Which Mazda crossover is right for you? | Mazda CX-5 or Mazda CX-30
Which Mazda crossover is right for you? | Mazda CX-5 or Mazda CX-30
There’s plenty of overlap between Mazda’s smallest crossovers.
Shop for the new Mazda CX-30 on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/FW27k
Shop for the new Mazda CX-5 on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/Mpry6
Sometimes, car names can get confusing. There was the CX-3, now there’s a CX-30. Your neighbor has a CX-5, but is that better than a CX-30? How do you keep it all straight? Clifford Atiyeh drives both to determine which is the better buy.
For more information on the 2021 Mazda CX-30, read the full review on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/Mprwp
For more information on the 2021 Mazda CX-5, read the full review on CarGurus: https://cargur.us/MprxG
Video review: Clifford Atiyeh
Cinematography: https://www.VennCreativeMedia.com
Written CX-30 review: Christian Wardlaw
Written CX-5 review: Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Subscribe to the CarGurus Channel: / cargurus
#Mazda #CX30 #CX5
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0:00 The CX-30 OR the CX-5?
1:53 Exterior Dimensions
2:15 Styling
3:22 Inside the CX-5
4:19 Inside the CX-30
4:58 Cargo Space
5:28 CX-5 Driving Impressions
9:08 CX-5 Fuel Economy
9:51 CX-30 Driving Impressions
12:30 CX-30 Fuel Economy
13:43 Technology and Safety
15:15 Pricing and the Competition
15:42 Final Thoughts
Content
1.52 -> spoiler alert in this comparison video the
mazda's gonna win but which mazda and why
7.36 -> well every automaker has a lineup with cars that
overlap in size price and features so the point
13.92 -> of this video is to tell you which of these mazdas
is right for you these are two very popular mazdas
20.08 -> compact cx-5 and the sub-compact cx-30
both of these are identical turbocharged
26.4 -> powertrains they're the top trims you can
buy and they cost between 36 and 39 000
31.76 -> now we reviewed both of these cars separately
you can watch those if you subscribe to our
35.76 -> youtube channel you know where to go but
mazdas of a certain feather flock together
40.72 -> that's why they're here right now if your
heart is set on a new mazda crossover
45.44 -> this is the video to watch i'm going to show
you the differences between both these cars
49.84 -> you might have heard we're mazda fans we are they
drive well they feel upscale they look pretty no
55.76 -> matter which model we're reviewing we named the
current gen cx-5 as our 2021 editor's choice for
61.68 -> the best used car the cx-30 was new for 2020 and
there's not enough data yet to recommend it but
68.32 -> i've tested a 2020 with the naturally aspirated
engine and matt smith tested this 2021 turbo i
74.08 -> haven't driven a cx-5 in a long while but the rest
of the cargurus team has driven one of every kind
79.68 -> every year the big mouth grille and that chrome
eyeliner tracing underneath the led headlights
85.76 -> that's the mazda look that everyone knows by
now the two of these cars really do look very
90.24 -> much the same from the front there's some slightly
different lighting patterns that you'll see behind
94.32 -> me but here's the real difference the cx-30 is
based on the new mazda 3 hatchback the cx-5 is not
100.72 -> in fact cx-5 that's based on a car that goes back
to 2013. and even though it was refreshed in 2017
106.64 -> and mazda called it an all-new cx-5 technically
the chassis and that standard powertrain are the
112.24 -> same the cx-5 may not look as big on screen but
next to the cx-30 it is it's six inches longer
119.68 -> overall the wheelbase is stretched by another two
inches it's also front and rear two inches wider
125.52 -> the cx-30 is actually a half inch higher off the
ground a total of eight inches versus seven and a
130.56 -> half but vertically it's three and a half inches
shorter than that car this is the cx-30 2.5 turbo
138.72 -> premium plus 18 inch black wheels and mirrors
which come on every turbo big plastic fenders like
145.04 -> a subaru crosstrek standard roof rails and very
eye-catching lighting just look at the led turn
152.08 -> signal which fades like an incandescent bulb mazda
does little details like that because it cares
158.4 -> this is the cx-5 signature 19-inch silver wheels
but if you like the darker effect a new trim for
164.4 -> 2021 will do that it's called the carbon edition
roof rails are not standard and the lights on the
169.92 -> cx-5 are nice but not as hot as the cx-30s mazda
has exceptional paint quality on either of these
176.4 -> cars the finishes belong on luxury cars luxury
is the whole point of these two top mazda trims
183.44 -> both are minimalist and a bit austere just like
the best german cars but everything you can
188.4 -> touch grab or knock against is padded stitched or
knurled the tactile quality is top notch and it's
195.84 -> right up there with entry level luxury crossovers
like the lexus ux and mercedes gla for 2021
203.12 -> every cx-5 gets this new 10-inch screen versus
the 8-inch from before also this is the signature
209.12 -> trim and that means you get this wood which to
me looks pretty fake mazda says it's real and
214.72 -> napa leather which is a softer grade leather
found in the higher end luxury cars they call
219.04 -> it brown and i'm not color blind i swear but i
cannot tell the difference between this and black
225.12 -> these upper trims have heated and cooled
front seats a heated steering wheel
229.28 -> and heated rear seats but where are those controls
well they're hidden right here it took me a long
235.92 -> time to figure that out and the usb ports
are hidden in here and that means that if
240.24 -> you have someone actually sitting in this rear
position or a car seat or this seat is folded
245.04 -> you can't heat your bum and you
can't charge your phone but otherwise
248.16 -> sitting back here in the cx-5 it's a heck of
a lot better than that cx30 in every dimension
253.2 -> and this front passenger seat is powered where in
that top trim in the cx-30 it's entirely manual
262.32 -> being in the second row of the cx-30 is like
sitting in the third row of a midsize suv
267.28 -> it is tight this seat is where i was sitting
before i'm 511 and i feel like mazda put more
273.36 -> room for the blind spots behind me than my actual
head and my legs and my shoulders also there's no
279.6 -> heated rear seats up front the cx-30 is most like
the mazda 3 hatchback there's no twin central air
285.6 -> vents there's separate designs from the driver
and the passenger and the screen it's only
290.32 -> nine inches versus the 10 you'll find in the new
cx-5 but this steering wheel's a whole lot nicer
295.28 -> the switches and everything on here just looks
more modern space comes at a premium in any small
300.48 -> suv but especially the cx-30 there's 20 cubic feet
behind the rear seats and 45 when they're folded
306.32 -> that's actually less than the mazda 3 hatchback
the cx-5 you get 50 percent more when they're
311.84 -> behind the rear seats for 31 cubic feet and 25
percent more when they're folded at 60 cubic feet
317.76 -> those numbers are big space is at a premium in the
cx-30 but the engines transmissions and all-wheel
325.04 -> drive are exactly the same between both cars let's
take each one out on the road for this test i am
330.8 -> not driving the base two and a half liter engine
this is the two and a half liter turbo four so
336.16 -> instead of 187 horsepower there's 250 instead of
186 pound-feet of torque there's 320 that is a lot
345.36 -> in a small car like the cx-5 now if you use 87
octane the numbers drop a little bit the torque
352.32 -> goes down to 310 the horsepower to 227 but that's
really you know not a big difference the fact
358.64 -> that it can run on both fuels and deliver very
similar performance is pretty good but i gotta say
365.28 -> even in sport mode it doesn't really take
off like i would think with an engine with
370.88 -> this much potency especially in the low range it
doesn't really deliver that i think part of it
375.84 -> is due to the six-speed automatic it's good but
it's down a few gears from some of the latest
380.8 -> transmissions you'll find in competitors seven
speed eight speed and what that does you just get
387.04 -> more off the line torque and the lower gears and
the higher gears give you better fuel efficiency
392.32 -> with these six speeds they're old enough now where
there's more gaps so there's just more spacing and
399.12 -> what that means is that it just does not feel as
reactive it's gonna be fine for most buyers but
404.48 -> i'm just gonna say right now i don't think the
turbo is necessarily worth the price premium
410 -> you'll pay versus the regular naturally ask
rated engine drive both tell us what you think
416.48 -> what i do like about the turbo is that it's pretty
smooth and refined and you get this nice gradual
422.56 -> acceleration in any gear that's really what you're
paying for with this turbo versus the naturally
427.92 -> aspirated engine there's just a little bit more
thrust going on at all revs it's very gentle to me
435.2 -> a little too gentle i want it to punch harder and
even with these paddle shifters when i'm shifting
440.96 -> i'll go in a second i mean that's not slow by any
means but it's also just doesn't hit you the great
448.56 -> thing about the cx-5 is that the handling's really
good steering turning it's fast feels pretty
454.48 -> accurate it drives like really like a luxury car
would you're not getting this in a lot of cars
460.64 -> not even the latest hyundai and kias they still
haven't completely sorted out those suspensions
466.08 -> the mazda has for a long time uh nothing new
to the people of mazda so when you drive it
471.6 -> you really do feel like you're more connected to
the car and every time we drive one that's what we
475.92 -> inevitably say in these reviews not making it up
it's just the way it is however i think there is
481.52 -> some trade-offs here because there's no adaptive
dampers it's not really the smoothest ride
487.84 -> it's a little firm right now i'm on a perfectly
paved road so it's excellent any car would be
491.84 -> a lamborghini avenator would be but when you're
in the cx-5 and the road breaks up a little bit
497.68 -> it definitely sends some shutters through the
cabin it's not like we're driving some amg gt
502.88 -> like on a race track like we've done before this
is just a regular car but the suspension is still
508.72 -> stiff i was not expecting that usually
with cars you're going to find a ride
513.52 -> and handling balance right but you pay more for
that and when i realized that this car is about
518.8 -> under forty thousand dollars fully loaded and it
starts in the low twenties the setup is actually
524.4 -> pretty good because a lot of cars that are more
expensive do worse when i was in the mercedes
528.32 -> gla that car was like fifty thousand dollars and
it rode horribly and it handled pretty bad too
535.28 -> this mazda handles really well but the
trade-off is that that ride feels a little firm
540.24 -> it doesn't really bounce you around or anything
but you're just not going to feel as cushy
544.72 -> certainly not as cushy as the cx-30 fuel
economy on this turbo all-wheel drive
551.6 -> 22 miles per gallon city and 27 highway it's not
really good by any measure the regular engine just
558.88 -> a little bit better but i keep saying it all the
time these crossovers they're not that aerodynamic
564.72 -> they use a lot of fuel just
because you get a small one
568.16 -> doesn't mean you're getting a more efficient
one and there's no hybrid option on the cx-5
574.4 -> and a good driver's car is not
complete without good brakes
578.64 -> and really natural progressive pedal feel
583.36 -> all the way to the end mazda really does
nail that part of the equation it's sporty
591.04 -> all right now i'm on team cx-30 what's
the first thing i notice comfort body roll
598.24 -> they come together versus the cx-5 which is a lot
stiffer and it rides harsher this car well doesn't
604.64 -> float but it definitely is more serene on these
back roads i feel more relaxed the ride quality is
612.08 -> much better than the cx-5 and those are the major
differences you're going to find where the cx-5
617.6 -> has sharper turn-in it exhibits almost no roll
not too much at all for a regular crossover and
624 -> you get firmer ride and wax from those tires on
bumps the cx-30 kind of just ignores all that and
630.32 -> kind of lapse it all up like a lincoln in a way
it really does when you're on some turns because
635.92 -> this thing is lifted and remember it's another
half inch higher off the ground than the cx-5
641.92 -> those little things do matter because all
that extra wheel travel that you'll see in
646.48 -> the suspension well the center of gravity's higher
and despite this being still a good car to drive
652.48 -> it's noticeably a little duller and the steering
doesn't respond as quickly it's good but you have
659.44 -> to drive these two back to back like i'm doing to
notice that you might not feel it right away on
664.64 -> your test drive if you have a cx-5 on the lot
and then another cx30 so i'd invite you just
669.6 -> to actually go on a back road anything with
some turns and experience this for yourself
678.64 -> now what can i say about the engine exactly
what i said before about the cx-5 it
683.04 -> it feels good and it moves but oh
that's nice actually the mid-range
687.2 -> here i'm actually a little bit better than
the cx-5 and i'm not even in sport mode
691.12 -> so let me put that on for a second
the switch is in the same place
696.88 -> again good but not great this engine makes
more torque than a bmw 330i a lot more and
703.36 -> yet it just does not feel as quick so again turbo
or non-turbo that's going to be your call but the
709.76 -> turbos i'm driving today i don't feel swayed by
them like the cx-5 the cx-30 just lacks some extra
716.56 -> gears to really manage and extract all of the
torque in this engine so mazda has said that oh
724.64 -> they don't really care about you know having the
sprightly really fast off the line acceleration
730.56 -> but my bet is that they do and they can't replace
the transmission just yet six gears are looking
735.92 -> really dated these days so that's the one part of
the cx-30 and the cx-5 that doesn't feel as modern
744.4 -> oh yeah just a little bit more roll here but the
brakes still feel just as good as the cx-5 now
750.8 -> the fuel economy on this car a little bit better
than the turbo cx-5 22 city which is even and 30
757.28 -> highway versus 27 and again these are not great
numbers if you really want the 30 plus 40 plus you
764.88 -> can get that on the smaller cars regular sedans
that aren't crossovers it's good because this
771.68 -> is just more refined than a subaru or a nissan
honda a lot of those competitors they're fine
778.32 -> but once you jump into cx30 or the cx-5 you
realize hey the more money i'm paying the
784.56 -> nicer car i'm getting and it's simple it's these
little things that you feel not necessarily see
789.84 -> in the interior because you know all this stuff is
really subjective right you may hate this interior
794.56 -> you may not like the way it looks but the driving
portion is the stuff you feel every day behind the
799.12 -> wheel and i think both these cars turn accelerate
and just ride down the road with a more refined
806.16 -> feel than a lot of competitors so if comfort
and driving characteristics are important to you
812.48 -> both these mazdas are going to work you just
have to ask yourself do you like handling or
817.28 -> do you like ride quality that's the major
difference between the cx-30 and the cx-5
823.04 -> what's really great about both cars how
much technology you get for the money
828.8 -> the head up display is on the windshield
not a flip up piece of plastic it's really
833.52 -> clear pretty good also the cx-30 gets a brand
new feature for 2021 that the cx-5 does not
840.16 -> traffic jam assist press one button and up
to 40 miles an hour it'll self steer the car
845.6 -> both cars have lots of driver assists forward
emergency braking with pedestrian detection
850.96 -> lane departure lane keep assist auto high
beams and adaptive crews but the cx-5 has a
857.76 -> better forward collision alert system that can see
people at night and break from higher speeds plus
863.44 -> it comes with standard blind spot monitoring that
is not on the base cx-30 both cars are a 2021 iihs
870.96 -> top safety pick plus and out of 20 small suvs the
cx-5 was the only one to score the top good rating
878.8 -> in the agency's newest and tougher side impact
test beating out even the volvo xc40 and audi q3
888.16 -> oh geez the infotainment controls
oh gosh as you can see they're bad
892.72 -> on both cars and it's not a touch screen
897.2 -> a few other things are missing on both cars no
panoramic moon roof just this tiny sunroof no tire
904.24 -> pressure readouts have no idea about those and on
the cx-5 there's not even a wireless charging pad
910.8 -> but both cars have excellent 360-degree
cameras and great bose surround sound
916.08 -> the cx-30 is loaded at 36-120 the cx-5 is
loaded at 38-805 both have all-wheel drive
924.4 -> the powerful turbo engine and a lot of the
tech and nicer features found in luxury cars
929.76 -> but the real competition comes from the toyota
rav4 hyundai santa fe and the new kia sportage
936 -> these cars also offer hybrid engines with better
gas mileage and on the hyundai in kia better tech
942.4 -> if you're going to stick with mazda the cx-5 is
going to be your default choice it's not that
946.64 -> much bigger on the outside than the cx-30 and
yet inside you really feel the difference in
951.52 -> space for both people and cargo now the cx30 is
definitely rides nicer it's cushier it's sleeker
958.56 -> you may not need the bigger back seat and the
cargo hold of that cx-5 i like the handling so
964.16 -> this is probably the one i would choose but the
point is both of these mazdas are a heck of a
968.88 -> value they offer a lot more features for the money
than entry-level luxury crossovers from acura or
974.88 -> lexus or even mercedes benz so tell us what
do you think and which mazda would you choose
981.12 -> we're gonna review a lot more cars in the future
just like this so tell us what cars you want us to
985.28 -> compare next subscribe to the cargurus youtube
channel go to cargurus.com to buy these cars
990.4 -> they actually do exist i promise and
keep watching we'll see you next time
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT1b1yf7J7I