More Athletic, More Value: Mazda Debuts The 2020 CX-30

Yesterday, Mazda debuted their all-new five-seat crossover, the CX-30, at the LA Auto Show. Following the same great design language that permeates throughout their current lineup, it looks sleek and athletic, and possesses various styling cues and features that are more at-home among more upscale brands.

Equipped with their tried-and-true 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G inline-4 engine, it puts out 186 horsepower and 186 lb.-feet of torque, which according to the Hiroshima brand is currently class-leading. For better fuel economy, they’ve included their smart Skyactiv-Drive six-speed automatic gearbox, as well as cylinder-deactivation technology, though this is only present in the top-tier Premium trim.

Mazda seems to be capitalizing on popularity in off-road capability as well; off-road traction assist and G-Vectoring Control Plus is standard across the board, and the sleek chassis appears to have higher ground clearance than average compared to its competition. Front-wheel drive and i-Activ all-wheel drive is offered across all four trim levels, the base, Select, Preferred, and Premiium.

They have adventure-minded folks in mind with this new model, and state the following to prove so in their press release:

“The proportions of the CX-30 give the compact crossover the freedom to go just about anywhere. It’s strong presence, class-leading standard horsepower and available i-Activ all-wheel drive all results in it being able to be driven effortlessly. At the same time, it’s as compact as possible to easily maneuver in tight situations, such as narrow roads or parking spaces. When driving anywhere, the trunk must be just as capable to fit all the items one might need. Aligned with studying human habits, Mazda engineers and designers conducted research together to better understand the needs of the space. By creating a life-size test model, they were able to test real-life situations and have a variety of people adjust the height of the trunk with a pedal. Through careful examination, the ideal height and size were determined to allow ease of loading cargo, a spacious cabin for both luggage and rear passengers while maintaining a compact and sporty design.”

President of North American Operations Jeffrey Guyton introducing the CX-30 at the 2020 LA Auto Show

We can confirm from Mazda’s press conference at the LA Auto Show that all signs point to accommodating different driver heights and body types in the CX-30, though unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to have a seat inside.

The integration of smart tech with the CX-30 also follows Mazda’s goal of rivaling more premium brands, as their i-Activsense safety tech includes Driver Attention Alert, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with stop and go function, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist, Smart Brake Support and High Beam Control. Starting at the CX-30 Select trim level, Apple CarPlay^TM and Android Auto^TM capabilities, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry are standard. Moving up to the Preferred trim, Bose® 12-speaker premium audio is installed for occupants’ listening pleasure, as well as gloss finish speaker grille, a shark fin antenna, heated front seats, eight-way power and memory driver’s seat with lumbar support, memory position door mirrors, black gloss finish front grille and SiriusXM® with a three-month trial subscription.

The base model starts at $21,900 with front-wheel drive, $23,300 with all-wheel drive. The model range tops out at the Premium trim: $28,200 equipped with front-wheel drive and $29,600 with all wheels putting power to the ground. Not bad at all, and we look forward to the chance to take one for a spin.