[MattOwensRees]

I moaned to the dealer about the jerkiness and the hunting between gears when I test-drove the automatic. The dealer did acknowledge this, but also said that itis likely it's the car learning my driving habits (which as a demonstrator they never get the chance to do...).

Having come from test-driving the BMW X1 with its DCT transmission, I was frankly disappointed with the Mazda automatic transmission. I've gone for the manual on my CX-30 and that's very nice indeed by comparison.

Other gripes I have are:

• Poor light in the boot/trunk space
• Poor light in the rear of the car
• No pockets on the back of the front seats (really?)
• Can't manoeuvre the car in my drive without having the seat belt on (parking brake will not release)
• Navigation: can't enter my current location as Home or Work. (sat on my drive, I have to enter my address or coordinates. I can't use the car's location)

There'll be more, I'm sure.

I can manoeuvre in my driveway without the seatbelt on. Is that now fixed on your car?

 

[savcom]

I can manoeuvre in my driveway without the seatbelt on. Is that now fixed on your car?

Yes. It was finger trouble on my part

 

[MattOwensRees]

Thanks for posting the video.
For my CX30 it doesn't work exactly like that. As I said earlier Hong Kong girl only sorted it by trial and error and showeed howe it worked for my car. Nothing in the manual

 

[boafriend]

My #1 complaint is the rear leg room is truly terrible, and the headrests do not fold down so they obstruct your rearview big time. I had to remove the center headrest for better visibility. Also, due to the crappy rear legroom, the rear seats do not fold down fully unless you remove all your rear headrests or set the two front seats much more forward. And this complaint is from someone who is the sole driver 98% of the time. The rear room even affects me buying stuff and being able to store stuff.

Other complaints include:

• In the U.S., we do not have power-folding whatsoever for the side mirrors, regardless of trim level, so that would be a nice add-on.
• I feel the trunk could use some built-in hooks on the sides for convenience.
• From a design perspective, Mazda should really add a rear map pocket on the driver's seat too -- the sole one on the front-passenger seat is just so jarring and unbalanced.
• Gas mileage on the car overall is less than some competing models. We get 22 city and 30 highway, and average 240 miles on a full tank. I am coming from a 2012 328i and that car had better numbers and driving range than the CX-30.

 

[conwelpic]

My #1 complaint is the rear leg room is truly terrible, and the headrests do not fold down so they obstruct your rearview big time. I had to remove the center headrest for better visibility. Also, due to the crappy rear legroom, the rear seats do not fold down fully unless you remove all your rear headrests or set the two front seats much more forward. And this complaint is from someone who is the sole driver 98% of the time. The rear room even affects me buying stuff and being able to store stuff.

not sure of your height, but I'm 5'-11", when I first bought it I just automatically pushed the drivers seat all the way back on it's tracks, but then the headrest problem you mentioned happened when you dropped the rear seat back, so I moved it slightly ahead (I think it was the next notch) and then no problem with the rear seat headrests when folding down (they do push slightly into the seat back but that is no problem). In this new position I have found it is just as comfortable for driving and makes it easier for dropping the seats back as required and gives a slight bit more leg room in the back as I can sit behind myself with no problem. We very rarely carry and rear passengers.

You mentioned about the rear headrests being in the way, I initially removed the centre headrest I tried it for a few months, but put it back as I realized that there was very little to gain, with it off you have the rear wiper motor unit sticking up where the headrest view so not much point. Then if you do need it at some point (probably when you visit someone), you have to remember where you put it, unless you want to haul it around in the car al the time.

The rear seat leg room and storage area is something I was well aware of when I bought the vehicle, I could have bought another vehicle like the Kia Seltos (my 2nd choice) which would have solved those two problems, but the quality of the interior finish and power and driving dynamics won me over.

I agree with you have the rear pockets on the front seats, can't understand why they don't put on both, surely it wouldn't add much to the overall cost of the vehicle. However, I find this is the case on my other competing vehicles (my last 2016 vehicle didn't have it).

I am very pleased with the fuel economy, it's much better than my previous vehicle which had a smaller engine, but it was a bit more boxy and 10" shorter and lighter.

 

[ChrisN]

Damn size of the key fob followed very closely by the lower grill opening not having the matching upper grill insert.

 

[SDH]

I would say the look of the uniformly-thick, generic-looking black plastic cladding, & how little was done by Mazda to incorporate/blend it into the design of the vehicle (including having a full black plastic bumper). With the way that they have it now, all CX-30's should have blacked-out (no chrome!) trim up front, on side windows, on roof rails, black side mirrors etc. Even the alloy wheels should all be dark gray (or black) across trim levels. I would have opted for a Soul Red non-turbo trim of some sort if that was how they all came, instead of the Carbon Edition (since I want nothing to do with having a turbo engine & those are only Soul Red ones with the black wheels & such). Even a two-tone paint setup option with black front pillars & roofline would probably help integrate the current cladding better.

The very-exposed lower bumper air intake is also a huge eyesore from the factory & shouldn't be shipped that way. It just looks tacky & unfinished. The DIY aftermarket steps to get that remedied (especially if you don't have/need a front license plate) was a big pain in the ass, but I had to do it to fix that giant annoyance.

 

[ChrisN]

I would say the look of uniformly-thick, generic-looking black plastic cladding, & how little was done by Mazda to incorporate/blend it into the design of the vehicle (including having a full black plastic bumper). With the way that they have it now, all CX-30's should have blacked-out (no chrome!) trim up front, on side windows, on roof rails, side mirrors etc. Even the alloy wheels should all be dark gray (or black) across trim levels. I would have opted for a Soul Red non-turbo trim of some sort if that was how they all came, instead of the Carbon Edition - since I want nothing to do with having a turbo engine. Even a two-tone paint setup with black front pillars & roof would help integrate the current cladding better.

The very-exposed lower bumper air intake is also a huge eyesore from the factory & shouldn't be shipped that way. It just looks tacky & unfinished. The DIY aftermarket steps to get that remedied if you don't have a front license plate was a big pain in the ass, but I had to do it to fix that giant annoyance.

I just did the lower front grill mod. I live in a state with no front plate so had to purchase 2 sets of inserts 😡but looks tons better.
Agree on the damn chrome, thought I could live with it, nope…..wrapping in my future.

 

[SDH]

I just did the lower front grill mod. I live in a state with no front plate so had to purchase 2 sets of inserts 😡but looks tons better.
Agree on the damn chrome, thought I could live with it, nope…..wrapping in my future.

Now I'm also considering wrapping the elevated middle section of front hood along the sloping hood body line down to the front where it meets grill, and also the roof rails at this point to to help the cladding look more blended with the design. I love the CX-30, but quite a bit needs to be modified (IMO) to get that thick black cladding to look more integrated/natural & less like a bolted-on afterthought.

 

[red cuillen]

My leather seats kill my ass, I'm in pain after about 30 minutes driving. I remember having a similar problem with my 2010 Mazda 3.

I use a 11 deg 'wedge' which softens the seat and improves my posture as my thighs are not so hunched up. Pullmans are a good make, other cheaper ones soon get squashed

 

[SDH]

Another major complaint, for me, is the lack of a manual option on the CX-30. I would have absolutely jumped on a non-turbo, Select or higher trim with a manual (& probably even paid over MSRP for it). The CX-30 6-AT automatic is fine from a technical perspective, but this is my first automatic after driving manual for 35+ years, & manuals are just so much more fun & engaging to drive if you aren't around heavy stop & go traffic much in your daily life, & you enjoy controlling the tempo of the vehicle precisely. Sure, the Mazda3 hatch has a manual, but I wanted a crossover type vehicle this time around & I'm tired of low to the ground sedans & hatchbacks for the most part. Plus the Mazda3 hatch styling in the rear looks pretty off to me - otherwise I just might have gone that route just to keep having a manual.

 

[smokey]

I have 2022 TURBO PRE.PLUS for the top of the line they should have- auto passenger seat,- auto fold in mirrors, also something in the lower front grille

 

[etcsthorne]

Another major complaint, for me, is the lack of a manual option on the CX-30. I would have absolutely jumped on a non-turbo, Select or higher trim with a manual (& probably even paid over MSRP for it). The CX-30 6-AT automatic is fine from a technical perspective, but this is my first automatic after driving manual for 35+ years, & manuals are just so much more fun & engaging to drive if you aren't around heavy stop & go traffic much in your daily life, & you enjoy controlling the tempo of the vehicle precisely. Sure, the Mazda3 hatch has a manual, but I wanted a crossover type vehicle this time around & I'm tired of low to the ground sedans & hatchbacks for the most part. Plus the Mazda3 hatch styling in the rear looks pretty off to me - otherwise I just might have gone that route just to keep having a manual.

Yeah, I miss my 2019 ND2 MX-5 for that very reason. I started driving in 1976.....almost all manuals. I would have snagged a manual CX-30 if that was an option. I guess the market drives what we have available though. Most people prefer a slush box.

 

[Family of Mazda]

I own a Premium CX-30. It's clearly a great vehicle. Lots of tech, lots of cool features, good ride, great handling, great looks, good performance, and the list goes on.

All vehicles have things we don't like. With the CX-30 it is a very short list for me.

Based on what I know personally and what I am reading in the forums - I am beginning to believe the largest number of CX-30 complaints are features Mazda decided to include in one country and not in another.

For me, it's the lack of heated mirrors. Why Mazda decided to omit heated mirrors in Northeast US is way beyond my understanding. Even entry-level vehicles include heated mirrors. We often have terrible winters in NE Ohio and my mirrors are often frozen when I get into the vehicle. Without being able to heat them up makes it a safety issue for me.

Am I supposed to carry a can of deicer aerosol now ?

It's a $30k vehicle. If you are reading these forums Mazda, ADD HEATED MIRRORS IN THE US AND CANADA IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE THEM THERE EITHER.

Hope they bring those options to you. I had never owned a new car till 2021 and love heated seats and not only in Canadian winters, the Sping and Fall as well. Great for thr back.

 

[Kakadu]

I own a Premium CX-30. It's clearly a great vehicle. Lots of tech, lots of cool features, good ride, great handling, great looks, good performance, and the list goes on.

All vehicles have things we don't like. With the CX-30 it is a very short list for me.

Based on what I know personally and what I am reading in the forums - I am beginning to believe the largest number of CX-30 complaints are features Mazda decided to include in one country and not in another.

For me, it's the lack of heated mirrors. Why Mazda decided to omit heated mirrors in Northeast US is way beyond my understanding. Even entry-level vehicles include heated mirrors. We often have terrible winters in NE Ohio and my mirrors are often frozen when I get into the vehicle. Without being able to heat them up makes it a safety issue for me.

Am I supposed to carry a can of deicer aerosol now ?

It's a $30k vehicle. If you are reading these forums Mazda, ADD HEATED MIRRORS IN THE US AND CANADA IF YOU DON'T INCLUDE THEM THERE EITHER.

And yet we get heated mirrors in Australia where a conservative 99% of the population will never need that feature. But bugger me, turbo isn't available.

 

[mazdammf]

This is not so much a "regional" complain as it is a list of things that annoy me about the car
I can live with almost all of them, I don't know if I'll be able to live with #1.
#1 Vibration at 75mph
#2 Car should be 2" longer to be perfect.
#3 Front seats should be an extra inch wider, and the seatback needs better lumbar support. It's too soft.
#4 Massive key fob that serves no purpose whatsoever. Calling it a ball-and-chain is not just a figure of speech.
#5 Lack of side pockets in the trunk.
#6 I wish there was a manual transmission but even in manual mode the shifting should be reversed: push fwd to go up a gear, pull back to go down a gear.

 

[kefkafloyd]

#6 I wish there was a manual transmission but even in manual mode the shifting should be reversed: push fwd to go up a gear, pull back to go down a gear.

This is the way Mazda has always done it, and it's the correct way because you upshift along with the momentum of the car. It's the same way as in racing sequential gearboxes. It's the other manufacturers who should be copying Mazda (and BMW and Audi who used this arrangement too IIRC).

 

[mazdammf]

This is the way Mazda has always done it, and it's the correct way because you upshift along with the momentum of the car. It's the same way as in racing sequential gearboxes. It's the other manufacturers who should be copying Mazda (and BMW and Audi who used this arrangement too IIRC).

Interesting. I have always driven standards (I'm 52yo and this is my very first automatic), so maybe that's why I find it counter-intuitive. In a standard when I'm driving down the road in 5th gear and I need to downshift to pass, I pull back into 4th, not push fwd.

 

[kefkafloyd]

Yes, a traditional manual is different. That'll take some adjusting. The sequential shifter I'm talking about are usually used in drag racing so you can't accidentally downshift and blow up your engine.

Think of it this way—you're just repeating your first to second gearshift over and over!

 

[mazdammf]

Yes, a traditional manual is different. That'll take some adjusting. The sequential shifter I'm talking about are usually used in drag racing so you can't accidentally downshift and blow up your engine.

Think of it this way—you're just repeating your first to second gearshift over and over!

I'm getting used to it, slowly but my first week was brutal. Can't tell you how many times I engaged the wrong gear during those first days of driving the car