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 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.
