320 lb-ft of torque in a small crossover? Yes, please!
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During our recent testing of the outstanding Mazda CX-30, one thought continued to ping our brain; “I wonder if Mazda will drop the 2.5-turbo in this?” The answer came faster than we expected. Yes, you can get the 320- lb-ft of torque engine in the Mazda CX-30 starting this coming model year.
Related: Mazda CX-30 Crossover- Is It Big Enough?
The CX-30 is more compact than the larger CX-5 crossover. However, the driver and front passengers in the CX-30 have ample personal space. In fact, the driver legroom and the center console storage in the CX-30 are larger than in the CX-5.
Related: Mazda Releases Yet Another Special Color - Polymetal Gray As the Carbon Edition
One advantage the CX-30 has over both the current CX-5 and the outgoing CX-3 is its sporty, fun to drive nature. The CX-30 is among the most enjoyable small crossovers on the market. With the new 2.5 Turbocharged engine, drivers can now put the class-leading power to good use through the all-wheel drive system.
Related: Mazda CX-30 Premium vs. Hyundai Kona Ultimate - Which Compact Crossover Is Right For you?
The 2.5 turbo is an outstanding engine that has massive torque off the line. Mazda’s Skyactiv-G 2.5 Turbo engine delivers 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque with premium (93 octane) fuel or 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque with regular (87 octane) fuel. Trust, us. We have tested this engine in the CX-9, CX-5, and Mazda6. You won’t need the pricey fuel. 310 lb-ft of torque is about double what many small crossovers offer, and it comes much lower in the rev band where it matters most.
The 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo is scheduled to go on sale by the end of 2020. Watch Torque News for a full test in the coming months.
John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of a team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. For 20 years he applied his engineering and sales talents in the high tech world and published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008, he retired from that career to chase his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin
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I think I am the only one who
I think I am the only one who didn't like this thing. Felt really cheap and didn't have the same personality as other Mazdas. I also don't understand where it really fits in the lineup with the confusing name.
I didn't perceive much
I didn't perceive much difference between the feel of quality with the current CX-30 and the '18 CX-5 Grand Touring we own and drove back to back. I do agree with you that this vehicle should be the Mazda CX-4. I suspect Mazda ran into a trademark conflict or something. It is the CX-4 in other markets. Or, all of the Mazda vehicles will switch to CX-30, CX-40, CX-50 etc at some future point. Thanks for adding a comment. Much appreciated.