader. (It’s really a subcompact SUV, of course.)

If we had to think of a gripe, we’d prefer Mazda offering rear parking sensors in a few lower trims, not just the top grade. This was a complaint echoed by readers, as well.

Rounding out the engine choices is a 250-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. This adds a dose of aggression to the CX-30’s already enjoyable driving dynamics, dropping the 0-60 mph time to about six seconds. The more popular base engine is quick enough, more affordable, and more efficient, but it’s nice to have options.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of subcompact SUVs, including the Mazda CX-30.

Fuel Economy

Despite its AWD, the CX-30’s fuel economy falls mostly in the middle of front-wheel-drive competitors. The government estimates its mileage in combined driving at 29 mpg (26 city, 33 highway). This is the same combined number as the AWD Subaru Crosstrek. Topping the segment is the FWD Nissan Kicks with an estimated combined mileage of 33 mpg. The turbo-equipped CX-30 models deliver a combined number of 25 mpg (22 city, 30 highway). More CX-30 fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

Many mainstream manufacturers are upping their interior design game, making their cabins look good enough for a premium marque. Mazda has long been ahead of this particular curve and consolidated its position with the CX-30. High-quality materials are arranged expertly into a simple yet pleasing layout, topped off with an 8.8-inch infotainment display that’s among the largest in this class. Turbo models get an even larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. The top Premium Plus trim’s interior quality rivals some luxury SUVs.

The subcompact CX-30 is smaller than compact SUVs like the Mazda CX-5 or Honda CR-V, so space is naturally not so plentiful. But adults will enjoy more-than-sufficient room up front, and 36.3 inches of rear legroom is about average, although the Kia Seltos and Honda HR-V have more.

Where the CX-30 does dip a bit below average is in its cargo capacity. The Seltos, HR-V, and Trailblazer all have measurably more luggage space than the CX-30’s 20.2 cubic feet with the rear seat in place.

We like that the CX-30 follows the same exterior design approach as the rest of the company’s SUVs. That’s fine by us. When a core design works this well, why update the classy lines, sleek surfaces, and elegant proportions merely for the sake of change?

Ergonomics
This relates to how all the controls connect with the driver, along with seats designed to optimize correct posture and combat fatigue. Mazda has clearly put some of its finest minds to work in this area. There are details like the location of navigation information or an amber light indicating when the wipers are in their Auto setting. Yet they all merge into a general feeling of things being just right.

Driving dynamics
This is the CX-30’s superpower, what makes it different from the humdrum competition. It’s responsive and enjoyable, especially when the turbo engine is in residence. The fun is accessible, yet the CX-30 remains a sensible crossover.

All-wheel drive
Every CX-30 comes with AWD. A transparent system, it can move engine torque from axle to axle and wheel to wheel, optimizing traction and power delivery.

Bundle of driver aids
Every CX-30 comes with a suite of safety and driver-aid technologies like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, high-beam assist, and lane-keep assist.

Rain-sensing wipers
Standard across the board, this system senses moisture on the windshield and automatically engages the wipers. The wiper speed adjusts according to the volume of the rain.

Proximity Keyless Entry
One of our must-have features available on the Select Sport and all upper trims, it allows the doors to unlock automatically if the key fob is on your person. Push-button start is standard on all trim levels. We argue that once you have experienced this feature, you won’t want to live without it.

Most of the 2024 Mazda CX-30 models you’ll see on dealer lots and the road are powered by a naturally aspirated (not turbocharged) 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. It delivers 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque fed to all the wheels by a 6-speed automatic transmission. These performance numbers are significantly more than for the key rivals. For example, the Trailblazer’s 3-cylinder engine delivers 137 horsepower.

The CX-30 lineup also includes a turbocharged version of the same engine. It populates the CX-30 models with “Turbo” replacing the “S” in their nameplates. It generates 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium gasoline. If you save a few pennies per gallon at the pump using regular fuel, the performance numbers drop to 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. This still makes for a wild ride in the small CX-30.

3-year/36,000-mile Warranty

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 is protected by the automaker’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, plus 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage. For the duration of the basic warranty, Mazda also provides 24/7 roadside assistance. This bundle of warranty protection is most common among CX-30 rivals; however, Kia and Hyundai provide significantly longer coverage.

Safety Rating

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded the CX-30 its highest scores possible across its battery of tests. Furthermore, it named the 2023 model to its prestigious Top Safety Pick (TSP) list.