I love Mazda, but the interior was smaller, felt cramped, and had less visability, I wanted to like the cx-30more, but just didn't.

 

I currently have a 2018 Crosstrek Limited and the lease will be up soon. It is a second car and used by both me and my college age son. It is also the go anywhere car (well not long drives) when wanting something smaller and more nimble to drive. The main negatives are lack of power, CVT harshness when accelerating, and the quality of the plastics. My car has also been reliable with the only issue over the past 3 years being glitches with the entertainment system freezing up (which hopefully has been reconciled).

I test drove a Mazda CX-30 Premium yesterday and came away impressed. I like the car looks and the interior is so nice. The seats are very comfortable and the whole interior looks more upscale. Rear visibility isn't the greatest, probably being the main negative. In terms of driving, the ride was very refined & quiet with a slightly firmer ride than the Crosstrek. Acceleration was better than my car, but it didn't feel fast, just adequate.

I then drove a Crosstrek Sport today. The 2.5 engine made such a huge difference. The car was noticeably quicker than my 2018 all the way up to highway speeds. The CVT was also not creating a racket. I don't know if the CVT is different in this model, there was more care with quieting noises and vibrations, or a combination of both. The difference was not subtle. The car also felt quicker than the CX-30 in part because it feels stronger from a start, albeit I think the CX-30 posts faster times. In terms of handling, it seemed very similar to my car, but with a bit less body roll and a slightly smoother ride. The ride improvement may be the 17 wheels on the Sport vs the 18's on my car.

Overall, I came away impressed. I think I could be happy with either Crosstrek Sport or the Mazda CX-30, albeit I will likely stay with Subaru. I do wish the Crosstrek's interior was nicer, though.

I compared Mazda's products with the Crosstrek Sport, too. My wife pointed out that the Sport has better gas mileage so check that if the price of gas in your area is of concern like here in California where it is insane and just increased 3¢ a gallon more on July 1, 2022!

 

Ignoring the inherent irony in a passive-aggressive comment complaining about passive-aggressiveness, I'll just note that the latest posts were a response to a year-old comment by someone who's not a regular poster here, snd so may not be seen. Our software automatically generates a warning notice to that effect when adding to any thread that's been idle for over 6 months, but it doesn't notice a response to an old post if there have been other intervening comments.

 

Unless you want an Audi, I think Subaru's AWD is among the best out there. That was why I never bothered with the CRV. A Subie is a Subie.

 

My old notes on the CX-30 before I bought the Crosstrek

• Has less room in the back seats (Legroom)
• The back seats headrests get on the way when using the rear view mirror
• Four wide pillars interfere with blind spot visibility
• The front door top edge of is too high to rest your arm comfortably when the window is open
• Infotainment does not have touch screen
• Smaller gas tank if you get AWD... I believe
• Mazda's front wheel bias AWD is not as good as Subaru's symmetrical AWD
• Lower mileage per gallon

 

I also tested the CX-30 before buying my 2021 Limited with leather interior. The CX-30 seemed a little more "plush" while the Crosstrek was a bit "rugged"... but still elegant. One thing that bother me a lot about the CX-30 was the right side blind spot. The Limited has the blind spot warning, but I still turn my head to double-check if there's a car there. 30+ years old habit. I couldn't see much out of the right side of the CX-30. Btw, I believe a CX-30 Turbo is now available and it might make some folks look at the CX-30 in a different light.

 

I’m driving my 16 Trek premium khaki, and have no problems or plans for replacement anytime soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I’m driving my 16 Trek premium khaki, and have no problems or plans for replacement anytime soon.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

i'm driving my 2016 crosstrek and I think there is a better than 50% chance i'll be buying a new crosstrek this year.

the Mazda does not have the offroad capability of the crosstrek nor the performance in snow. that's the biggest difference to me.

 

I drove the CX-30 before buying my '21 Sport and it is a nice car, no doubt about it. There were a few reasons why I picked the Sport, some of them you touched on already. The 2.5 is really quick, with plenty of power in all the right places to get you away from other cars on the roadways if needed. The Crosstrek seemed better suited for being off-road which is better for me as an avid cyclist, primarily MTBing. The Sport interior is great for my dog and easy to clean up, and there is a ton of aftermarket support for the vehicle. The CX-30 is great looking, but was a bit too "polished" for my needs. Also, the cargo area is not as roomy on the CX-30 and the rear opening is smaller. It may have been on this site, or somewhere else on the web, but I read about a Crosstrek owner who carried a kennel in the back of their car who bought a CX-30 only to find they couldn't fit the kennel through the hatch.

Being a Mazda I'm sure it will last forever and hold up pretty well, but for me the Crosstrek Sport was just a better "do-it-all" car.

 

To make it clear, I've never driven the Crosstrek with it's traditional 2.0L engine, so I don't know if it's "slow" or not. This is my first Subaru of any model. I don't care about power, but I do like a smooth ride, and I thought both the Limited and the CX-30 were equally smooth. I can only assume the CX-30 as compared to the 2.0L would provide a more enjoyable ride. Anyhow, the main reason I compared the two was because I wanted LED headlights which come standard in the CX-30 and is only available in the Limited trim of the Crosstrek. The 2.5L engine was just a nice bonus.

 

I'm a new owner of a 2021 Limited, but I had also considered the Mazda CX-30. I drove both of them back to back. They both offered a very smooth ride with plenty of power. The CX-30's seats were more comfortable and had a quieter cabin, but the the Crosstrek rode a bit softer. When deciding between the two, it came down to what made more sense for me personally. First of all, I felt more confident driving the Crosstrek because visibility was definitely better than the CX-30. Also, with it's larger fuel tank and better fuel economy, there will be less trips to the gas pump. The CX-30 had a couple more convenience features like rain sensing windshield wipers and an electronic parking brake (with auto hold). However, it didn't have heated side mirrors like the Crosstrek. For me, heated mirrors were more important.

As for the looks of both vehicles, it's subjective of course. However, the Crosstrek seemed better put together. The black cladding on the CX-30 I drove sort of puffed out more on one side of the car than on the other. The plastic used just seemed cheap too.

I also considered long term reliability as well since I plan to keep the car for as long as it lasts. I feel that both engines will be reliable, but you always hear more about the problems with CVTs. I decided I would just buy the extended warranty on the Crosstrek. I think I will be happier owning and driving it in the long run as opposed to the Mazda. It seems like the people who pick the CX-30 over the Crosstrek is because they have only driven the "slow" Crosstrek with the traditional engine to compare it to, or they think it's more "premium" and stylish. Perhaps, I would have chosen the CX-30 too had I not driven the 2021 Limited with the more powerful engine. As for styling, I actually prefer the looks of the Crosstrek better. For some reason, I think I'd get sick of the Mazda's looks after awhile. Now, if the Crosstrek had the Mazda seats and the quieter cabin, it would be perfect!

 

Ok, still a bit fishy to me (this person didn’t even acknowledge what anyone said?). But I’ll yield for peace.

 

I recommend water on the side, and plenty of BBQ sauce.

 

@2021plasmayellow, we need photos of you eating your hat, please.

And a friendly reminder that personal posts like that aren't in line with the forum's rules ...

 

So I posted because I walked away impressed with the 2.5L engine, finding it was such a noticeable upgrade from my Crosstrek. I was also hoping for commentary on the CX-30 which is a really nice car, and certainly the most comparable IMO to the Crosstrek. I was a bit taken back by the degrading comments when others don't agree on either the acceleration or that there can possible be things people don't like in the Crosstrek. It certainly stifles conversations as well as the people who look when they are buying and opt not to participate.

For some, the 2.0L is fine. For me, I think it is the biggest weakness in my car. While fine for most drives, it is not a car I will take to upstate NY or PA. The car is a slug on the hills, especially if the car is packed. It is also no fun when trying to get on a limited access highway with stop signs at the end of the ramp such as the Merritt Parkway. Also note, that is also the one area where the Mazda CX-30 felt just as slow and one area where you really want to accelerate. The 2.5L just feels better, and as I said previously, feels faster than the CX-30 because it feels quicker off the line. The 2.5L also makes the car feel more refined because it quieter and the CVT isn't whirling as much.

I still wish the Crosstrek's interior was nicer. There are a lot of hard plastics and they just don't look that great compared with the Mazda. I do like the Sport seats. They feel plusher and more comfortable than my Limited's leather which I find very firm. I am still considering the Mazda, but am leaning towards the Sport. I may considered the CX-30 Turbo, but I am not sure I want the added complexity since there is more than a 50% chance this car will become my son's when he finally graduates.

 

So I posted because I walked away impressed with the 2.5L engine, finding it was such a noticeable upgrade from my Crosstrek. I was also hoping for commentary on the CX-30 which is a really nice car, and certainly the most comparable IMO to the Crosstrek. I was a bit taken back by the degrading comments when others don't agree on either the acceleration or that there can possible be things people don't like in the Crosstrek. It certainly stifles conversations as well as the people who look when they are buying and opt not to participate.

CR doesn't like the CX-30 (68 versus 85 for the Crosstrek). They dinged it for reliability and owner satisfaction. Only one example but maybe why...

Don't be discouraged. This is one of the most friendly automotive forums I've ever encountered and I've been online since before there was an Internet...

Pretty much all of the automotive press dinged the Crosstrek for the 2.0L engine. We have it and it's fine. If we could have the 2.5L with the same fuel economy for the same price, sure.

 

I smell a fraud. Hear me out: he comes here and talks up the Mazda cx, doesn’t bash the crosstrek, only has one post ever, never replies to any post, AND his username is macct. As in Mazda Account. If this person replies back I’ll eat my hat.
I know it’s a reach, and I know some will say “wouldn’t he put the crosstrek down like most fraud accounts do?” And that’s exactly why I smell fraud. If you don’t put down the specific car on the specific forum, then you don’t raise any flags. However, you CAN still come here and talk up a different car. One that happens to be in the same segment as the crosstrek, which is KILLING Mazda CUV sales. I’ll see myself to the door now...0

 

what’s peoples fascination with performance numbers?

I don’t understand it & I’m even a car guy

Do you all drag race soccer moms stop light to stop light street outlaws style on your daily commutes? pretend your Ken Block & shooting a gymkhana video in the office parking garage? or playing Ironman Stewart racing the Baja 1000 down a dark & lonesome gravel road?

now back on track

the transmission is physically the same one between your 18 & the 21 with the 2.5L that said internal or programming changes may have been made since?

if you’re still pondering the Mazda I’d check with some local car rental locations as Mazdas seem to be a popular choice for them & see if 30 is an option? I know Avis did/does have the 5s in there fleet. tell them if they get one in you’ll take it for the day or make a weekend trip out of it.

sometimes change is good? right?

 

what’s peoples fascination with performance numbers?

I don’t understand it & I’m even a car guy

Do you all drag race soccer moms stop light to stop light street outlaws style on your daily commutes? pretend your Ken Block & shooting a gymkhana video in the office parking garage? or playing Ironman Stewart racing the Baja 1000 down a dark & lonesome gravel road?



I swear I will never race for pink slips again as the last top fuel dragster I challenged just beat me (at the 1,000 foot mark...maybe I could have pulled it out had I lowered the drivers seat and crouched and if we had gone entire the quarter mile!) with a 3.623 elapsed time at 338.17mph.
My Crosstrek came on the cam and hit its stride but I think I had the dirty side of the track so I was a little behind with a 16.9 at 83 mph. It was close and I had to give up the Subaru but I bought a used Funny Car (it has fenders and pretend lights) so now I can go to the 7-11 in about 2 1/2 seconds but it takes a bit of time pull pedestrians off of the hood, rebuild the engine and pack the chute.

I found the Mazda much nicer inside but the rear seat seemed intolerable for old folks my size when the 18 year old grand daughter demands to show me her driving skills while the Crosstrek is pretty ok for me sitting in back. The Subaru offered Traffic Cone Orange so there was that too.

 

Ah. I was unaware of the change.

 

Ford sold their 30% of their shares in Mazda in 2008. Mazda was able to buy itself back so now Mazda is its own company again with Ford owning only 3% of Mazda. Ford no more controls Mazda than Toyota controls Subaru.

 

CR doesn't like the CX-30 (68 versus 85 for the Crosstrek). They dinged it for reliability and owner satisfaction. Only one example but maybe why...

 

Yeah, I drove a 1990 Protege for quite a while, and it was a really good little car -- it had over 330,000 miles on it when it finally got totaled.

Mazda's position in the US market isn't the greatest, though, and I wonder why that is ...

 

Yeah, I drove a 1990 Protege for quite a while, and it was a really good little car -- it had over 330,000 miles on it when it finally got totaled.

Mazda's position in the US market isn't the greatest, though, and I wonder why that is ...

Probably because Ford controls it.

 

I came very, very close to getting a CX-5 when I was looking. I had a '92 Protege LX that was a great vehicle. I look at Mazda and Subaru as fine, "boutique" type Japanese manufacturers of quality vehicles.

 

Before you decide, you should really test drive the soon-to-be released Mazda CX-30 2.5L Turbo. According to Car and Driver, "The 2021 CX-30 Turbo has the same turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four found in many other Mazdas, producing 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque." The Turbocharged version is slated to be released by the end of 2020.

The two biggest drawbacks of the CX-30 for me are (1) the lack of foglights and (2) the lack of a trailer hitch option.

The biggest advantages of the CX-30 over the CrossTrek is (1) the upcoming 2.5L Turbo engine, (2) LED headlights, (3) the handling and (4) the automatic transmission.

 

I would still go with the crosstrek. When two cars in the same class are close, for me it comes down to the AWD. Nothing will ever beat real time AWD. It outperforms slip and grip AWD in real world driving. Winters here are true Canadian winters and this clinches it for me.

 

FWIW, Consumer Reports road tested and evaluated 16 vehicles in the Subcompact SUV class. The Crosstrek ranked #1 and the CX-30 ranked #8.

 

yup consumer reports ranked the crosstrek #1 in its segment with a 84/100! recommending it

 

I haven't driven a CX-30, but it's my sense that it's the car equivalent of the beautiful girl you'd want to be seen with at the prom, but who would get tiresome afterwards. The Crosstrek isn't quite as glamorous a date, but ends up being the better lifetime companion.

 

My neighbour has the cx30 and while it is a beautiful interior, riding over bumps is painful. Also find the black cladding just ugly on such a sleek vehicle. The cladding on the Crosstrek is intended and plays the part of a true off roader even if lightly. Her model is the mid level trim with the upgrade package with sunroof, memory seats and leather interior. Still no proximity key. Have to fish out your keys and press a button. Have we become lazy or what?! 😂
in any case, I´m glad with my choice of a 2022 limited model. Just wish it would get here faster!