Heightened State of Driving

A look inside the 2022 Mazda crossover lineup

By Isaac Bouchard

Mazda’s transition to a premium brand is well underway. Its vehicles, all crossovers but for the Audi A3-rivalling Mazda3, all offer higher quality interiors, more standard equipment, and greater refinement than almost anything at their price points. All are also available with a powerful turbocharged engine, packing more performance than most rivals as well.

2022 Mazda CX-30

The CX-30 trades ultimate cargo capacity for svelte looks; this entry into Mazda’s crossover lineup stands out amongst a crowded field with a sporty stance and generally upscale detailing. Its cockpit is very high end, with quality plastic moldings, interesting color contrasts for materials and controls that all look and feel expensive. Downsides are no touch control for the 8.8in. infotainment screen and a torsion-beam rear suspension which limits the 30’s ultimate dynamic acumen. Rear passenger room is also very tight (in fact, smaller than the Mazda3 that shares its underpinnings). Base engine in the CX-30 is a 191hp, 2.5-liter four, hooked to a trad 6-speed automatic; it’s faster than most base engine-equipped competitors. Optional is the turbo in 250hp form, which grants it unmatched performance in the class. All in, it comes across as the kind of entry level vehicle a company like Lexus should offer.

2022 Mazda CX-50

Built in an all-new, state-of-the-art Alabama factory that’s 50/50 owned with Toyota, the CX-50’s has a chassis that’s shared with the 30, as are its engines: a 2.5L four-cylinder in 187hp atmospheric or 256hp turbocharged spec. Its carefully crafted look is wide-stanced, with a long, flat hood and boxed fender flares that help it cut a distinct swath in traffic. Inside there’s Mazda’s first available panoramic sunroof and a 10.3in. screen that allows touch inputs when running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, a tacit admission that those systems work better with fingers than control wheels. The precise controls, clear and legible gauges, good sound system and loads of equipment are up to Mazda’s usual standards. Some secondary moldings and materials are not as good as the company’s Japanese-built products, however. Back seat headroom is tight for taller folk (the legacy CX-5 solves that problem) but cargo room is capacious for the class. Towing capacity with the turbo is 3,500 pounds and there is even an off-road package. On balance, the choices the company made to keep the 50’s price class-competitive yet provide and upscale experience seem savvy. The Mazda’s steering is inciteful, its brakes linear and powerful and ride quality and noise suppression first rate. And for those who don’t need the roof, touchscreen, or look, there is still the superb CX-5 for a couple grand less.

2022 Mazda CX-9

The oldest vehicle in Mazda’s lineup is still very compelling. It looks terrific outside and has a stunning interior, of uniformly higher quality than anything within $10,000 of its MSRP. Its age is apparent in that there is no pano roof and that—like all current Mazdas—its transmission only has six ratios—but otherwise the 9 is still amongst the best. Its space utilization is impressive: the third row is more habitable than a Toyota Highlander, for instance, and the second row seats (buckets or bench, depending on trim level) slide fore and aft to better balance foot room. That feature is now becoming more available in the class, but the Mazda was one first to embrace its advantages. The CX-9 is still quieter than a Kia Telluride, the darling of the class, and rides as well. It handles better and has more performance and better fuel economy too. It is also a genuine rival to the more expensive Jeep Grand Cherokee (normal or 3-row L model) though its infotainment system is more cumbersome than those in the Jeep, Hyundai Palisade or Kia. Offsetting that, its level of standard equipment is almost unrivaled. The CX-9 will be replaced at some point in the next 12 months by a larger model, the CX-90, and eventually a sporty, upscale two row version, the CX-70, both available in hybrid and six-cylinder versions. Meanwhile the CX-9 remains very compelling and combines the virtues of both those future models in a stylish, upscale package at a frankly incredible price.

 

                                                         CX-30                    CX-50                  CX-9

EPA Ratings:                           22/30/25mpg        23/29/25mpg        20/26/23mpg

0-60mph:                                  5.8sec                       6.6sec                       6.8sec

Price as tested*                      $36,675                    $43,575                    $50,330

Here is what Mazda has to say.

*2023 Models

Automotive Editor Isaac Bouchard owns Denver-based Bespoke Autos ([email protected]; 303-475-1462). Read more of his automotive writing, reviews and recommendations on coloradoavidgolfer.com and bespokeautos.com.

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