LIKES
- Sharp lines
- Strong engines
- Good feature set
- AWD comes standard
DISLIKES
- Can get expensive
- Annoying infotainment system
- Weird options walk
- Turbo needs premium for best performance
BUYING TIP
- The 2023 CX-30 doesn’t need its optional turbocharged engine to be a fun choice.
The 2023 Mazda CX-30 is a stylish choice with decent performance to boot.
What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Mazda CX-30? What does it compare to?
The CX-30 is a small five-seat crossover SUV. Shop it against the Hyundai Kona and Subaru Crosstrek.
Is the 2023 Mazda CX-30 a good SUV?
The CX-30 is a stylish choice with great road manners and lots of safety tech, though its kludgy infotainment system is a sore spot. We rate it at 5.8 out of 10.
What's new for the 2023 Mazda CX-30?
Rear side-impact airbags are standard across the lineup, while base versions see engine tweaks that add a little more power and offer a 2-mpg improvement according to EPA estimates.
The 2.5-liter inline-4 sees tweaks this year that bring its output to 191 hp, though it sticks with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Turbo versions offer as much as 250 hp, though running cheaper regular unleaded means a 227-hp rating. Experience with the outgoing base engine suggests that there’s not much need to spend up for the decidedly costly turbo, especially given this year’s improvement in fuel economy.
We expect good road manners from Mazda vehicles, and the CX-30 definitely delivers. Its well-weighted steering pairs nicely with a balanced chassis. It’s a lot of fun to drive.
Stretching just 173 inches long, the CX-30 is best considered a two-seater with an occasional-use back seat. Its interior has an upscale look at feel, especially when outfitted with leather seats. A clunky infotainment system with an annoying center console wheel frustrates at every opportunity.
The CX-30’s good safety record is augmented by two extra airbags this year. The CX-30 has scored five stars in federal testing and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS in the past.
How much does the 2023 Mazda CX-30 cost?
Mazda asks $24,255 for the base model, a $800 bump over last year but still a good deal for a vehicle with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and push-button start.
Turbos cost $35,000 to start, though they build on higher-trim versions with more luxury and convenience features such as a power tailgate and Bose audio with navigation.
In Japan.
Styling
Mazda bakes more car cues than rugged off-road hints into its CX-30.
Is the Mazda CX-30 a good-looking car?
It’s almost as if Mazda took a conventional SUV and then streamlined it. The CX-30 sits lower to the ground than many of its competitors, and it largely discards any rugged hints. Sure, you’ll find unpainted fender flares, but they give it more of an urban look than, say, the chunky Subaru Crosstrek.
We like the CX-30’s exterior more than its interior, which has nice enough materials but can feel a little sparse. It’s a 6 on the TCC scale.
Standard 16-inch alloy wheels on base versions grow to 18 inches on other models, which better fill its wheel wells.
Performance
The CX-30’s powertrains take a back seat to its admirable handling.
Is the Mazda CX-30 4WD?
Yes, all-wheel drive was made standard last year. The CX-30 sits low to the ground, though, so don’t expect it to go far from the pavement.
How fast is the Mazda CX-30?
The optional 2.5-liter turbo-4 pumps out a solid 250 hp (227 hp using regular unleaded), but it’s an expensive choice.
No matter what’s under hood, the CX-30 has long been a curvy road delight. Its balanced feel means impressive cornering, even if your version of a fun road is that cloverleaf on-ramp just before you clock in. The thick-rimmed steering wheel hints at the CX-30’s sporty nature, and it’s backed up by good heft and sports sedan-like precision.
The short wheelbase means the CX-30 can ride a bit choppily on the 18-inch wheels standard on all but the base version, so try it out on your daily commute before signing on the dotted line.
Comfort & Quality
That sleek roofline means limited rear-seat and cargo space in the 2023 Mazda CX-30.
Yes, you can put a price on vanity. The Mazda CX-30 wears slick styling that cuts into passenger space. We give it a 6 out of 10 simply because its cargo area, while smaller than many competitors, does best a similarly-sized sedan.
The front seats offer decent support, though power adjustment doesn’t arrive until the third trim level. Standard cloth can be swapped out for synthetic or real leather.
Rear-seat riders will need to duck a little to slide in, and they’ll find tight leg and head room against competitors.
Aside from too much glossy black trim, which scratches easily, the CX-30 has an upscale cabin for the sub-$30,000 price point at which most versions exist. Step up to the turbo versions and you might find yourself more impressed with luxury competitors for not much more money.
Safety
The 2023 Mazda CX-30 has a good safety record and a lot of standard equipment.
How safe is the Mazda CX-30?
The NHTSA and the IIHS both consider it a solid choice. Add their five-star and Top Safety Pick+ ratings to a huge amount of standard crash-avoidance features and we land at an 8 for safety.
Every CX-30 comes with automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, and 10 airbags (two more than last year thanks to the addition of rear side-impact airbags). Blind-spot monitors are included with all but the base version, while a surround-view camera system comes on the top turbo trim.
Features
The 2023 Mazda CX-30 comes fairly well equipped, but its infotainment system annoys at every opportunity.
A slew of trim levels helps justify a $12,000 stretch between base and fully loaded versions of the 2023 Mazda CX-30. The entry-level model comes with a big screen, active safety tech, and most of the convenience features we expect. However, all versions are saddled with a disappointing infotainment system. We rate the CX-30 at 6 out of 10 overall for its features.
Base CX-30 models run $24,225 to start, and they include 16-inch alloy wheels, LED lights, an 8.8-inch display, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The infotainment’s lack of touchscreen input means near-endless fiddling with a knob on the console or on steering-wheel switches; we appreciate the concern, but hate its resolution.
Mazda’s 3-year/36,000-mile warranty coverage is nothing to brag about.
The base version is a decent value, though the CX-30 Select adds synthetic leather seats, keyless entry, automatic climate control, tinted rear windows, and 18-inch alloy wheels. Mazda charges a somewhat eyebrow-raising $2,450 for those bits, however.
How much is a fully loaded Mazda CX-30?
Turbocharged models start at just over $35,000, though to be fair they build on the well-equipped Premium trim level that includes leather seats, navigation, 18-inch wheels, and a few other niceties.
Fuel Economy
Mazda promises a notable fuel economy improvement for the CX-30 this year.
Is the Mazda CX-30 good on gas?
It should be better than last year’s model, Mazda says. The automaker estimates that the 2023 CX-30 will be rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, 29 combined in base form. That’s 3 mpg combined better than last year, which brings the CX-30 more in line with rivals.
Turbocharged models should still click in at 22/30/25 mpg, though they need premium fuel to extract all 250 hp.
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