2021 Mazda CX-30

Pros: Sporty handling; upscale interior trim; decent passenger and interior room within compact exterior dimensions

Cons: Tedious infotainment controls; stingy small-items storage space

CG Says: The 2021 Mazda CX-30 will gain an available 250-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine midyear. Also, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto functionality is now standard. Last year, Mazda added a new compact crossover SUV that fits in both size and price between the brand’s subcompact CX-3 and compact CX-5 crossovers. The Mazda CX-30 is five inches longer overall than the CX-3 and six inches shorter than the CX-5. Though it straddles the line between the subcompact and compact SUV classes, the CX-30 is just big enough that we categorize it as a compact SUV. As such, the CX-30 is one of the smaller compact crossovers, but it has decent interior space with significantly more passenger and cargo room than the CX-3. The CX-30 shares its base powertrain with the larger CX-5—a 186-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The previously mentioned 250-hp turbo 2.5-liter four is also available. Available safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go capability, blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist, and a driver-attention monitor. Other available features include keyless access, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, Wi-Fi hotspot, and head-up instrument display. The CX-30 is a fun-to-drive crossover with high-class interior trimmings, nimble handling, and a relatively zippy engine. Plus, its smaller-than-compact/bigger-than-subcompact size might be just right for many shoppers… and those smaller dimensions mean that the CX-30 is notably more affordable than its larger CX-5 sibling.