Second Impressions Matter: 2021 Mazda CX-30 Premium AWD
First impressions matter on the showroom floor, and Mazda has done a phenomenal job of producing affordable vehicles that look great inside and out. This is crucial for a brand that produces vehicles that straddle the line between regular and premium segments. In order for buyers to return to dealerships in the future, Mazda needs to make long-term ownership measure up with the initial wow moment. With this in mind, we tested a 2021 Mazda CX-30 Premium AWD to see if its day-to-day livability measured up to the stellar first impressions its chic bodywork delivers.
Specification and Performance
The CX-30 is one of the most visually attractive cars in its segment with flowing body lines that catch light beautifully and taut proportions that add some sportiness to its upscale visage. Our test car had Machine Grey Metallic paint and a brown interior with white leather seats. The first impression was strong: This is a handsome vehicle inside and out.
Driving home from the office kept the good feelings going strong. Acceleration, particularly after a two-week stint in a 2021 Nissan Kicks SR, felt brisk off the line and at highway passing speeds. The cabin is quiet, especially for a vehicle in this segment. Aside from some road noise, only the throaty rumble of the 2.5-liter I-4 engine can be heard. This engine produces 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, making it one of the mightiest entries in the fierce battle for subcompact CUV supremacy.
The glitter of the initial pickup started to fade as the reality of stiff suspension tuning set in. With the exception of ultra-high-quality roads, of which there are few in the Los Angeles area, the Mazda CX-30 rebounds over small bumps with frenetic jerking motions. Bigger imperfections hardly feel damped at all, and occupants can feel the seat punching into their posterior. This flaw is a glaring detraction from what is an otherwise capable and well-designed vehicle, diminishing its daily drivability significantly.
A secondary weak point is the antiquated six-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox hesitates when called upon for sudden downshifts and can be confused when a quick transition from acceleration to deceleration is needed. The steering wheel paddle shifters that come as part of the Premium trim seem like they should be a fun inclusion, but the transmission isn’t responsive enough to maximize their utility. Less astute drivers may not notice this, but they will notice the weak fuel economy figures.
The Mazda CX-30 has plenty of redeeming aspects, particularly its well-tuned steering that upholds the brand’s reputation for producing highly communicative cars. Some extra correction is needed on the freeway, but the steering weight and feel makes up for it in commuting and normal city driving. Around town this CUV makes short work of tricky lane changes, but on complicated canyon roads the jarring suspension diminishes what could otherwise be a thrilling sporting experience.
Braking doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence. The initial bite is lackluster, and hauling the Mazda CX-30 down from speed requires a firm and deep pedal depression. Our instrumented test numbers from 2020 Mazda CX-30 AWD Premium corroborate this observation.
Safety and Options
This loaded 2021 CX-30 AWD arrived with a total MSRP of $32,195, which prices it in the upper stratosphere of its segment and pushes the CUV up against entry-level models from luxury manufacturers. Those who don’t mind spending a little extra for the sake of fashion won’t mind dropping the extra cash, but others with balk at the hefty price tag as we did. The CX-30’s performance and equipment don’t measure up with the amount of money Mazda asks for the car.
Granted, there were some great features included in the car we tested. The infotainment system, which is controlled solely by a rotary dial between the driver and passenger seats, has slick graphics. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are accessible via the 8.8-inch display, although users of satellite radio will be frustrated by the amount of fiddling required to exit the mobile device view and return to Mazda’s proprietary interface in order to see the current song or change stations.
L.A. has been pretty chilly lately (by our standards, at least,) so the heated seats were a welcome inclusion. The adaptive front lighting system came in handy at night. A motorized rear hatch helps the Mazda CX-30 feel more upscale, with beefy struts supporting the fifth door. The leather interior warrants another mention here; thanks to the Premium trim level there are soft materials galore. Seating remains immensely comfortable even on the long haul, which helps cushion the blows from the taut suspension. Opening up the sunroof and allowing light into the cabin reveals how gorgeous Mazda’s designers made the interior surfaces. It’s a beautiful place to spend a road trip, even if the ride quality could be better.
The big center console cubby was great for holding phones, hand sanitizer bottles, and a garage opener. A moveable divider made organizing the space easy and kept precious cargo separate from the less important stuff. The rest of the packaging was less impressive, however. The CX-30 doesn’t make great use of its interior space, and overall, the cabin is cramped from front to back. A tight trunk leaves a lot to be desired, a massive penalty for a crossover that is supposedly designed to offer more utility over hatchbacks like the Mazda 3 with which this car shares almost everything.
Although Mazda includes plenty of safety equipment on the CX-30 Premium AWD, the tech doesn’t work as well as one would hope. The blind-spot monitoring systems attempted to alert me of vehicles two lanes away, and automatic braking intervention activated even as my foot was on the brake pedal. I found myself turning off these systems manually because they were too unreliable to be of any use. Hilariously, a test route from Malibu to the Central Valley was enough to cause the Mazda CX-30 to deactivate all of its safety systems, which ended up being a blessing.
The optional equipment list had some glaring omissions given the Mazda CX-30 Premium AWD’s price point. Our test car did not come equipped with a 360-degree camera view for parking, nor did it include front parking sensors. Cheaper vehicles in the segment, like the 2021 Nissan Kicks SR, have the ability to display an overhead camera view for nearly $10,000 less.
Verdict
Mazda designed a car that stands out from typical CUVS, but the CX-30 still doesn’t have the dynamic panache to measure up to its unique bodywork and luxurious interior. This example is particularly expensive given the detractions we discovered during our time behind the wheel. This is a crossover we really wanted to like, but the punishing suspension and funky transmission prevented us from maximizing our enjoyment. The 2021 Mazda CX-30 may be a pretty face, but we struggled to find beauty beyond its cosmetics.
| 2020 Mazda CX-30 AWD SkyactivG | |
| BASE PRICE | $24,625 |
| PRICE AS TESTED | $32,195 |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV |
| ENGINE | 2.5L/186-hp/186-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4 |
| TRANSMISSION | 6-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 3,352 lb (60/40%) |
| WHEELBASE | 104.4 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 173.0 x 70.7 x 61.7 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 8.3 sec |
| QUARTER MILE | 16.3 sec @ 86.3 mph |
| BRAKING, 60-0 MPH | 125 ft |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.79 g (avg) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 27.9 sec @ 0.60 g (avg) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | 24/31/26 mpg |
| ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY | 140/109 kW-hrs/100 miles |
| CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB | 0.73 lb/mile |
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