I recently had the chance to drive the 2025 Mazda CX-30 as a loaner vehicle while my Miata went in for a service recall. It’s been a while since I’ve driven one. In fact, the last time was back in 2020 at MotorTrend for a comparison against the Kia Seltos and Chevrolet Trailblazer. Among subcompact crossovers, the CX-30 stands out as the upscale option. The one you buy for a premium experience without the requisite price tag. Going into my time with it, I expected it to offer just that, even in the mid-level Preferred trim I drove during the Miata’s downtime. Did it meet those standards? Yes. In a way. However, in other aspects, the CX-30 fell short.
2025 Mazda CX-30: Premium Space and Design
In terms of design, the CX-30 nails that upscale feel. The curvaceous shape and clever use of surfacing to make any color pop give Mazda’s smallest SUV a truly premium presence. Even with unpainted plastic body cladding, the CX-30 simply exudes an expensive feel. The fact that it has been on sale for over five years and still looks new is a testament to its timeless design.
The premium theme continues inside. Exceptional fit and finish, good sound insulation, and materials that feel expensive add to the premium vibe. Even in the mid-level Select trim, the CX-30’s cabin punches above its class. As a result, it matches or beats crossovers like the Acura ADX, Lexus UX, and Audi Q3 in that sense, strengthening its value.
That timeless, premium look comes at a cost, though. Step inside the CX-30 and you’ll immediately notice the intimate feel. Yes, it has belts for five, but it’s best to think of this as a 2+2 because of its cramped rear seats. Additionally, the trunk doesn’t fit much with the rear seats up due to its curvaceous shape. You’ll need to fold down the rear seats to get the most useful cargo space. Thankfully, the CX-30 has plenty of small-item storage for phones, keys, wallets, and more.
Smooth and Refined
Mazda continues to place a strong emphasis on the driving experience, as evident in the CX-30. This stylish crossover remains one of the best driving entries in the subcompact SUV segment. Agile handling and responsive steering make this little Mazda fun to chuck into corners, especially with its standard AWD system.
It rides well, too. Despite using a torsion beam rear suspension, the 2025 Mazda CX-30 does a great job filtering out the rough stuff and keeping things smooth. Even with the larger 18-inch alloy wheels, it remains compliant over expansion joints and poorly maintained surfaces. Unlike its platform mate, the Mazda3, the CX-30 has a softer suspension tune with longer travel. This results in added smoothness, especially combined with tires that have more sidewall. Additionally, the CX-30 has minimal road, tire, and wind noise, adding to its refined feel.
The base 2.5-liter four-cylinder works well in this application, too. With 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, good mid-range grunt makes passing and accelerating easy. Although not as effortless as the CX-30 Turbo, the base engine operates smoothly and feels appropriately smooth for this application. On the other hand, the six-speed automatic could use a little tweaking. While smooth and responsive in most scenarios, it can feel clunky at low speeds. Additionally, activating the kickdown switch when accelerating can cause it to downshift a little too abruptly, resulting in rough shift shock. This also causes the engine to rev too high, resulting in more raucous than forward motion.
Familiar Yet Finicky Tech
Like in our Mazda3, the CX-30 uses the same 8.8-inch display. Higher trims use a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen. The user experience remains similar in both cars, except for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the CX-30. Since it’s a mid-level trim, it requires plugging into a USB port for smartphone mirroring. Otherwise, it remains reasonably quick to respond and has clear, but slightly dated graphics. On the other hand, the standard audio system does an ok job. We recommend stepping up to at least the 2.5 S Premium (or Carbon Edition for 2026), which has the excellent 12-speaker Bose unit.
As for driver assistance tech, it’s just like in the Mazda3. They can get annoying and overly intrusive in certain situations, especially the blind spot warning. The lane-keeping function also works unpredictably and brings you back into your lane way too late. In some cases, you’ve already crossed into the other lane before the system suddenly nudges you back.
2025 Mazda CX-30: Worthy Attention?
After a few days behind the wheel of the 2025 Mazda CX-30, it’s clear that this remains a compelling package. While not perfect, it’s an attractive proposition for those wanting a premium drive without paying an arm and a leg. Smooth, fun, and agile, it’s a uniquely Mazda take on the subcompact SUV formula, just more refined and grown up. If it were our money, though, we’d skip the turbo engine and pick the 2.5 S Premium trim. Other than the turbo engine and a handful of features, that variant is the strongest proposition in the CX-30 lineup at just a little over $35,000, even with extra-cost exterior colors included.
Images Courtesy: Mazda
