TeamSpeed Review: 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
When the MX-5 can’t carry it all, the Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus brings the party supplies with power to make any trip track day.
Mazda and performance have gone hand in hand for decades. From the Cosmo and the RX family, to the 323 GT-R and, of course, the MX-5 Miata, every last model to leave Hiroshima was built to make driving fun. And we can’t forget the amazing concepts and race cars, too, like the Furai and the 787B. When Mazda says their machines go “Zoom-Zoom-Zoom,” they mean it.
Though most of Mazda’s lineup consists of crossovers these days, each one carries the performance bloodline along the highway. One of their newest is the CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus. We recently got a hold of one to drive around the New River Valley in Southwest Virginia for a week. It’s not an MX-5, but it’s the perfect companion to Mazda’s roadster.
The Tale of the Tape
The Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus is the top-tier CX-30, one of seven trims overall for the (now) smallest Mazda crossover in the family; according to Car and Driver, 2021 is the final year for the CX-3. Base MSRP is $33,900, $34,895 as tested. The priciest option on our example is, of course, the stunning signature Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint, coming in at $595.
Under the hood resides the 2.5-liter turbo-four, which is connected to all corners via a six-speed automatic. If your bank account is a little low, and you need to drop in some 87 or 89, you’ll get 227 horses and 310 lb-ft of torque. However, fill up with 93, and you unlock all 250 ponies and their 320 lb-ft of torque. They’ll certainly rock the 18-inch wheels along the way to the track.
Behind the wheel, the Mazda includes an 8.5-inch color display housing the brand’s Mazda Connect infotainment system, which, like BMW’s iDrive, uses a dial to navigate through the options. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also live within, and new models come with a three-month trial of Sirius XM.
Just because it’s a sub-compact crossover, it doesn’t mean you’ll be going without. For starters, you get a heads-up display to keep your eyes on the road. And to keep that vision clear, rain-sensing wipers are at the ready to sweep the rain away. And, of course, if you’d prefer to shift your own, you’ve got paddles to make your driving experience all the more worthwhile. Throw in leather seating, heated front seats, and a Bose sound system, and the CX-30’s a lovely place to be.
Making the Old Dominion Our Dominion
Whether it was a trek over to Draper Valley Overlook near Radford, or a trip to the grocery store, the Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus made every trip go by in a flash. From the moment you plant your foot down upon the accelerator, the little crossover leapt off the line, its turbo-four roaring along the way.
Speaking of groceries, though, it managed to fit nearly everything needed at home, with only a couple of bags having to go to the rear seat. That said, more room could’ve been made by folding down the rear bench. Still, we were impressed by how much it could hold with the seats left alone.
Alas, rear legroom isn’t too great with the front seats all the way back. Our driver, being 5-foot-6, was unable to get her left boot into the Mazda with the driver’s seat in said position. Thus, if you’re taller than around 5 feet, you may be better off sitting up front if the driver is as tall.
As far as fuel economy goes, Mazda says the CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus is rated at 22 city/30 highway/25 combined. Most of our driving was done in-town, with only the aforementioned excursion into the country. We managed around 23.2 mpg combined for the week.
In Closing
We realize the Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus isn’t our usual high-performance review. However, there’s something to be said for making this sub-compact crossover your daily, especially if you turned your MX-5 into a track-day runner. It has Mazda’s need for speed flowing through its veins, and is a worthy addition to Hiroshima’s legacy.
Photos by Cameron Aubernon for TeamSpeed
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