Topic: 2024 Mazda CX-30 GT Turbo

[Blueprint]

For those of us who grew up in the '70s and '80s, we all remember what the cool dads, uncles and aunts drove - personal luxury coupes. Remove two doors from a popular family sedan, give it more style while making it a bit less practical and voilą, a more "personal" ride!

These days "coupe" versions of SUVs are all the rage, but mostly reside in the premium brands. But if you look closely, you can still find the spirit of the affordable personal luxury coupe in a few mass-market brands, and this is one of them.

https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/20240404/mazda-cx-30-gt-turbo-2024-essai-hivernal/

[Blueprint]

Looks

Look past the massive black cladding and the CX-30 has quite the swoopy shell. Based on the Mazda3 platform but sporting a shorter wheelbase, the CX-30 is Mazda's answer to the Mercedes-Benz GLA Class, a stylish hatch jacked up ą la Crosstrek. The rear C-pillar area is so well executed, one wonders why Mazda did not use it on the basketball shoe that is the 3 Sport. Details - such as the lights - are exquisite and transcend the price point. Upscale touches abound, such as the fader-type LED turn signals, and the previous weird blue and black two-tone interior is thanfully gone. They are all-black now, except for the brown touches in GT trims such as this tester and the white leather, available only with this red paint.

[Blueprint]

interior / room

Like the old personal luxury coupes, you don't buy a CX-30 for its roominess. By all means, it appears the wheelbase chop was done for asthetics, and the results is a rear seat so cramped, one has to bring forward the front seats to drop the rear seatbacks. Seated "behind myself", knees are solidly into the backrest, a sure sign you don't want to install child seats in this, unless you're 5'1". But for singles or couples, it's bliss. The Mazda3 IP is as sharp as ever, and you get that elusive "SUV vantage point" and a neutral entry height. Seats are really comfy, but at this GT's price point one expects more settings for the front passenger, whose seat is set pretty low.

[Blueprint]

Power

Yes, you could get a six in your Monte-Carlo, but some dads got the 4 barrel V8 with a floor shift. This CX-30 would have that V8 for a snack and leave it in its wake. having 250 hp / 320lb-ft to play with in a vehicle this size makes for a few grins. Mazda's corporate turbo four was designed to replace a V6 and as such it's a smooth operator. It won't shove you in the seat, but 0-60 is still around 6 seconds, so use of cruise control on the highway may prevent unvoluntary tax contributions. The 6-speed auto delays its shifts under full throttle, propbably to self-preserve as this engine is damn near the slushboxe's torque limits. That engine is an expensive upgrade though (+ $2,400), and a thirsty one (11.3 l/100 km observed). The base 191 hp 2.5 litre atmo four will be peppy enough for most (the 2.0 is canned for 2024).

[Blueprint]

Driving

Like all modern Mazdas, the CX-30 is a joy to drive and has a soul that no Kia can offer (pun intended). Just holding the steering wheel feels good. You lose a tad of steering feel over the Mazda3, but that's about it. This is one compact CUV that will zig, and fun is to be had through curves, sweepers and ramps, the tidy size being a bonus to that tossability. Brakes are prompt and the autobox works well with its six cogs, and you can manually shift it like no CVT will ever manage. The extra refinement built into the suspensions and platform make the CX-30 feel, dare we say it, German-like.

[sailor723]

Is it really 250hp?  In many provinces you can't even buy 94 octane and in ones where you can it's often a bit of a hunt. Seems kind of disingenuous of Mazda to me. 

[Blueprint]

Value

Like everything, prices are on the climb here despite modest content revisions. The GX gains the 2.5 litre and opens things at $30,245, but the $33,545 GS nails the value equation better, especially when adding the $2,200 luxury pkg, as my daughter did on her '23. That specific combo nails the life mission of this vehicle, creating a refined, almost luxurious cute ute for singles that is both fun to drive and ok on gas. The GT adds real leather and more content, but zero on the mechanical side of things (GS and GT even share the same wheels) - and it's getting expensive at $39,845 - at that level, a more prectical CX-5 starts making more sense. My tester rang the bell at $42,645 while the new-for-24 Suna is even dearer. Getting too near $50k after taxes for its own good.

[Blueprint]

Is it really 250hp?  In many provinces you can't even buy 94 octane and in ones where you can it's often a bit of a hunt. Seems kind of disingenuous of Mazda to me. 

Mazda publishes the regular gas figures everywhere, 227 hp / 310 lb-ft, so not disingenuous IMHO. The extra horses happen North of 4,000 rpm, so useless for most, and that mountain of torque is near intact - I'd run that mill on regular...but the atmo four makes more sense given the cost of the turbo upgrade.

[Blueprint]

Final thoughts

I reviewed a very similar unit a few years ago before buying my Crosstrek and gave the CX-30 strong consideration. In the end, I mostly preferred the Subie for its increased glass area and less claustrophobic cabin. Seeing the two side by side now in the driveway - my live-at-home eldest has a '23 CX-30 GS/Lux - it's easy to see these two go after different customers within the same market segment. The CX-30 has designer vibes, with styling that never gets old to look at, luxurious touches and a more refined feel. It's a perfect ride for a young urban professional with BMW wants and Mazda means, and one that is not the partner+stroller phase of her life, or empty nesters that want style without breaking the bank - your life has to fit the cramped interior, still. The Turbo is a hoot to drive, but way too expensive for what it is. A few years after my intial review, I'm still convinced the GX and GS trims are the ones to consider here, unless one wants all the frills without the FGC bagage.

[OliverD]

Looksand the previous weird blue and black two-tone interior is thanfully gone.

Just Googled this and I either forgot it existed or never knew. I actually think it looks quite slick, but I love blue interiors. Would pair well with either a dark blue or white exterior.

[Blueprint]

Looksand the previous weird blue and black two-tone interior is thanfully gone.

Just Googled this and I either forgot it existed or never knew. I actually think it looks quite slick, but I love blue interiors. Would pair well with either a dark blue or white exterior.

It came with all colours, not always to good results. The Toyota CH-R had that same black and blue treatment in some trims.

[Slow_lane]

Great review. Nice CUV if the size suits you. The drive is great. For me in the end the CX-5 won out because I needed more cargo room and it had a nicer interior in my opinion. Also I have a tendency to knock my noggin getting in and out of lower vehicles (my wife wants me to wear a helmet). Have not hit my head once in CX-5. Saved a few brain cells which is great as I can't afford to lose anymore.

But the number one problem with this CX-30 is the oversized plastic cladding. Ruins an otherwise good looking CUV.

[ktm525]

The CX-30 felt tiny and closed in to me. If I had to,  CX-5 all the way.

[Blueprint]

Great review. Nice CUV if the size suits you. The drive is great. For me in the end the CX-5 won out because I needed more cargo room and it had a nicer interior in my opinion. Also I have a tendency to knock my noggin getting in and out of lower vehicles (my wife wants me to wear a helmet). Have not hit my head once in CX-5. Saved a few brain cells which is great as I can't afford to lose anymore.

But the number one problem with this CX-30 is the oversized plastic cladding. Ruins an otherwise good looking CUV.

The CX-5 is Malibu, the CX-30 Monte-Carlo (the cars, not the towns  ). My first CX-30 tester a couple years ago I hit my head quite solidly at the first entry. Muscle memory is still there as I never hit it again with this presser or my daughter's black unit.

Cladding - yes, it's huge, and the result varies with colour (the worst being white IMHO). It's a big reason why my daughter chose black, and I must say that with the chrome delete job plus the new black alloys it looks pretty sharp.