If you’re looking for something more upscale than a Nissan Kicks and more refined than a Kia Seltos, then the Mazda CX-30 is a great choice. Its sleek looks and matching luxurious interior are a departure from the usual econobox materials used by its rivals, which are complemented by a choice of potent powertrains.

I’ve enjoyed the 2021 Mazda CX-30 during the time that I have had it. Every time I open the door and sit inside of it to go for a drive, I keep having to remind myself that it’s “just a Mazda.” It really is that good. However, whenever I turn on the ignition, there’s one feature that really annoys me.

In the Mazda CX-30, safety is a priority

After switching the ignition on in any car, you’re usually met with blinking dash lights and beeps while all of the systems come online. And if you start to drive without your seatbelt on, the system eventually starts to beep at you to remind you to buckle up. However, in the Mazda CX-30, the chime is much more annoying than most other cars.

While other cars give you about 30 seconds to click in your safety belt before electronically scolding you, the Mazda CX-30 kicks things up a notch by screaming at you from the get-go. Even when simply moving the CX-30 from one parking space to another across the parking lot, it beeped at me the whole way.

And yes, I understand that this is a very arbitrary thing to complain about, but it’s important after all. If anything, the CX-30 wants to make sure that you’re safe, even if you only plan on driving about 20 feet. And whether it’s annoying or not, I applaud the automaker for looking out for everyone’s safety, even when it comes to putting their seatbelts on for a five-second trip.

The Mazda CX-30 has the safety tech you need

Aside from the annoying seat belt warning, the Mazda CX-30 is available with all of the driver-assist and safety features you could want. My tester was the Premium Plus trim with the upgraded turbocharged 2.5-liter engine. In case you’re wondering, the turbocharged engine is fantastic; its power delivery is smooth and you can definitely feel the low-end grunt when pegging the throttle from a standstill. But, I digress.

The top-trim Mazda CX-30 Premium Plus comes with everything including radar cruise control, lane-departure warning, a lane-keep assist system that doesn’t ping-pong the car from side-to-side on the freeway, and a rear-cross traffic alert for when you’re backing out of tight spaces. I found that last feature to be especially helpful when a careless driver sped past me as I was reversing in a parking lot. The CX-30 pays attention even when others do not.

The Mazda CX-30 is very easy to park

Don’t let the Mazda CX-30’s “crossover” designation fool you, this car is smaller than your average Honda CR-V. This means that you’re not sitting up as high, but its small size means that it’s easy to navigate parking lots.

And if you get the Premium Plus trim, then you’ll also get front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system so you’ll always know whether or not you’re going hit something. Ultimately, the Mazda CX-30 is a really safe car no matter where you drive it, just be prepared to buckle up right away.