10 Reasons The Mazda CX-30 Became Such An Instant Hit In Canada

Ideally, a major global automobile manufacturer doesn't release an all-new vehicle in the weeks leading up to a pandemic.

2020, of course, hasn't always gone according to plan. And for the first edition of the Mazda CX-30, complicated timing hasn't disrupted this Mazda's success. The Mazda CX-30 is an absolute hit in Canada with 7,575 sold so far. In October, it was Mazda Canada's No.2 seller with 1,122 sales across the country. 

Yet apart from the fact that the CX-30's segment of small crossovers has exploded in popularity, what's made this all-new vehicle such an absolute hit in Canada? Here are 10 of the main reasons, in no particular order.

TECH

Even on the most affordable GX model, the 2021 Mazda CX-30 is stuffed with high-end content: Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 8-speaker Mazda Harmonic Acoustics audio, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rain-sensing wipers, an 8.8-inch centre display controlled by Mazda's HMI Commander, LED lighting... the list is seemingly endless.

WARRANTY

Mazda is the only automobile manufacturer in Canada that offers an Unlimited Mileage Warranty. That's unlimited mileage protection for the 3-year new vehicle warranty, 3-year roadside assistance program, 5-year powertrain warranty, and 7-year anti-perforation warranties. 

RIDE & HANDLING

In the heart of every Mazda you'll find the soul of the MX-5 Miata, the best-selling roadster of all time. The Miata is an icon, a master of cornering, a car that perfects steering feel and balance and ride quality. And the CX-30 is imbued with that same emphasis, which is why Car And Driver says, "the CX-30 belongs at the very top of your shopping list."

PERFORMANCE

With few exceptions, Mazda CX-30 competitors send power from their engines to the wheels through a continuously variable transmission. That's fine, but what Mazda does is different: there's a SkyActiv 6-speed automatic here that is far more in tune with the driver's wishes. Mazda designs its automatic transmissions to make the most out of an engine, so the 6-speed knows when to hold onto a gear heading into a corner and it knows when to snap off shifts quickly as you accelerate.

Combine this intelligent automatic with the 155-horsepower 2.0-liter engine (or the 186-horsepower 2.5-liter engine) as well as an eager chassis and the result is a performance crossover in a segment full of vehicles that de-emphasize performance.

i-ACTIV AWD

It's time to stop pretending that every all-wheel-drive system is the same. You wouldn't assume every restaurant serves the same french fries, you wouldn't believe every apple tree grows the same kind of apples, and you shouldn't assume every automobile manufacturer has access to the same engineering. i-Activ all-wheel drive isn't the same.

It doesn't react to slip. i-Activ AWD predicts slip.

The CX-30's AWD system does this by employing 27 sensors to read the road 200 times per second, learning what it needs to by measuring everything from outside temperatures to engine speed, steering angle, and even windshield wiper use. Learn more about i-Activ AWD here.

PAINT

Mazda's paint process is just one example of the way Mazda takes quality very, very seriously. Very. Very. Seriously. Take Soul Red Crystal, for instance, which upped colour saturation by 20 percent and provides 50 percent more depth than the Soul Red shade that came before it. There are aluminum flakes of a precisely uniform size along with light-absorbing flakes so the bodywork comes to life as your eye moves across shaded areas.

It's part of the CX-30's first impression, and the paint work makes it very clear that there are more high-end touches to see inside.

TURBO

For 2021, there's more power available in the CX-30 lineup. The turbocharged engine that's standard in the three-row CX-9 flagship and optional in the best-selling CX-5 is also an upgrade option in the CX-30.

250 horsepower. 320 lb-ft of torque. It's incredible. 

POWER LIFTGATE

Time after time, crossover shoppers are disappointed to see that vehicles such as the Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota C-HR, and Hyundai Kona (among many others) don't offer a power tailgate. It can be quite a reach for some owners, and quite awkward if your arms are full of children or groceries. That's why Mazda decided to make sure customers who wanted a power rear hatch could have one – it's standard on the CX-30 GT. 

DRIVER FOCUS

Yes, there are five seats. Yes, there are 572 litres of cargo capacity. Yes, there are 1,280 litres of cargo capacity behind the rear seats. Indeed, so much of the CX-30 is designed to keep your fellow occupants comfortable and safe.

But the CX-30, like every Mazda, is designed around the driver. We're not just talking about performance. Just take notice of where the HMI Commander is located – that's right, it's exactly where your hand wants it to be, and it's directly beside a volume knob that's... exactly where your hand wants it to be. This goes for every aspect of the CX-30's ergonomic setup. In the CX-30, the driver comes first.

KODO

The CX-30 looks good. It looks great. We'd go so far as to say the CX-30 looks absolutely terrific. But what's the difference? Mazda's design philosphy follows the Kodo language, which derives its vocabulary from graceful lines. There's nothing harsh here, nothing offensive. Mazda says Kodo is "like the effects of wind or the flow of water." 

A good-looking car doesn't happen by accident. It takes hands-on labour and countless hours of finely tuned artistry. The end product is entirely worth it.