Mazda’s 2.5-liter turbo engine with 250 hp made the headlines when it was introduced in the new Mazda 3. For 2021, the engine has made its way into the CX-30, which fits between the CX-3 and CX-5, but with dimensions that bring it confusingly close to both models.
Mazda is aiming for that shiny ‘premium’ title and the CX-30 seems to have matched both the engine and the model’s pricing. The base CX-30 Turbo starts at $ 29,900. Strangely, this price is $ 50 cheaper than the Premium version with the non-turbo engine and all-wheel drive. (The
CX-30 with the non-turbo front-wheel drive engine starts at $ 28,550.)
There are three trim levels for the CX-30 Turbo: the aforementioned $ 29,900 base model; the Premium trim for $ 32,300 and Premium Plus for $ 33,900.
The price differences between the trims are so subtle that you almost start to wonder what you’re paying more for. But of course it just comes down to packages and features. The difference between the base model Turbo and the Premium upholstery is, for example, leather seats, adaptive HID headlights, a head-up display and a navigation system. A fully loaded CX-30 Turbo comes in at $ 35,000.
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Aside from the pricing and turbo engine, the premium look and feel that Mazda is going for is also showing through in other areas. The interior, for example, is a damn nice place to be, with soft materials on most surfaces and contrasting stitching. Those premium ambitions are reflected in who Mazda thinks its competitors are. With its turbo engine and AWD, Mazda is going after the Audi Q3 S Line Premium, Lexus UX 250 F Sport and Subaru Crosstrek Limited.
Those of us who see this as yet another entry-level small Japanese crossover know that its real competitors are vehicles like the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Venue. Only then will the CX-30 come across as more premium. But if you’re looking for power and some high-hatch capability, and you’ve got $ 35,000 a hole in your pocket, the CX-30 might be just what you’re looking for.