Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photos by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The crossover market is booming within the automotive industry and Mazda has stepped up in creating a vehicle to cover each segment of that market. The 2024 Mazda CX-30 further advances their footprint amongst the crossover field. I was excited to get some drive time in the CX-30 to see what it had to offer.
The Mazda CX-30 is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Mazda. Based on the fourth generation Mazda3, it debuted at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, to slot in between the CX-3 and the CX-5. Upon first look you can see the CX-30 follows the sleek and bold design concept from Kodo, which is the Soul of Motion design philosophy from Mazda. On the CX-30 you will also notice the sleek grille, rear roof spoiler, LED taillights and 18-inch black alloy wheels. The CX-30 shares styling is reminiscent of the Mazda. My test model arrived in a platinum quartz metallic hue, outlined with contrasting black body panels around the entire vehicle. I am typically not a fan of this design because I like to see the paint color throughout but Mazda is honing in on an outdoorsman feel, so it works for the CX-30.
Inside the CX-30, the white leather seats are stylish and plush. In addition, the front seats are heated and power-adjustable driver’s seat. The brown leather interior added a nice touch to the car as well. The CX-30 has a heated steering wheel, paddle shifters and illuminated vanity mirrors. Both the front and rear seats in CX-30 are designed to create a comfortable distance between its occupants providing enough headroom, legroom and elbow room for up to 5 people.
Mazda fit the CX-30 with a great infotainment system. The CX-30 has an 10.25 inch color center display that sits on top of the dashboard. The rotary-knob controller on the center console is the easiest and most efficient way to operate the system. The CX-30 offers Android Auto, Apple Carplay, Bluetooth, USB port, HD Radio, Navigation, SiriusXM and more. The twelve-speaker BOSE audio system sounded so crisp while pumping out our tunes.
The CX-30 has a Skyactive-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine pushing out 227-hp and 310 pound-feet of torque. The six speed transmission kicks CX-30 into gear faster than many subcompact SUVs. The CX-30 accelerates quickly off the line and delivers enough power for both cruising around the city and jetting on the highway. It did well when passing, merging, and cornering but the engine was a bit loud when pushed. The CX-30 has strong brakes, great steering and swift maneuvering that make it fun to drive.
Mazda is high on safety and made the sure CX-30 measured up to the brands standards with the i-ACTIVSENSE Safety system. Key safety features include lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, Mazda radar cruise control with stop and go function, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, a rearview camera, low-speed automatic emergency braking, full-speed forward collision warning, automatic high beams, adaptive headlights and driver attention alert. Installing child safety seats is a key component me and the CX-30 made it an easy task. The CX-30 has two full sets of LATCH connectors on the outboard rear seats, with an additional upper tether anchor on the middle seat.
Fuel efficiency is extremely important when it comes to determining which vehicle to purchase. The CX-30 delivers 22 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 25 mpg combined. The 2024 Mazda CX-30 is a good subcompact SUV. It’s priced competitively and offers a great driving experience. Mazda covers the 2024 CX-30 with a 3 year – 36,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty and a 5 year – 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. There is also a 3 year – 36,000-mile roadside assistance warranty for the CX-30 as well.
The CX-30 is in a highly competitive class, going up against the Subaru Crosstrek, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross, Audi Q3 and the Toyota RAV4. The Mazda CX-30 looks good, fun to drive and a quality infotainment system. The platinum quartz metallic Mazda CX-30 with white and brown leather interior model tested was priced competitively, coming in at $38,310 after all the options, delivery and fees. All in all, the CX-30 2.5 Turbo is a cross between sporty driving and a practical and reliable vehicle. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
