2021 Mazda CX-30: A good compact get-about town car

Starting at $22,050 US, this is a subcompact SUV that takes all its cues from the Mazda 3, in terms of agility and style and economy.

There is a fair amount of room in this vehicle, a smidge more than 45 cubic feet of cargo space when you put the seats down.  This is a car you seek out when you want to buy new yet need to consider your coins (however you earn them). Mileage comes in at 25 city / 33 highway.

It’s a sleek / handsome looking vehicle, easy to mistake for a sedan, but it really is an SUV, mostly because of its ground clearance. Yeah, sure, an additional 2 ½ inches may not seem like much (wink).

(All-Wheel Drive is optional and I would suggest getting it.  It’s only about $1,200 more but it really will make a difference to you down the road.  Caution: in today’s new car market, that could delay delivery of your vehicle by several months.)

This is just the second year for the CX-30, which fits right between the Mazda 3 and the Mazda 5 (which prompts Edmunds.com to ask why they just didn’t call it the Mazda 4). The response so far to the car has been positive. 

There are seven trims and each offers a heightened sense of luxury and added safety. At the base 2.5 S trim, you will get an 8.8-inch center console display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 16-inch alloy wheels, eight audio speakers and remote vehicle monitoring and control (from your phone, which is a nice thing to have these days).

Standard safety features include a drowsy driver monitor (this is great: it alerts you if it senses you are nodding off), adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams (for when you are on winding roads and encountering oncoming traffic) and forward collision mitigation (when that other queen is paying more attention to her makeup or latte and not to the road -– hey, it happens). 

Go up the trim levels and you can find yourself easily spending in excess of $33K once you add on taxes etc. But items like AWD (as I mentioned) and surround-view camera, power liftgate, turbo, leather and Bose audio (even a traffic sign reader) are available.

Most car dealers encourage you to come in (they want your business) and test drive the car.  I say do It. Take your time.  Take a friend.  

Never buy sight unseen.  Even if you are not getting married or getting a tattoo.