I recently read two motor trend articles criticizing the cx30 for hyper corrective steering on freeways, too small gas tank a d poor ride quality. This is both the turbo and non turbo engine. Yet, this same magazine raves about the handling and distance between fill ups with the mazda 3 hatch. Correct me if i am wrong, but , with minor tweaks, is the cx30 not just a 3 lifted? And, if so, why motor trend’s discrepancy between the two models? Your opinion?

 

Right height might affect the ride quality significantly. To compensate that, the CX-30 tweaks might not be minor when compared to the Mazda 3 hatch. Just my 2 cents.

 

I suspect the range is about the same in the CX-30 and the Mazda3. I am disappointed that I get the warning that I have 30 miles left in the 13 gallon tank in my Mazda3 and it only takes 9 or 10 gallons. If I intentionally leave a quarter tank when I buy gas, I am stopping every third day and only able to buy a half tank.

Consumer reports have also complained about the CX-30 in one article and said it is the best in the class in another.

For anyone considering a small, car like SUV they should drive it, consider the comments, and buy it if they like it.

 

Actually, the handling is not an issue for me...sure it may not corner as flat as a 3 hatch bit that is to be expected. Based on what i have read in automotive press, Suspension tweeks for the cx30 are limited to spring rates and shocks n tires, so , for me, that is close enuf to a 3. I have test driven both cx30 and 3 hatch and other than a bit more lean in corners the two seem pretty similar to me seat of the pants feel. Thnx

 

Good to know, have u any opinion on adaptive cruise functionality/performance? I hear a number of complaints about it.
also the cylinder deactivation i hear is intrusive and i was recommended to avoid the premium because of it.

 

My CX30 handling is great, it is not a Miata, but I see no issues with how it handles.
My adaptive cruise control is perfect, no issues.
Great little car.

 

Motor Trend might be an outlier here. Many other mags, along with quite number of the more well-regarded YouTube motoring channels (Autogefühl, CarWOW, WhatCar) really like the car. In Oz, our own top motoring journal, Wheels, rated the car so highly, they voted it Car Of The Year for 2021.

 

Car and Driver and Road doesn't agree, I think Motor Trend is an outlier. The bottom line is, test the car with your own bottom before deciding. Consumer Reports drives me crazy, since they rate cars like appliances, they are more than that to most of us.
https://www.caranddriver.com/mazda/cx-30

 

Listen to the consumer reports podcast. They are car enthusiasts that love Mazda. They love the way they drive and recommend them based on that and the excellent Mazda reliability. The only complaint I have heard from them is that the CX-30 is between the Mazda3 and CX-5 and they love both. They say that you should buy the Mazda3 for driving dynamics or the CX-5 for the size. They don’t understand the need for the class of vehicles between the two. When comparing the CX-30 to the competition, they prefer it.

 

It's good to hear they now have a people who actually get cars. I was going on older print reviews of automobiles, which were wanting.