If you’re in the market for a subcompact SUV, you’ve probably seen the Mazda CX-30 for sale while browsing your options. This model stands out in a crowded category by offering upscale styling, exceptional driving dynamics for the class, and standard all-wheel drive. It also has a higher-than-average array of trim levels. That has the potential to be good for you as a shopper: you’re more likely to find just the right balance between staying under budget and getting as many desirable features as you can. However, it can also be confusing learning the differences between the eight variants of the CX-30 and deciding which one is right for you. Luckily, we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the major differences between the trims, from the base 2.5 S to the top-tier 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus.
Powertrain Options
All trims of the 2025 CX-30 are powered by a 2.5L four-cylinder engine. But while all trims are powered by a 2.5L engine, they don’t all offer the same power. That’s because trims with “2.5 Turbo” in the name have a turbocharged version of the engine. The base “2.5 S” engine produces 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, while the turbo engine ups those figures to 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque.
Picking the turbo engine brings the time it takes to get from 0-60 mph down from 7.6 seconds to 5.8 seconds, allowing you to accelerate much more quickly. As you might expect, that extra power comes at the expense of fuel economy: non-turbo variants get 29 MPG combined, while turbo variants get 25 MPG combined. All trims come standard with i-ACTIV all-wheel drive, a system that automatically reacts to changing road conditions to give you additional power when you need it without burning extra fuel when you don’t.
2.5 S
Opting for the base trim might mean forgoing some creature comforts, but Mazda includes a solid lineup of features as standard fare. The 2.5 S has an infotainment system featuring a six-speaker audio system, an 8.8-inch center display, and a seven-inch instrument display behind the wheel. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does Bluetooth connectivity. Standard safety features include driver assist like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, driver attention alert, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The interior has cloth trim, manually adjustable seats, and a basic climate control system.
2.5 S Select Sport
Upgrading to the 2.5 S Select Sport trim gets you dual-zone automatic climate control, so you and your front passenger can each pick your preferred temperature. Backseat passengers will enjoy dedicated rear vents as well as a center armrest with cup holders. The entire interior gets an upgrade from cloth trim to leatherette, with a genuine leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter. In addition to smartphone connectivity, the infotainment system features Alexa Built-In. This trim also gets you heated side mirrors that help maintain clear visibility when the weather gets frosty, as well as rain-sensing windshield wipers for the wet season.
2.5 S Preferred
The 2.5 S Preferred trim makes the interior more comfortable, with heated front seats and an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat with power lumbar. A two-position memory feature lets you and another driver save your settings and return to them at the push of a button. This trim is also the first in the lineup to feature a power sliding-glass moonroof, bringing more natural light into the cabin.
2.5 S Carbon Edition
While most trims have a half dozen exterior colors to choose from, the 2.5 S Carbon Edition comes only in Polymetal Gray Metallic with exclusive red leather-trimmed seats on the inside. It also has 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels with a black metallic finish. Beyond style, this trim has some more significant upgrades, including an eight-speaker audio system and HD Radio. You can also cut the charging cables with a wireless device charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
2.5 S Premium
The most luxurious trim to use the more efficient engine option, the 2.5 S Premium pulls out all the stops with black or white leather-trimmed seats, paddle shifters that let you manually control your ride, a premium Bose 12-speaker audio system, and a built-in online navigation system with off-road navigation functionality. In the back, a rear power liftgate makes it easy to access cargo, even if your hands are full. The infotainment system uses the same main displays but supplements them with a windshield-projected head-up display that lets you look at key information without taking your eyes off the road. Additional safety features include adaptive front lighting and traffic sign recognition.
2.5 Carbon Turbo
Like the 2.5 S Carbon Edition, the 2.5 Carbon Turbo has a single option when it comes to exterior and interior colors—an exclusive exterior paint shade called Zircon Sand Metallic and a Terracotta leatherette-trimmed interior. From this point on, you’ll get a larger 10.25-inch center display. This is the first trim in the lineup to get the more powerful turbocharged engine. While it’s farther up the lineup, it breaks the pattern of each trim building on the features of the last by omitting several of the features you’ll find on the 2.5 S Premium. The 2.5 Carbon Turbo trim doesn’t come with paddle shifters, a rear power liftgate, a windshield-projected display, a built-in navigation system, or traffic sign recognition, to name a few examples. If you want these features and the turbocharged engine, you’ll want to upgrade to 2.5 Turbo Premium or 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus.
2.5 Turbo Premium
In addition to gaining back all of the features on the 2.5 S Premium and pairing them with the powerful turbocharged engine, the 2.5 Turbo Premium trim adds a few extra features on top. A heated steering wheel and windshield wiper de-icer make you better prepared to face cold weather comfortably. A frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror looks stylish and gives you the best view possible at any time of day.
2.5 Turbo Premium Plus
At the very top of the lineup, the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus trim has some exclusive features to justify its higher price point. An auto-dimming driver’s side exterior mirror joins the auto-dimming rearview mirror to prevent you from getting distracted by bright lights behind you. When you’re parking or maneuvering slowly in tight spaces, you can use the 360-degree view monitor to get a top-down view of the area around your vehicle so you can avoid low-lying obstacles and get your position just right. In addition to front automatic braking, you also get rear automatic braking and rear cross-traffic braking, which can come in handy when backing out of a parking spot. On top of that, you also get Cruising and Traffic Support, which uses adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance at the same time, making long drives on the highway less taxing.
How to Find the Right CX-30 for You
The first thing you should do when you’re shopping for any vehicle is figure out your buying power. Get an estimated value of your trade-in vehicle and check your credit and budget to figure out what monthly payments you can afford. Use the result to figure out how much you can afford to spend on a new vehicle. Once you have that number, you can eliminate any trims that put you over budget. With what’s left, you just have to look at the real differences between the trims and ask yourself what features are important to you. Whether you value comfort, convenience, tech, power, style, or efficiency, there should be something in this lineup that satisfies your needs.
