This week I test drove the 2021 Mazda CX-30. This is a sharp looking crossover SUV.
The highlights were the overall size and maneuverability, the exterior styling and it has a nice interior. My test vehicle came with the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus Trim and had a Machine Gray Metallic exterior with a Black / Brown Interior.
Exterior
The exterior of the 2021 Mazda CX-30 was the Machine Gray Metallic, it looks great during the bright sun of daylight and at night. Some of the notable exterior features
Are Signature LED headlights with Signature LED combination taillights. Black, power side mirrors with integrated turn signals, Front grille in gloss Black finish, Power sliding-glass moonroof with one-touch-open feature and interior sunshade The 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels look great. I also like the ground clearance on this which is 8inches.
Interior
The interior of the 2021 Mazda CX-30 in Turbo Premium Plus Trim cam with Blcak and Brown interior. The first thing you notice is how the cockpit is positioned and everything seems to be centered around the driver. It looks like a fun car to drive.The seats on my test version were black leather seats.
I really like the infotainment center of the Mazda CX-30, the 8.8-inch large center display has Apple car play and Android Auto play as you would expect and there is a host of Mazda Connected Services and tech worth exploring. The Bose® 12-speaker premium audio system with Centerpoint® 2 and AudioPilot® delivers a great music experience.
Engine / Powertrain
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 in Turbo Premium Plus Trim comes with a 250 hp SKYACTIV® -G 2.5 Turbo with i-ACTIV AWD with Off-road Traction Assist. The Non Turbo trims come standard with SKYACTIV®-G 2.5 and FWD that generates 186 hp (i-ACTIV AWD is available as an option). The Turbo engine gets 22 / 30 / 25 MPG and you can expect a little better gas mileage for non turbo versions with FWD.
I do like the additional horsepower in the Turbo version and the AWD. I think it is a nice addition to the maneuverability and handling in traffic where you need that extra acceleration to pass or get out of the way of something.
Turbo Premium Plus Trim Option
The Premium Plus package is all-new for the 2021 CX-30 and exclusive to the Turbo models.
This includes new i-Activsense safety features Smart City Brake Support Reverse and Rear Cross-Traffic Braking, which can help a driver by automatically applying the brakes when the vehicle is reversing at speeds between 2 to 4 mph and an obstacle is detected, or when a crossing vehicle is sensed as the driver is backing out of a parking space.
A new support feature, Traffic Jam Assist, enhances Mazda Radar Cruise Control in certain situations by providing steering inputs that can help assist the driver stay within lane markers at speeds under 40 mph.
The 360° View Monitor with high-definition digital clarity and front and rear parking sensors are new for the CX-30. Auto-dimming driver’s side door mirror and added Homelink to the frameless rearview mirror are also included in this package.
The exterior is elevated in the turbo model as well with 18-inch black aluminum alloy wheels, gloss black front grille, gloss black heated door mirrors with turn signals, “TURBO” badge on the liftgate and engine cover, aluminum roof rails, and automatic on/off LED headlights and LED taillights.
Safety
The Mazda CX-30 has been rated 5 star overall safety rating for 2020 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Also a Top Safety Pick (when equipped with specific headlights) by The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Some notable safety features included on the Turbo Premium Plus Trim are Driver Attention Alert (When system detects driver fatigue or decreased attentiveness, it activates a warning sound and displays an alert in the multi-information display); Dynamic Stability Control with Traction Control System; High Beam Control; Departure Warning System-Lane-Keep Assist; Mazda Radar Cruise Control w/stop and go (0 to 90mph)-Rearview camera-Smart Brake Support-Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
Conclusion
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 in Turbo Premium Plus is a good option to consider if you are in the market for a compact crossover SUV. I am a taller driver (over 6ft) and found it lacking in comfort on longer road trips and in most cases would limit it to small children or shorter adults in the rear seats. This vehicle does have a lot of appeal as a daily driver and many other applications.
The starting MSRP for the S trim (base model) is $22,050 and the version I tested MSRP is $35,895.
Compare versions and specs here
https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/2021-cx-30/compare-vehicle-specs-and-trims
