Hey, I need help deciding on a newer car. I’m coming from a 2014 Subaru Impreza hatchback with over 130k miles on it. I live in the Appalachian mountains, so I deal with a lot of snow and rain. My Impreza is low to the ground but works well in the snow with winter tires. Now, I’m looking at the Mazda CX-30 and CX-50. Any advice or thoughts on which is better for snowy conditions? Also, I’ve never owned a Mazda before, so I’m not sure what to expect.
I test drove both the CX-30 and CX-50. The CX-30 was more comfortable and had a little more pick-up, but the rear seats were really cramped, and the cargo space didn’t meet my needs. I ended up going with the CX-50 for its bigger size and better style. Honestly, I don’t think you can go wrong with either option.
I own the CX-50. If you can, go for the Turbo or hybrid. They look awesome, especially the soul red color.
Nova said:
I own the CX-50. If you can, go for the Turbo or hybrid. They look awesome, especially the soul red color.
OP should consider the Turbo for a good reason — mountains. The turbo helps the engine breathe in thinner air, just like putting an oxygen mask on a human in high-altitude situations. It really helps. If you’re in the mountains of North Carolina, that elevation is higher than Denver (6684ft for Mount Mitchell). Honestly, the Appalachian mountains stretch from Alabama to Canada, so the conditions could be very different depending on where you are.
@Rian
I live in Tahoe and drive a 24 CX-50 (non-turbo). It handles just fine in the mountains.
Avery said:
@Rian
I live in Tahoe and drive a 24 CX-50 (non-turbo). It handles just fine in the mountains.
I drove all over the New Mexico mountains (3000-7500ft) with my old 2009 Camry. The non-turbo version will be just fine, but it’ll rev higher compared to the turbo or hybrid models.
@Nova
Your Camry didn’t have a V4 engine.
Avery said:
@Nova
Your Camry didn’t have a V4 engine.
[deleted]
Avery said:
@Nova
Your Camry didn’t have a V4 engine.
[deleted]
It was a 2.4L inline 4-cylinder. V4 engines are very rare. I don’t think you know what a V4 engine is, haha.
@Avery
I didn’t know, haha. Thanks for clearing that up!
@Rian
I think the highest elevation around here is about 4000 feet.
I’d definitely go with the CX-50. The back seat of the CX-30 makes my Impreza hatch look spacious.
Check out Driving Sports TV on YouTube. They do SUV reviews with a focus on off-road and snow performance. Subaru might have a slight edge for off-road, but snow tires are more important when you’re on the road.
From reading this forum, it seems like the CX-30 has lower owner satisfaction compared to other Mazdas. If you want an SUV, the CX-5 or CX-50 would be better with more space and better features. The CX-5 performs well in the snow, and I’d bet the CX-50 does too.
@Dex
I think a lot of people bought the CX-30 thinking it was an SUV, but it’s really just a lifted Mazda 3.
Are you looking at new or used? If new, the hybrid CX-50 is amazing. Used, the CX-30 or CX-5 are both great (the CX-5 has a longer track record for reliability). The CX-5 and CX-50 will handle better in the snow, but all of them perform well with winter tires.
@Noah
Used, as long as it’s under 20k miles. But new is fine too. Thanks for the input!
Wil said:
@Noah
Used, as long as it’s under 20k miles. But new is fine too. Thanks for the input!
They’re all great cars. I hope you find the one you like!
Wil said:
@Noah
Used, as long as it’s under 20k miles. But new is fine too. Thanks for the input!
Honestly, I’d go new. If a car is under 20k miles and is being resold, I’d be curious why. It could be a demo model, or maybe it just wasn’t a good fit for the owner. It’s rare to see a Mazda CX as a one-year lease, and those don’t usually go up to 20k miles.
The CX-50 for sure. If you’re used to Subaru, why not consider a Crosstrek?