2024 Mazda CX-30 vs 2024 Subaru Crosstrek

The Mazda CX-30 and the Subaru Crosstrek are among the leading options in the segment of subcompact SUVs in North America. What’s more, both models, having formally debuted within the last decade, are relatively new additions to the market, and they’re broadly comparable in what they have to offer. Given these characteristics, the CX-30 and Crosstrek are competing for similar audiences, so it’s worth examining how they differ to understand which vehicle best suits your needs.

2024 Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek Compared

Despite their similarities, the Mazda CX-30 and Subaru Crosstrek lines target different audiences. The CX-30 is largely aimed at urbane and design-savvy young professionals who need the passenger and cargo space to accommodate their friends or family. The size and contours of the vehicle are meant to be maneuverable through city streets and easy to park in tight metropolitan spaces.

The Subaru Crosstrek, on the other hand, is more geared toward consumers who wish to get away from the population centers and into the more isolated settings of woods and trails. However, there’s some overlap with the CX-30 audience, as Subaru has been marketing the Crosstek to millennials with stylish touches and features that often appeal to young urbanites.

Trims and Dimensions

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 ought to appeal to those who appreciate having a wider range of choices, as it’s available in eight trim options:

• 2.5 S.
• 2.5 S Select Sport.
• 2.5 S Preferred Package.
• 2.5 S Carbon Edition.
• 2.5 S Premium Package.
• 2.5 S Carbon Turbo.
• 2.5 S Turbo Premium Package.
• 2.5 S Turbo Premium Plus Package.

As mentioned, the 2024 Mazda CX-30 is designed for maneuvering in the city, so it’s a more compact option than the Crosstrek, measuring 173 inches long and 61 inches tall across all trims. That translates to a passenger volume of around 94 cubic feet and legroom measuring 41.7 and 36.3 inches in the front and rear rows, respectively. With the rear seat up, you also get more than 20 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to more than 45 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

In contrast, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek comes in just five trims:

• Base.
• Premium.
• Sport.
• Limited.
• Wilderness.

It’s longer and taller than the CX-30, measuring 176.4 inches in length and 63 inches in height. You get a little more passenger volume (100.5 cubic feet) and maximum cargo volume (54.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down), though the legroom is roughly the same compared to the CX-30.

Engine and Performance

You have two engine options with the 2024 Mazda CX-30, depending on which trim you choose. All except the Turbo trims come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder SKYACTIV-G engine that puts out 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. The Turbo trims feature a turbocharged version, generating 227 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. Depending on which engine is rumbling under the hood, you’re looking at going from zero to 60 mph in 6 to 8 seconds. On the road, the CX-30 is an agile and crisply steerable joy of a ride.

As for the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek, the Base and Premium trims come standard with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque, but the higher-end trims have a turbocharged engine that can generate 182 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. With the base engine, you can expect to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 9.5 seconds, while the turbocharged engine could get you there in around 8 seconds. The Crosstrek ought to perform well off-road, but city performance may feel lackluster to those seeking a nimble daily driver.

Interior Design and Features

Mazda is well-known for its KODO DESIGN, which emphasizes and combines three elements: empty space, balanced curves, and the interplay of light and shade. The KODO approach is certainly apparent from the outside but also in the interior arrangement, which is subtle and minimalist without feeling bare.

The infotainment display in the CX-30 blends into the interior and is knob controlled, making for easier operation while you drive. Starting from the base model, you get Android Auto and Apply CarPlay integration, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. As you move up in trims, you also get advanced features such as a power sliding-glass moonroof, heated front seats, adaptive front lighting, a rear power liftgate, a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a 360-degree view monitor.

The interior of the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek is less elegant and luxurious than the CX-30 but does feature effective sound-deadening materials that make for quieter rides even in off-road conditions. Given that the target audience consists of adventure-oriented consumers, the front doors feature deep pockets for water bottles and miscellaneous items. Also, all trims come standard with Subaru’s EyeSight system, a driver-assist technology that uses dual color cameras to scan the road for potential hazards. Leather-trimmed upholstery is standard only for the Limited model,

Fuel Economy

Both the Mazda CX-30 and the Subaru Crosstrek are fairly efficient vehicles in terms of fuel consumption. The non-Turbo trims of the CX-30 get an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 29 mpg. Should you opt for a Turbo trim, the efficiency dips a little to 22 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

The Crosstrek’s fuel economy is slightly more variable, depending on the trim. The Sport and Limited trims get the same mileage as the non-Turbo versions of the CX-30, while the Base and Premium trims do a hair better at 27 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. However, the Wilderness trim has a lower fuel efficiency, netting 25 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Price

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 has a starting MSRP of $24,995 for the base trim and ranges up to $36,800 for the range-topping Turbo Premium Plus. The 2024 Subaru Crosstrek has an identical starting MSRP at its base level, but its top-end Wilderness trim has a lower price tag of $31,995.

Test-Drive the Mazda CX-30 in San Juan Capistrano, California

If you’d like to get behind the wheel of the all-new Mazda CX-30, get in touch with us at Capistrano Mazda or visit our dealership at 32852 Valle Road in Capistrano, California. We’ve added the 2024 CX-30 to our inventory of new Mazdas and are excited to show it off to customers like you. If you still are looking for more information on the new CX-30, check out our research page as well.