Review: Mazda CX-30 is affordable, fun small SUV
Published 12:54 pm Tuesday, May 6, 2025
The 2025 Mazda CX-30 is a stylish subcompact crossover SUV that handles well and is fun to drive. (Courtesy photo: Mazda)
The sporty 2025 Mazda CX-30 is available with a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that produces an impressive 250 horsepower on premium gas. (Courtesy photo: Mazda)
The 2025 CX-30 is available with Mazda's excellent iACTIV all-wheel-drive system that increases traction in wet conditions. (Courtesy photo: Mazda)
The interior of the 2025 Mazda CX-30 is cleanly designed and borders on luxury levels. (Courtesy photo: Mazda)
The front bucket seats in the 2025 Mazda CX-30 are both supportive and comfortable. (Courtesy photo: Mazda)
The infotainment system in the 2025 Mazda CX-30 is operated by a dial on the center console. (Cortesy photo: Mazda)
Affordable small crossover SUVs offer a lot of benefits. They don’t cost much more than small cars but provide a lot more interior room and cargo space, better visibility because of their higher ride height, and relatively good mileage, even by those that aren’t hybrids.
But, unless buyers are willing to step up to luxury performance models, they aren’t much fun to drive because they tend to be underpowered and their higher center of gravity makes them drive more like minivans than cars. One notable exception is the Mazda CX-30, a subcompact crossover praised for its sporty handling and optional turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that provides surprisingly good acceleration, even in the Normal drive mode.
But more than that, all versions of the CX-30 feel much more sophisticated than other affordable small affordable SUVs. That is because Mazda has repositioned itself in recent years to compete against genuine luxury brands. Unlike other Japanese affordable manufacturers, Mazda did not create a separate brand to offer luxury vehicles. Instead, the company is upscaling its affordable models to challenge similar luxury models with lower prices. The 2025 CX-30 is a prime example.
I was confused the first time I read about the CX-30, which was introduced in 2020. Based on the sporty compact Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, it slotted between the since-discontinued subcompact CX-3 and the long running compact CX-5 crossovers. So why didn’t Mazda call it the CX-4?
As it turned out, the “0” designated Mazda’s luxury aspirations. Not only was it bigger than the CX-3, it was much more refined than either the CX-3 and CX-5. Mazda has since added the CX-50 as a step above the CX-5 and the midsize CX-90 crossover as, you guessed, the bigger and better midsize CX-9. All should be considered if you’re looking for an equivalent luxury SUV.
The CX-30 was well reviewed when it first debuted. It handled nearly as well as the Mazda3, instantly making it the most fun to drive affordable crossover SUV on the market. The only complaint was that the standard naturally-aspirated 186-horsepower inline four cylinder engine was a little underpowered, even in the Sport mode that increased throttle response.
Mazda more than solved that problem the next year by introducing an optional turbocharged 2.5-liter four rated a 227 horsepower (250 on premium gas). That is more than enough to move such a small vehicle smartly off the line, even in the Normal drive mode. In the Sport mode it is genuinely quick in all circumstances. The handling shines even more when driven hard, when the CX-30 feels much more like a fast small car than a practical SUV.
Inside, the CX-30 seems bigger than it is. There’s plenty of room for two adult men to share the center armrest, and the cabin feels spacious, at least in the front seats. The back seat area could be bigger, but Mazda offers the CX-5 if that’s what you need. The CX-30 also offers generous cargo space, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the second row, or 45.2 cubic feet with the second row folded flat.
Mazda has an effective technology package, including available luxury features such as a head-up display, phone app for remote start, pre-conditioning, and locking. The 8.8-inch Mazda Connect infotainment system supports both Apple and Android phone integration. Although mounted on top of the dash, it is better integrated than the typical small upright tabloids. Available safety features include blind spot and rear traffic alerts, adaptive cruise and automatic braking, automatic headlights, and lane assistance.
The CX-30 comes standard with front-wheel-drive and offers Mazda’s iACTIV all-wheel-drive system as an option on lower trim levels and standard on upper ones. It is among the best in the industry and a wise choice for anyone living in the wet Pacific Northwest. It uses sensor data to predict slick conditions and engages the AWD system before the driver can detect wheel slip. Mazda also uses a unique system called G-Vectoring Control to slightly reduce engine torque as the driver turns the steering wheel. That action shifts weight forward, onto the front wheels for crisp steering response.
The 2025 CX-30 is offered in eight trim levels, with the base front-wheel-drive S starting at just $26,415, which is a great price for such a well designed SUV. The top-of-the-line Turbo Premium Plus begins at $38,370 but includes the turbo engine, the iACTIV system, interior and safety upgrades, and more. If that seems a lot for an affordable SUV, it’s still less than the genuine luxury competition.
The CX-30 is among Mazda’s latest expression of a concept called “Jinba Ittai,” which translates as “Horse and rider are one.” To fully understand that, you should take a test drive, especially in the turbo version. You won’t be disappointed.
2025 Mazda CX-30
Base price: $22,050 (base S)
Price as tested: $38,505 (Turbo Premium Plus)
Type: Subcompact crossover SUV
Engine: Turbocharged 2.5-liter four cylinder (227-250 hp, 310 lbs-ft)
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
EPA estimated mileage: 22/30
Overall length: 173 inches
Curb weight: 3,408 pounds
Final assembly: Salamanca, Mexico
