To qualify for the 2020 TOP SAFETY PICK award, the CX-30 earned good ratings in all six Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crashworthiness evaluations, including the driver-side small overlap front, passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint tests. It also needed advanced or superior ratings for both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, as well as an acceptable or good headlight rating.

Mazda’s i-Activsense is an umbrella term covering a series of advanced safety technologies which make use of detection devices such as milliwave radars and cameras. They include active safety technologies that support safer driving by helping the driver to recognize potential hazards, and pre-crash safety technologies which help to avert collisions or reduce their severity in situations where they cannot be avoided.

Mazda’s i-Activsense advanced safety technologies include Advanced Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection, Smart Brake Support with Collision Warning, Smart Brake Support, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go Function, Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning System with Lane-Keep Assist, Driver Attention Alert, High Beam Control, Adaptive Front-Lighting System, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

Clearly the 2020 Mazda CX-30 is attractive for its focus on safety, but why else are Canadian drivers embracing this new compact crossover? One of the many reasons is its “just right” dimensions.

• “Mazda’s new 5-passenger CX-30 is big enough to accommodate an active lifestyle but small enough to take you anywhere you want to go. If its striking styling, premium interior fitments, up-to-date infotainment and driver-assistive technology and value pricing don’t hook you, the CX-30’s driving dynamics are sure to delight” –jdpower.com
• “Overall, the new CX-30 is a good-looking subcompact SUV that’s fun to drive and classier than most rivals in a larger but still city-friendly size” – cars.com

And people seem to really love the unusually well-equipped interior as well.

• “Right off the bat, you’ll notice the CX-30’s impressively upscale interior. No other crossover at this point offers an interior that looks and feels this premium. Every surface you touch is soft, and every button or knob you press or turn has a substantial feel to it” –edmunds.com

But how does it drive? How does the CX-30 stand up to Mazda’s reputation for providing a fun, engaging driving experience?

• “Ride and handling is Mazda’s strong suit, and the CX-30 is no different. While they aren’t using Zoom Zoom in their ads anymore, the steering in this crossover has plenty of it. Turn-in is sharp, aided by the G-Vectoring Control Plus system that adjusts power delivery and applies a touch of braking to improve responsiveness.” –wheels.ca

• “The CX-30 also exhibits far more driving refinement than you might expect from a vehicle at this price. It soaks up bumps with the poise of a larger, more sophisticated (and more expensive) vehicle. It’s also fun to drive around turns thanks to nimble handling and steering that gives you a decent feel for the road. The engine is the same 186-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder from the CX-5 and provides quick-enough acceleration when you need to make a pass or accelerate quickly to highway speeds” – Edmunds.com

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U.S. model featured in video

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.