2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: Oomph -ed & Cute vying for entry luxury SAV bragging rights. From $32k, as tested = $37k
COLOR THIS JINBA ITTAI CUTE UTE RED: What proceeds from an automotive brand legendary for the world’s most competed road car has found a nearly equal amount of acceptance in active lifestyle circles. In 2020 the Mazda CX-30 debuted as the ruggedized handsome “cute ute” with earnest marks of prestige. A year later turbocharging “oomph -ed” the 2021 CX-30 2.5 Turbo to genuine enthusiast driver with steed unity. Glowing bright in Soul Red Crystal Metallic, the 2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD now returns to Roadblazing.com hands and posteriors eager for a Re-Drive Review filled with flavors of ND MX-5 Miata roadster.
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD Driving Hits:
227 to 250horsepower = +35 bump (57 hp with minimum 91 AKI octane unleaded gasoline) vs. standard atmospheric 2.5L Skyactiv G engine
320pound-feet = +129 pound-feet torque = 71% > standard atmospheric aspirated 2.5L Skyactiv G
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: performance turbocharging application is subtle during cruising
6-speed automatic torque converter planetary transaxle, low on gear ring count, still betters most on quick down-shift throttle braking
More energetic acceleration above 85 miles per hour @ 3500 rpm to redline vs. non-turbo Mazda CX-30 2.5L
26 combined miles per gallon, 400 miles highway range in sporty subcompact all-wheel drive SAV
New for ’22: AWD standard on all CX-30 models, w/ ABS torque vectoring and G-Vectoring
Rear torsion beam semi-independent suspension adds compliance to Skyactiv taut body control
2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: Adopting the semi-independent torsion beam suspension lends greater rear wheel compliance to an otherwise tautly controlled body
Bridgestone Turanza tires, on 18″ gloss black alloys, tuned for quiet touring
Stiff structure rivals luxury brand entry models
New for ’22: electronic parking brake auto-disengages
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD Driving Misses:
100 lb. weight gain for engine turbocharger hardware
Carries 4 adults, a pre-teen kid & 20 cubic feet of belongings under the liftgate
60/40% split folding 2nd Row seat backs
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: adequately roomy in front, getting tighter in back 2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: slightly more expanded cargo space than the Mazda 3 hatchback
Luxury brand attention to build and display & control details
Comprehensive standard feature set
√ Remote keyless access, push button ignition; √ Heated front seats, power driver’s w/ 2 position memory; √ 2-zone automatic climate control; √ Power moonroof
√ LED headlights, √ Rain sensing windshield wipers,
√ Auto dimming rear view mirror, √ Reverse power tilting side mirrors
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: expandable cargo bay w/ available power liftgate
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: slightly more expanded cargo space than the Mazda 3 hatchback
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: Soul Red Crystal Metallic flows spectacularly sanguine at night
2022 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD: Soul Red Crystal Metallic flows spectacularly sanguine at night
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WHAT:2020 Mazda CX-30 AWD Premium. This all new subcompact crossover utility model has platform commonality with the BP fourth generation of Mazda 3 sedan / hatchback. It is one size up from the DJ series Mazda CX-3 and one size down from the CX-5 crossover ute.
WHAT MOTIVATES:
Power: transverse 2.5L DOHC 16V DI gas I-4 = 186 hp/ 186 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm. G-vectoring throttle front wheel traction transfer. AWD models feature 2-cylinder deactivation.
WHAT (A) STYLING DIFFERENCE(S): Not content to be a mere lifted cookie cutter of the BP Mazda 3 hatchback, the addition of a D-pillar, with sail window between it and the C-pillar is less monolithic. The front shark’s nose comes through bearing the same seductive chrome link pentagonal grill, chrome arms extended to cradle the swept back thin headlamp housings, with cinched lower corners. It’s been dipped entirely in contrast darkened lower cladding, which verges on comically high especially at the wheel arches. The liftgate is more punched out as in the larger CX-5 crossover. The CX-30 shares it’s larger sibling’s thin tail lamp modules and a ruggedized bumper cover.
