Comparable to the beloved Mazda 3 Sport 5-door hatchback, the CX-30 essentially shares all the same ingredients, but with a more SUV-like form factor. That is, the 2021 Mazda CX-30 is about 5” taller than the 2021 Mazda 3 Sport with an extra 2.5” of ground clearance. Both front-wheel and all-wheel-drive are available if configured with the standard 2.5L Skyactiv engine. A much more powerful turbocharged 2.5L Skyactiv engine making 252 horsepower (up from 186) is also available for the more enthusiastic drivers and that will only be offered with all-wheel-drive configuration in the GT trim.
Similar to the Mazda 3, the CX-30 offers similar curves with slightly different proportions with its taller dimensions. The base GX trim comes with 16” alloy wheels but we prefer the larger 18” silver-metallic finish bespoke rims available in the GS or GT trim.
Mazda continues to offer a premium interior similar to the Mazda 3 with leather seating and high quality materials that are meticulously crafted to seamlessly harmonize with the human eye. A push-button activated rotary knob located in the center console allows ease of navigation through the 8.8” infotainment display that’s compatible with both Android Auto and Apple Car Play and will come standard across all trims.
Exclusive to the highest GT trim is the Windshield-Projected Color Active Driving display (a heads-up display) that projects the vehicle speed and navigation directly on the front windshield. A 12-speaker BOSE audio sound system is also a worthy note worth upgrading to the GT trim for a premium audio experience.
Three engine choices are available ranging from the Skyactiv-G 2.0L, 2.5L and 2.5L Turbo making 155, 186, and 252 horsepower respectively. The GX trim comes equipped with the 2.5L Skyactiv engine while the GT trim adds an upgradable option for the 2.5L Turbocharged engine for an extra $2,600. All trims can be upgraded with i-Activ all-wheel drive for added stability and control and will all come equipped standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Also standard across all trims is G-Vector Control Plus – a similar technology to torque vectoring to improve handling and cornering by applying more torque to the outside rear wheels while corning by gently applying brake pressure to the inside wheels through its ABS system.
Despite taller dimensions, the interior cabin space measurements are nearly identical to the Mazda 3 Sport with just slightly more headroom and rear legroom in the back. Excellent interior noise isolation is also a worthy note during our week long test drive
At 7.9” of ground clearance, the 2021 Mazda CX-30 feels like a proper cross-over SUV and although sitting at a higher center of gravity, it still offers good handling and cornering capability particularly thanks to the G-Vector Control plus.
Our tester GT trim came equipped with the 2.5L turbocharged Skyactiv engine that provided linear power and good response. It’s even got a decent engine exhaust tone, but where things fall short is the dated 6-speed automatic transmission in which more gears, and even a dual-clutch transmission would better extract power from the 2.5L turbocharged engine.
The GT trim configured with the 2.5L Turbocharged Skyactiv engine can be had for $38,325. Savvy buyers can still opt for the GS trim at $29,425 that still gets you the bulk of the premium features including 18” wheels, dual-climate controls, heated exterior mirrors, heated steering and leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter.
