The global economy doesn't look great at the moment, so the majority of us prefer to get more for our money. The 2026 Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus is a compact SUV that competes with the Toyota Corolla Cross, Honda HR-V, Subaru Cross Stretch, Chevrolet Trax and Hyundai Kona. Most of these models are well equipped at about $30,000 and my press car is $40,000. It sounds like a bad deal, but it's not the whole story. While the CX-30 Turbo could compete with a list of small crossovers on paper, it actually feels like it needs to compete in a luxury sub-compact crossover class against the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Volvo XC40.
Most of these models start around the around $40,000 mark, but that's not the desirable option the CX-30 Premium Plus has baked into the desirable $40,000 price tag. I think the real value of the CX-30 Turbo comes when you look at it as a bargain Porsche Macan, it sounds crazy, but it's really true. We said this when we tested it in 2019, and we're saying it again in 6 years: the Mazda CX-30 Turbo is still great. My test car is the top-trim CX-30 Turbo Premium Development at $39,395, including$1495 to $165 cargo cover $575 plate and its excellent cheap $595 Soul Red Crystal Metallic paint, manufacturer's suggested retail price is $40,730.
The CX-30 starts as low as $27,470 in the base S trim, and the cheapest turbocharged model you can get is the Turbo Air version, which starts with the Turbo at $35,905. Despite the fact that these prices are higher than its sub-compact crossover competition, I think it still appreciates the fun car. This is not a new car, it was introduced 6 years ago, with a new generation and turbocharged powertrain option expected to debut in late 2021, and neither is new, but it's still a good thing. The turbocharged 2.5-litre inline 4 engine under the hood clanks a respectable 250 hp and a huge 320lb-ft of torque.
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The CX-30's standard naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder actually produces 186 hp and 186lb-ft torque, which is not a bad figure in this class, but naturally I prefer the turbo. There is a paddle shifter in CX-30 which is located on the steering wheel and its is automatic transmission unfortunately there is no manual transmission. Towards 2026, the CX-30 will receive an updated damper and brake base limited slip differential to improve traction and stability. All the CX-30s come standard with Mazda's G-Vectoring Control Plus, which measures the power going to the front wheels to make it sensitive to steering input, and off-road Traction Plus, which maximizes off-road capability by applying brakes to the wheels without traction.
Mazda knows how to make a reasonably practical and affordable car that is still fun to drive, and the CX-30 is no exception. I may have touched it before, but it withstands repeatedly: a turbocharged engine kicks in the ass. I recently had a Hyundai Kona Limited Press Car, one of the only other sub-compact crossovers with an optional turbocharged engine, and while its extra power was appreciated, it wasn't fun to drive. Fortunately, this is not the case with the Mazda CX-30 Turbo.The first thing you notice when driving the CX-30 turbo is the brilliance of its powertrain. It feels the best torque and the drivetrain calibration is great, from the throttle to the six-speed automatic transmission and it's all sound as it zooms down the road.
Despite the fact that it shows a considerable body tilt, it turns sharply, clings to the pavement and turns well in the lift. It's hard to explain this, but the CX-30 feels incredibly linear; it drives in a satisfactory cohesive way that leaves me guessing how far I'll have to push the throttle pedal to get the downshift. On a gentle jaunt, in the city or on a wide open highway, the CX-30 impresses with an effortless ride and a very quiet cabin. If my test car is very dark, the overall interior atmosphere is obviously upscale, and it has my favorite armrest. I'm also a sucker for a head-up display, and the CX-30 is simple and efficient, even if how it projects very aggressively on large bumps and pockmarked pavements.
Mazda is starting to creep up on luxury with more recent products, and I really promise the CX-30 Turbo, and despite Mazda costing less than $27,020 of your hard-earned dollars, I'm not completely as insane as I sound. Keeping in view the Mazda CX-30 costs nearly $30,000 less than the Macan, this is the first time in the market for used cars while offering comparable performance to the freakin Porsche. As great as its drivetrain, the CX-30 is not without flaws. The biggest drawback is its old technology and the cramped interior of the rear of the front seat. Depending on your persuasion, you might actually understand the somewhat outdated technology suite of 2026 CX-30.
There are many physical buttons and knobs, and in most cases the only way to navigate the infotainment system is through the scroll wheel on the center console. At least there are standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With that phone mirroring software, the infotainment screen could be a touch screen, but only some features. You can tap on 1 icon, but when you need to select the icon right next to it using the scroll wheel, my place it is infuriating. If you just use the scroll wheel for everything, it's mildly less frustrating. The CX-30 feels a bit claustrophobic inside because of its squatting windows and high belt lines, but it didn't feel cramped in the front seat despite its 6ft 8in long height.
The headroom in the front seat may be a problem for someone with a long torso, but overall I felt a lot more comfortable behind the wheel. backseat? Not so much. If you need to carry people of average height with any frequency, your passengers will probably prefer to choose something larger than the CX-30. The rear seats are not very wide and have very little glass area to put light in, which amplifies the claustrophobic feeling of going up in front at the rear. The cargo area is the average of a class with 20.2 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up, but when you fold them you get only 45.2 cubic feet. Seat Up While it's 3 cubic feet more than the Makan, Mazda offers 7.9 cubic feet less seats than the Porsche.
I walk away from my week with the CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus and feel sad to see it go. I've really enjoyed my time in the car, its positively gorgeous arms, its gutsy drivetrain and playful driving dynamics I also love to see it especially under direct sunlight, as the red paint of the soul still looks exceptional. Previously, I said that the Subaru Crosstrek is a sub-compact crossover that you buy on a budget of $30,000, but I think the Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus is a sub-compact crossover that you buy on a budget of $40,000. In fact, it actually got me to look at the price of a gently used CX-30 Turbo, as I've longed for something that can feel more confident taking off-road than my mini.
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