I drove a $39,000 Mazda CX-30 Turbo. It's like a sports car disguised as a small SUV.
The Mexico-made CX-30 starts at a very reasonable $25,195 for the base non-turbo model.
The most affordable turbocharged trim is the 2.5 Carbon Turbo, which starts at $33,140.
My range-topping CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus test car starts at $37,150, making it one of the priciest offerings from a non-luxury brand in the segment.
Freight fees and a couple of options pushed the as-tested price to $39,155.
Although the CX-30 has been on the market for half a decade, its styling still looks fresh and modern.
The CX-30's long flowing lines and organic curves are an evolution of Mazda's Kodo design language, which seeks to express the beauty of nature in motion through a static object.
Mazda's designers blended elements from coupes and SUVs together to create the CX-30's sporty silhouette.
At 173 inches long, it's one of the shorter vehicles in the segment, trailing the Chevrolet Trax by nearly half a foot.
The CX-30 is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine.
Pop open the hood of my test car and you'll find a 2.5-liter, turbocharged inline-four-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on regular 87-octane gasoline. Output jumps to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with 93-octane premium gas.
Lower-tier models are powered by a naturally aspirated version of the same 2.5-liter engine, which produces 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque.
The base motor's output makes the CX-50 one of the most powerful in the segment, but the turbo engine takes things to a whole different level. It's by far the most powerful motor available in a mass-market subcompact crossover. In fact, you'll have to pony up more than $50,000 for a BMW X1 M35i or a Mercedes-AMG GLA35 to get an SUV of this size with more power.
My turbocharged loaner boasts fuel economy figures of 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined; the base engine gets four additional mpg in combined driving.
All CX-30s come equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The Mazda drives like it's a sporty hot hatchback in an SUV body.
The CX-30 Turbo was an absolute blast to drive, a rarity in the subcompact SUV segment, which is focused on efficiency and affordability.
I guess that shouldn't be a surprise for the brand that gave us the Miata and the RX-7.
Its steering is crisp and precise, and its well-turned suspension limits body roll into corners, creating a sense of control and stability.
The turbo-four and six-speed automatic make for a potent duo, quickly getting the CX-30 up to highway speeds without hesitation.
According to Motor Trend, the CX-30 Turbo can do 0-60mph in a brisk 5.8 seconds.
My only big complaint is the less-than-cushy ride, but that's the trade-off you make for the sporty handling.
Stylish design and premium materials headline the CX-30's cabin.
The CX-30 just feels nicer on the inside than many of its competitors. The soft-touch leather upholstery with brown accents and asymmetric design adds a real touch of class and style to the affair. Even better, Mazda backs this up with efficient ergonomics and top-notch fit and finish.
The front seats are the place to be.
The seats in our previous Mazda test cars were not my favorite. I found them hard and uncomfortable, but the CX-30's heated leather seats were soft and offered good support.
The CX-30 is equipped with an impressive array of tech, but it can be cumbersome to use.
My test car's optional 10.25-inch touchscreen looks great, but the software behind it makes using it a bit odd.
The CX-30's infotainment screen is only a touchscreen when Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which come standard, are initiated. In all other instances, the system requires the use of the cumbersome rotary controller on the center console.
My test car also came with the optional 360-degree camera, color head-up display, and 12-speaker Bose premium sound system.
All CX-30s come standard with adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and rear cross-traffic alert.
The rear cabin feels tight and lacks legroom compared to its rivals.
With 36.3 inches of legroom, the CX-30 offers three inches more legroom than the Nissan Kicks, but trails the Chevy Trax by 2.5 inches.
Cargo capacity is not the CX-30's strong suit.
The CX-30 boasts one of the smallest cargo compartments in the segment, with just 20.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats. That's about 20% less space than the rival Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-V, and Nissan Kicks.
The CX-30's cargo compartment expands to 45.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
My Verdict: The Mazda CX-30 is a fun, small SUV that offers performance, style, and luxury in a segment that usually prioritizes utilitarian transportation.
I really enjoyed driving the Mazda CX-30. It looks amazing, feels premium, handles great, and has the punchiest engine in the segment. However, it's also a bit short on space, isn't great at carrying cargo, and doesn't get the best fuel economy.
Ultimately, the Mazda CX-30 is a story of trade-offs. It forces the consumer to decide what's really important to them. And if the answer is style and driving pleasure, then the CX-30 is the pint-sized SUV for you.
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