The modern small SUV and crossover segment is wildly popular but crazy boring, as a rule. These cars often sacrifice a lot of what makes a vehicle enjoyable for slightly more headroom and not much else. The Mazda CX-30 is one such vehicle–but has the introduction of the new turbocharged motor able to elevate the little SUV into something other than endlessly boring? 

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 snags a turbo motor

Basically, Mazda is working hard to throw the 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder into everything they got. MotorTrend reports that the 2021 Mazda CX-30 is the newest member of the turbo club. The CX-5, CX-9, Mazda3, and Mazda 6 all got the turbo upgrade, and people are feeling it. 

If you want to see the Mazda CX-30 excel, you are going to have to pay for it

This new option promises big things for the popular little SUV, but Mazda ain’t giving its turbocharged engine away. The turbo option will run a hefty $6,600 smackers. It is worth noting; the turbo option is only available on the AWD-verison of the Mazda CX-30. 

The 2.5-liter turbocharged engine might be pricy, but it packs a decent punch, but this isn’t the only change Mazda made to the CX-30 Turbo 2.5. Of course, the new engine lobs new power onto the 2021 CX-30 to the tune of “250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas.” If you run regular gas, you’ll get slightly less power, about 227 and 310, respectively. 

What else comes with the Turbo 2.5?

Mazda didn’t stop with a cool, new motor; there are new interior features now, too. The new interior is loaded down with creature comforts like heated seats, dual-zone auto climate control, sunroof, a new speaker system, and some fancy new driver aids, too.  Mazda also sat it on 18-inch wheels and blind-spot monitoring. Other features it shares with the rest of the CX-30 lineup is automated emergency braking, lane departure, and adaptive cruise control. 

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo 2.5 should sell pretty well

MotorTrend collected sales data on comparative Mazda models like the Mazda 3 and the CX-3 to see how the 2021 Mazda CX-30 non-turbo that they had as a tester. The Mazda 3 sold 28,000 units through October while the CX-3’s sales were down by nearly 28 percent resulting in only 7,485 sold. Now, the CX-30, on the other hand, came out and sold 31,000 units. Now, if we assume the price difference won’t hurt it too bad, the 2021 CX-30 Turbo 2.5 should kill if the non-turbo did as well as it did. 

The Mazda 3 and the Mazda CX-30 are very close in many ways. It would stand to reason that they would be neck and neck in sales, but with the addition of the Mazda CX-30 Turbo 2.5, the scales may look a little different. People love a crossover, and if the crossover can perform like a sedan or hatchback, the smaller guys better lookout. Mazda has mastered the art of making simple non-flashy cars a blast to drive. If Mazda pulls it off with the CX-30, an inarguably boring vehicle to drive, then Mazda has clearly proven its mastery of all things “Zoom-Zoom.”