In this video, I talk about the 2021 Mazda CX-30 and cover what’s new for 2021, pros and cons, reliability, resale value, price and trim info.
Basics - The CX-30 is Mazda’s subcompact SUV that slots above the smaller CX-3 and the larger CX-5. The CX-30 is around 6 inches shorter in length, 2 inches narrower, and 4 inches shorter than the CX-5. The CX-30 competes against the Honda HR-V, Subaru Crosstrek, the Nissan Rogue Sport, as well as the Audi Q3 and the Lexus UX. You might be surprised at how well the CX-30 competes against luxury competitors and I’ll get to that later.
The CX-30 was just introduced for model year 2020 but Mazda has made several changes. First, every trim of the CX-30 now comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That’s a good move by Mazda as many buyers won’t consider a vehicle without this connectivity option.
The other major change is the availability of an optional 2.5L turbo engine that’s in other Mazda vehicles like the CX-5 and the CX-9. This turbo engine will make the CX-30 significantly quicker than the standard 4 cylinder engine. The turbo is slated to appear in the CX-30 by the end of the year.
Everything else remains unchanged for 2021.
The CX-30 starts with a 2.5L normally aspirated 4 cylinder with 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. The uplevel engine is a 2.5L turbo 4 cylinder with 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque.
There’s only one transmission offered which is the 6 speed automatic. This transmission has been offered by Mazda for many years so it’s a proven and reliable unit. Most competitors offer a continuously variable transmission for improved fuel economy.
The CX-30 with the base engine goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 8 seconds. Expect the turbo to cut that down to a low six second range.
Fuel economy for the base engine is 25 city / 33 highway, and 28 combined for the front wheel model
The CX-30 has 8 inches of ground clearance.
Interior - Looking at the interior, Mazda continues to blur the lines between a traditional automaker and a luxury one with a very attractive design that could be mistaken for a vehicle costing thousands more. It starts with the clean layout. The center screen is a good size at 8.8 inches.
Size - One area where Mazda tends to trail other manufacturers is the interior space offered. The CX-30 does pretty well in terms of passenger space as the headroom is 38.1” in the front and 38.3” in the rear. The front headroom is a little lower than most here but the rear headroom is competitive. As for legroom, the CX-30 delivers 41.7” in the front and 36.3” in the rear.
Cargo space for the CX-30 comes in at 20.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 45.2 cubic feet with the rear seats down. That’s on the low end of the segment as you can see here. The Kia Seltos in particular has about 30% more cargo space than the CX-30. Still, compared to sedans, 20 cubic feet is very generous and useful.
Pros - The Mazda CX-30 has a lot going for it. First, it’s one of the most stylish entries in the subcompact segment. It has that same gorgeous face as the CX-5 and looks substantial even though it is a smaller crossover.
Second, the CX-30 has one of the best interiors in its class. There’re a lot of soft touch surfaces and it’s also very stylish inside.
Third, the CX-30 handles like a Mazda, which is to say, excellent. If there’s one thing that Mazda’s known for is its driving feel and steering precision. It’s no surprise as the CX-30 is based on the Mazda 3 which is one of the best handlers in the compact sedan class.
Cons - If you want the biggest cargo space in this segment, there are better choices like the Honda HR-V and the Kia Seltos.
Reliability - Since the CX-30 was brand new for model year 2020, reliability data is not well established. According to Consumer Reports, the CX-30 has an average predicted reliability.
Resale Value - In general Mazdas are in the top half of all car manufacturers when it comes to resale value. The 2021 Mazda CX-30 should hold its value better than average. The 3 year expected resale value is 66.7% of original MSRP. The 5 year is 51.5% and 7 year is 39.9%.
Price and Trim - The 2021 CX-30 starts at $21,900 for the S trim. AWD is $1400 additional. This S model is the base trim and includes cloth seats, LED headlights
The Select trim starts at $23,900 and adds dual zone climate control, rear vents, rear privacy glass, leatherette seats
The Preferred trim starts at $26,300 and adds a standard sized moonroof, heated front seats, and power driver’s seat with memory.
The top of the line Premium trim starts at $28,550 and includes Bose 12 speaker premium
The CX-5 Turbo will be available by the end of 2020 but pricing has not been finalized.
Conclusion - If you’re considering the Audi Q3, BMW X1, or a Lexus UX, you owe it to yourself to check out the CX-30 and see how it stacks up.
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