2026 Mazda CX-30

Mazda's CX-30 is the automaker's smallest SUV, but it delivers on the promise Mazda makes for all its models: near-luxury design, materials and performance coupled with less-than-luxury pricing. Two engines are available — one with a turbocharger and good for up to 250 horsepower on premium fuel — and both are paired to an all-wheel-drive drivetrain and a six-speed automatic. While we haven't yet seen spy photos of a camouflaged next-gen CX-30, the age of the subcompact crossover and Mazda's typical product lifespan suggest that a redesigned model is on the way, possibly for 2026.

The CX-30 debuted as a 2020 model, making this little Mazda one of the older options in the class. Mazda's product cycles are a little longer than those of most manufacturers, but six years is a long time for any model to remain relatively unchanged. It's certainly due — at a minimum — for a refresh. We think it's more likely that an all-new CX-30 will arrive this year or next. There are some clues that change is coming. Mazda made no real changes to the CX-30 for 2025, which often happens the year before an update. What's more, with eight trim levels to choose from, the CX-30 lineup is quite crowded, and some versions offer little differentiation from their surrounding trims. We expect that will change with a new or refreshed CX-30, whenever it arrives.

Like every class of SUVs, the subcompact segment offers a wide range of options. The CX-30 is one of our favorites in this category. We also really like the Chevy Trailblazer, for its generous-for-the-class cargo space and intuitive infotainment system. Chevy's Trax is also a solid offering, as is the related Buick Encore GX, which offers a strikingly good ride and handling balance as well as a long list of valuable standard features. Desirable alternatives outside the GM ecosystem include the Hyundai Kona and Kia Soul.

On its debut in 2020, Edmunds added a Mazda CX-30 Premium to our One-Year Road Test fleet to get the full experience of ownership. Over the course of a year and more than 17,000 miles, the CX-30 earned strong praise from our editors. We found it a joy to drive, while we also gathered valuable data on fuel efficiency and maintenance costs. Note that while we tested a 2020 model, most of our observations apply to the 2025 CX-30 as well.