Mazda is known for making some great cars, but the automaker is also in the business of making some great SUVs. The 2021 Mazda CX-30 is an excellent crossover for drivers who don’t need a massive SUV, but it’s not as sporty as it could be. And if you want your 2021 Mazda CX-30 to be sportier, it’ll come at a hefty price. 

An overview of the standard 2021 Mazda CX-30

As its name implies, the CX-30 is a larger version of the CX-3 but smaller than the CX-5 and other larger SUVs. That being said, the CX-30 has a lot to offer in its own right. Off the bat, it’s an affordable SUV because it’s a subcompact crossover. The CX-30 starts around $23,000, and it offers features that punch above its weight. 

For example, its interior is designed to look upscale despite the MSRP. Additionally, Mazda has put great effort into making the CX-30 safe. It comes standard with an 8.8-inch display screen that, although not a touchscreen, is safer overall. Furthermore, Mazda offers a suite of smart safety features that include a forward-collision warning system, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, and other perks. 

The CX-30 comes standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that gets 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. This standard engine is relatively fuel-efficient, — it gets about 27 mpg in the city and on the highway combined — but it’s not very powerful for an SUV. 

A turbocharged 2021 Mazda CX-30 will cost a lot

Because of its relatively weak engine, Mazda also offers an optional 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on the CX-30, MotorTrend reports. This 2.5-liter gets about 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque while using regular fuel, but it’ll get even more when using premium fuel. With premium gas in the tank, this turbocharged engine gets 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. 

However, Mazda won’t allow you to add only the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine to your CX-30 order, according to MotorTrend. Instead, the more powerful engine is part of a package that includes other features that’ll ultimately increase the CX-30’s price. The package includes other added features, such as all-wheel drive, heated leather seats, and a premium audio system.

As a result, the cheapest package that includes the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine starts at $31,000, roughly $8,000 more than the standard CX-30. The most expensive turbocharged package costs upward of $35,000, but that package includes even more premium features, MotorTrend reports. 

The turbocharged 2.5-liter engine is available elsewhere

Although the price seems steep for the CX-30, Mazda offers the same turbocharged 2.5-liter engine on other cars. That’s because the automaker offers the same engine on many of its vehicles, so it’s possible to get that turbocharged 2.5-liter on different models, MotorTrend reports.

The Mazda 3, Mazda 6, CX-5, and CX-9 all offer the same turbocharged 2.5-liter engine as the CX-30, MotorTrend says. This engine won’t be more affordable on those other Mazdas, though. The cheapest turbo package for the Mazda 3 starts around $32,000, and the cheapest turbo package for the CX-5 starts at about $33,000. 

That being said, because those are cars are very different from the CX-30, anyone who absolutely wants the turbocharged 2.5-liter can experience it on a larger SUV in the CX-5 or on a smaller and nimbler car like the Mazda 3. And because these vehicles’ turbocharged price points are so similar, most customers won’t have to spend that much more on the alternatives.