If it were me, I'd probably get the GT Turbo for its paddle shifters, but if you don't care about that, there are other CX-30's to love;
Looking for an SUV that's almost a car, that's fun to drive, easy to live with, and offers the kind of reliability for which Japanese manufacturers have been known for traditionally?
If so, maybe you should head down to your local Mazda dealer and take a test drive in the wonderful CX-30, a small SUV I liked so much I even started thinking I should get one.
Then I came to my senses: we're already a Mazda family thanks to the 2022 CX-5 Signature we bought last year, so we know and love Zoom-Zoom, even though Mazda doesn't use that slogan any more.
But I have a thing for smaller vehicles and were I single and looking for a small SUV this would be first on my list. It's a typical Mazda, in that it offers more features and luxurious touches than it has any right to and, in the turbocharged incarnation of Mazda's 2026 Kuro edition I just spent a week enjoying, it's a blast to drive even though you can't get a manual transmission in it.
At the Kuro's heart is Mazda's 2.5 litre four-cylinder engine, turbocharged, 227 horses and 310 lb.-ft. with regular gas and an even more interesting 250/320 with premium.
That turbo's the engine we have in our CX-5 and I love it. Stick it into a vehicle that's smaller and lighter, and I learned to love it even more – and I've never even given it premium fuel to sip. My best friend has a virtually identical CX-5 to ours and he does indulge its turbo periodically (obviously, he isn't married!) and reports that it's a hoot.
Getting the power to all of the wheels is a six-speed automatic transmission that shifts great and seems tweaked for keeping its drivers interested. Most companies are opting for more gears – up to 10, which I find very excessive since they seem optimized for fuel economy and not driver engagement – but I love the "throwback" tranny Mazda still uses. It even has a good manual mode for those who like to shift it themselves.
Alas, you can't get paddles with which to shift unless you opt for the GT trim. I love paddles, if they obey your wishes rather than merely deigning to shift when the transmission decides is right, and that's how Mazda's operate. I don't use paddles all the time, but I use them often and really missed them in the Kuro CX-30.
Another thing missing from the Kuro is an off-road mode on the drive select switch on the centre console. This isn't a big deal in warm climes and if you don't actually go off-road, but I have it on my CX-5 and it's an excellent setting if you're tackling snowy roads. I don't think not having this would be a deal breaker for me, though.
And to be fair, we had snow during my time with the CX-30 and it was fine. Of course, I enjoy doing a controlled slide…
Mazda says that every CX-30 in Canada is equipped with its latest i-Activ AWD which "continuously monitors weight distribution and shifts power to the appropriate wheels, providing drivers a near instant response to inputs. In addition, all CX-30 models are equipped with G-Vectoring Control Plus and Off-Road Traction Assist as standard."
The snow we had tended to lessen my Zoom-Zooming but, when the roads allowed, I could get a nice feel for how the thing drives. And it does drive and handle very nicely, so much so that I kept thinking "car" even though it's an SUV.
I love the Mazda3, the car, and it would be near the top of my car shopping list were I shopping. And I got the impression that's what Mazda seems to be channelling with the CX-30 – an SUV for people who'd rather have a car.
Backing up those impressions are a robust set of technical specs, from independent suspension up front (with a torsion beam buttock), disc brakes with ABS and all the other modern stuff, and Mazda has added braking control to its G-Vectoring Control system. This, they say, "improves vehicle behaviour for even easier control and greater reassurance when changing lanes on the highway, or maneuvering to avoid emergency situations or to counter slippery road conditions on snowy roads."
It seems to work. Other than my occasion hoonish sliding in the snow, the car, er SUV, was fun and stable and all around pleasant.
Inside, as is Mazda's wont, is a cabin that looks and feels more upmarket than this virtually entry level (the base one, according to Mazda's Canadian website, starts at just under 30 grand) vehicle would seem to warrant. The seats are comfortable, everything (except the LCD screen atop the dashboard) is in easy reach and it all works as it should – including the fact that (at least on the CX-30) – Mazda still lets us have real buttons inside instead of putting everything on the damn screen.
The CX-30 still uses Mazda's console-mounted infotainment controls and while most other carmakers have embraced touch screens, I like the way Mazda does it. Alas, they now offer Alexa integration claiming that it offers easier hands-free commands. Maybe it does, but I'm not a fan.
The standard audio system is an 11-speaker unit, but the higher trim levels get a nice, 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. You also get saddled with Mazda Connected Services, which allows owners to lock and unlock, start remotely, and monitor your vehicle via the MyMazda app.
While the front row is roomy, the folks back in steerage may want to be smaller than average, thanks to the low roofline of the CX-30. It also isn't the most robust SUV on the market when it comes to hauling stuff (besides ass!). Chances are you'll find it okay unless you're shopping for big and/or long stuff at Home Depot or something.
And of course, you get all the usual safety nannies including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning, automated emergency braking, etc. Most can be turned off or at least minimzed.
The base GX is fitted with Mazda's 2.5-litre, naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine, rated at 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque attached to the same six-speed automatic transmission with manual and sport modes. It's no turbo when it comes to inducing smiles, but it's still pretty good.
The GS adds heated exterior mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, tinted privacy glass on the rear windows, and 18-inch silver metallic alloy wheels plus numerous interior upgrades including a heated steering wheel (a wonderful feature in cooler climes) and automatic dual-zone climate control.
The GS Kuro adds white leatherette upholstery a power driver's seat with memory, a power-sliding glass moonroof.
The GT is even more interesting, thanks to its Active Driving Display with Traffic Sign Recognition (head's up, really), Rear Crossing, 360 degree View Monitor, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive headlights and more – including paddle shifters!
Opt for the GT Turbo and you might get an even bigger smile on your face.
The GT Kuro Edition ups the ante with unique exterior and interior styling features like the zircon sand metallic paint and white leatherette. No paddles, though, alas.
I loved my week with the CX-30. Sure, I'm a bit of a # when it comes to Mazda, but there's a good reason for that: every Mazda I've ever driven (with the possible exception of the B4000 compact pickup truck they no longer offer) has been more fun than you might think a non-sports car could offer.
And you should see their sports cars!
Add their "punching above their weight" when it comes to luxurious appointments and the usual Japanese reliability, and you have a winning vehicle from a winning product line.
The CX-30 starts at $29,300 for the GX. The GT Turbo starts at $40,600 and the Kuro reviewed here starts at $41,300.
If it were me, I'd probably get the GT Turbo for its paddle shifters, but if you don't care about that, there are other CX-30's to love.
Read next: Mazda offers an interesting alternative to its CX-5
Email Us | Reader Friendly | Comments
Jim publishes TechnoFile Magazine. Jim is an affiliate with the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada and his careers have included journalist, technology retailer, video store pioneer, and syndicated columnist; he does a biweekly column on CBC Radio One’s The Business Network.
Jim can be reached at: bray@technofile.com
