Comes down to what you want from the car. Go with the CX-30 if you want luxury and a sporty drive, arguably best in the class for these two categories. The Crosstrek offers better offroad and bad weather capabilities, arguably best in class in this category.
If you want luxury you go mazda. If you want capability you go subaru. The mazda absolutely hands down has the superior more refined interior. However there is soemthing to say about subarus interior. Its basic. Its easy to use. And most importantly its easy to clean and keep clean. You dont care as much about getting it dirty because you know you can wipe it off. Which is a real plus for someone who cares more about practicality .
Owned three Subarus, the last one a 2013 CrossTrek. They are great cars, no question. But this time around, for a 2025 model, I chose the CX-30, despite it being smaller with a little less clearance (and I am 6'3"). Why? more powerful engine (neatly 200 HP), WAY better interior styling, a totally awesome Soul Red color, quicker steering, and a ton of safety features, Mastering the electronics takes some time, but I'm gettin there. I have driven it a little over 100 miles and love it. Lots more fun to drive than the Subaru.
I think the Sub is more for those looking for more space while Mazda is for those who want to feel special because of the more upscale interior, and to have a thrilling driving experience.
Yes! Sub is for more technical capabilities, cargo, and all-terrain competency. Mazda for pure asphalt driving experience, luxury interior, and simplicity.
I’ve owned a 2022 Crosstrek and a 2023 Mazda 3 sedan. Both are easily my favorite car brands out there in the current market. I give the edge to Subaru because I HATE feeling cramped in my car. And I think Subaru has more utility than Mazdas. And if I’m gonna pay the same, I’d take the car with more utility. However, I am livid with Subaru of America and Japan for pushing these GARBAGE touch screen infotainment systems. The 2022-2023 Crosstreks have the perfect ratio of touch screen technology and physical climate control buttons and knobs. I do not want to control my fan speed with a bad touch screen. Hopefully Subaru fixes that in 2025-2026.
Trying to choose between these two myself. I'm semi-leaning toward the Subaru for the extra room, better visibility and way bigger gas tank. There is cool stuff on the Mazda too though.
Which did you choose? Mazda has 0/36 that ends tomorrow, trying to make my mind up. I like the roominess of the Subaru but like the sportiness of the CX30. I'm a bit leery of the CVT and lack of real gaskets on the Subaru, but love having a real screen that is large so I can easily see it. Not a huge fan of the knob control, I had a 2019 CX-9 up til last year.
@@azrailroader Honda Civic Hybrid Hatch. So I can't really help you out lol. The screen is very big on the Subaru but it's also slow and low res. The Mazda setup is weird but definitely snappier. They both have better systems than what my Honda has (unless you get the top trim). They're both reliable (have driven two non-Crosstrek Subarus in the past). It just comes down to which features you value more. The Mazda dealers seemed to be much more eager to discount than Subaru where I am, which is something to consider. Might not be the case by you though.
@@sirdan357 Thanks for the response! Mazda is offering 0 interest for 36 months right now that’s basically what’s tipping me towards Mazda. I’m assuming your Honda is similar to my wife’s Acura, and I’m not a fan either. I don’t know why it’s so hard to just put a simple touch screen on a vehicle. It’s not that hard! My ‘15 Silverado was the best infotainment system of any of them.
I have a CX-30 and not gonna lie it’s a nice car. My only problem is the amount of lag it has if you floor it as you take off on a highway ramp or the back seat leg room but otherwise I love it. It seems kinda fancy considering that it isn’t a luxury brand and it looks aggressive as heck lol. But that’s just my opinion. I sure others have their own but I do love it besides those 2 main issues😊👍
I had a CX30, now I have a Crosstrek Sport, yes the cx30 has a nicer interior, but I like the CT more. More legroom, ground clearance, and more capable off road. I think the 24’s look better also.
I drive a CX-30 sport atm but am looking at higher trim options and have always had my eye on the Crosstrek. Do you find the back more accommodating for passengers and items (when the seats are down)? Do you miss the infotainment/interior of the CX-30? Looking at long-term ownership options and while I like my CX-30, I'm interested in a bigger gas tank and might need that bit more of [overall] backseat + cargo room the Crosstrek offers
@@pri5044 I had a “loaded” CX30, I miss the auto tailgate, and heads up display was cool. I never really liked the infotainment system. I don’t really miss the nicer interior. The CT feels bigger, and the AWD system is great.
@@scottcalhoun5524 I have a feeling Mazda will be offering a cx-30 with a slight lift and better off road tires soon. Some dealers are already doing this themselves.
no kidding, unless you are actually trying to take people in the back, or do some light offroading from time to time. CX-30 sucks, rather have a CX-5 for a little more money
My choice between these 2 vehicles came down to one thing. Subaru discontinued the manual transmission after 2022. I'll take an automatic, but I do not want a CVT. And please never use the white paint for a video. It hides the body lines and the CX 30 looks so good in red. And living in the snow belt, I would never, ever, get a white car that blends in with the snowbanks for almost half the year.
4:41 Do we use that spinner control with the included Atari games? Night Driver, Breakout, Pong? Their website strangely left out any mention of Atari arcade games.
what kind of a review is this? its like you review Apples vs Oranges and in the end you say: They are almost identical, taste them and choose for yourself...
@@francismarcoux1985 my cx-30 makes 250 horsepower and 320 foot pounds of torque. No cvt transmission and no tablet for controlling functions. All pluses in my book.
Grandpa will take your opinion inder consideration. I really like Forester for the greenhouse like visibility ,but they are getting so big. Grandpa needs a smaller,higher vehicle to combat the outrageous headlights on every other car.👍
@@francismarcoux1985 CVT are cheaper to manufacture. The heart of any vehicle is the engine/trans combo..Mazda 2.5 with a standard auto trans has a reputation for reliability..of all the CVT manufactures Subaru prob has the best..that said Mazda beats it..hands down..research it
My opinion. Mazda looks ugly on the outside. Subaru just feels right when you get inside. Familiar buttons and everything is so easy to get used to. Easy to drive. Just more practical. I like the outside look much better than Mazda. Subaru is an easy pick for me.
The mazda is considerably more premium feeling, Subaru feels really cheap inside but hey if you prefer safety over style and functionality then go Subaru.
ride quality is a huge difference, the mazda has a far better ride, smoother, alot quieter and the seat is twice as good as the subaru. Subaru is known for leaky head gaskets and the cvt is an absolute trainwreck, they are loud and extremely slow in traffic. hands down i go with the mazda, subaru may have more room inside but mazda uses more materials to knock down road noise, ill take that over more room any day. you deal with road noise all the time extra room comes in handy once in a while. safety wise mazda got 5 stars all the way around also...
Comes down to what you want from the car.
Go with the CX-30 if you want luxury and a sporty drive, arguably best in the class for these two categories.
The Crosstrek offers better offroad and bad weather capabilities, arguably best in class in this category.
The Crosstrek Limited doesn't have STARTEX interior upholstery, it has the Leather interior upholstery.
Nice breakdown of the exterior and interior features, but what about a driving review?
If you want luxury you go mazda. If you want capability you go subaru. The mazda absolutely hands down has the superior more refined interior. However there is soemthing to say about subarus interior. Its basic. Its easy to use. And most importantly its easy to clean and keep clean. You dont care as much about getting it dirty because you know you can wipe it off. Which is a real plus for someone who cares more about practicality .
What’s the issue with cleaning the crosstrek? Both have pleather interior.
Owned three Subarus, the last one a 2013 CrossTrek. They are great cars, no question. But this time around, for a 2025 model, I chose the CX-30, despite it being smaller with a little less clearance (and I am 6'3"). Why? more powerful engine (neatly 200 HP), WAY better interior styling, a totally awesome Soul Red color, quicker steering, and a ton of safety features, Mastering the electronics takes some time, but I'm gettin there. I have driven it a little over 100 miles and love it. Lots more fun to drive than the Subaru.
Ckeck out the seat and ride first.....Mine was killing Me.....Nice car if You can tolerate Harsh ride and miserable Drivers Seat.........Paul
I think the Sub is more for those looking for more space while Mazda is for those who want to feel special because of the more upscale interior, and to have a thrilling driving experience.
Yes! Sub is for more technical capabilities, cargo, and all-terrain competency. Mazda for pure asphalt driving experience, luxury interior, and simplicity.
I drove both hands down mazda for the win especially when you get the 2.5 turbo.
Yeah I am not sure I would have bought mine if it did not have the turbo
I’ve owned a 2022 Crosstrek and a 2023 Mazda 3 sedan. Both are easily my favorite car brands out there in the current market. I give the edge to Subaru because I HATE feeling cramped in my car. And I think Subaru has more utility than Mazdas. And if I’m gonna pay the same, I’d take the car with more utility.
However, I am livid with Subaru of America and Japan for pushing these GARBAGE touch screen infotainment systems. The 2022-2023 Crosstreks have the perfect ratio of touch screen technology and physical climate control buttons and knobs. I do not want to control my fan speed with a bad touch screen. Hopefully Subaru fixes that in 2025-2026.
Trying to choose between these two myself. I'm semi-leaning toward the Subaru for the extra room, better visibility and way bigger gas tank. There is cool stuff on the Mazda too though.
Which did you choose? Mazda has 0/36 that ends tomorrow, trying to make my mind up. I like the roominess of the Subaru but like the sportiness of the CX30. I'm a bit leery of the CVT and lack of real gaskets on the Subaru, but love having a real screen that is large so I can easily see it. Not a huge fan of the knob control, I had a 2019 CX-9 up til last year.
@@azrailroader Honda Civic Hybrid Hatch. So I can't really help you out lol. The screen is very big on the Subaru but it's also slow and low res. The Mazda setup is weird but definitely snappier. They both have better systems than what my Honda has (unless you get the top trim).
They're both reliable (have driven two non-Crosstrek Subarus in the past). It just comes down to which features you value more. The Mazda dealers seemed to be much more eager to discount than Subaru where I am, which is something to consider. Might not be the case by you though.
@@sirdan357 Thanks for the response!
Mazda is offering 0 interest for 36 months right now that’s basically what’s tipping me towards Mazda. I’m assuming your Honda is similar to my wife’s Acura, and I’m not a fan either. I don’t know why it’s so hard to just put a simple touch screen on a vehicle. It’s not that hard! My ‘15 Silverado was the best infotainment system of any of them.
I have a CX-30 and not gonna lie it’s a nice car. My only problem is the amount of lag it has if you floor it as you take off on a highway ramp or the back seat leg room but otherwise I love it. It seems kinda fancy considering that it isn’t a luxury brand and it looks aggressive as heck lol. But that’s just my opinion. I sure others have their own but I do love it besides those 2 main issues😊👍
I had a CX30, now I have a Crosstrek Sport, yes the cx30 has a nicer interior, but I like the CT more. More legroom, ground clearance, and more capable off road. I think the 24’s look better also.
I drive a CX-30 sport atm but am looking at higher trim options and have always had my eye on the Crosstrek. Do you find the back more accommodating for passengers and items (when the seats are down)? Do you miss the infotainment/interior of the CX-30?
Looking at long-term ownership options and while I like my CX-30, I'm interested in a bigger gas tank and might need that bit more of [overall] backseat + cargo room the Crosstrek offers
@@pri5044 I had a “loaded” CX30, I miss the auto tailgate, and heads up display was cool. I never really liked the infotainment system. I don’t really miss the nicer interior. The CT feels bigger, and the AWD system is great.
@@scottcalhoun5524 I have a feeling Mazda will be offering a cx-30 with a slight lift and better off road tires soon. Some dealers are already doing this themselves.
Limited has leather seats in USA
The Mazda CX-30 is so much better it’s actually funny
yep...cx 30 doesnt come with a future headgasket replacement lol......or transmission issues..lol old school is always better
@@getrbentracinnewbeginnings4291 new subarus don’t have terrible head gaskets anymore but the subaru just sucks in general
no kidding, unless you are actually trying to take people in the back, or do some light offroading from time to time. CX-30 sucks, rather have a CX-5 for a little more money
@@chasethecarguyWhy are they so popular, a lot of people like them.
I had a Subaru Impreza for 13 years with no issues. Just test drove the Mazda cx30 and there's no leg room in the back.
I chose Subaru because of the free loaner cars they give customers if yours is in the shop. It’s a great thing if you only have one car
It's a great thing if your car is always in the shop.
@ My Subie is brand new
Does the CX 30 have a spare tire?
Yeah
The seats in the Crosstrek are real leather, not Startex.
Other than that the interior is considerably cheaper feeling on the subaru especially the plastics.
CVT transmission Subaru will make me get the Mazda. CVT's are trash.
My choice between these 2 vehicles came down to one thing. Subaru discontinued the manual transmission after 2022. I'll take an automatic, but I do not want a CVT. And please never use the white paint for a video. It hides the body lines and the CX 30 looks so good in red. And living in the snow belt, I would never, ever, get a white car that blends in with the snowbanks for almost half the year.
Good review,but driving impressions?
4:41
Do we use that spinner control with the included Atari games? Night Driver, Breakout, Pong?
Their website strangely left out any mention of Atari arcade games.
what kind of a review is this? its like you review Apples vs Oranges and in the end you say: They are almost identical, taste them and choose for yourself...
Which one drives smoother? I've heard the Mazda drives a bit rougher over bumps and road hazards.
Mazda's typically have a firmer, but sportier ride.
CX-30 has 25% more HP than the 😽Crosstrek
Cx 30 has 191 hp and CT has 182hp.
@@francismarcoux1985 Base models
@@francismarcoux1985 my cx-30 makes 250 horsepower and 320 foot pounds of torque. No cvt transmission and no tablet for controlling functions. All pluses in my book.
lol, it’s not even fair. The CX30 is closer to a BMW fighter and the Subaru looks like something a grandma would drive.
The CX-30 is closer to the Acura RDX than the Subaru Crosstrek lmao.
Grandpa will take your opinion inder consideration. I really like Forester for the greenhouse like visibility ,but they are getting so big. Grandpa needs a smaller,higher vehicle to combat the outrageous headlights on every other car.👍
I had a CX30......Ride was too harsh and Drivers seat was Killing Me.......Want to try a Crosstrek.............Paul
I thought the driver's seat was comfy on test drive. Does it hurt over time?
@@azrailroaderThe seats are fine. The suspension is stiffer so you'll notice the bumps more.
What happened to a drive to let us know the difference - the rest is .....
subaru CVT is a no go..for that reason alone cx-30 gets the nod
Yup!
Why it is a no go ?
@@francismarcoux1985 CVT are cheaper to manufacture. The heart of any vehicle is the engine/trans combo..Mazda 2.5 with a standard auto trans has a reputation for reliability..of all the CVT manufactures Subaru prob has the best..that said Mazda beats it..hands down..research it
@@JohnDoe-1000xtFrom everything I have seen, both transmissions are fairly reliable. Proper maintenance will have either vehicle going a long ways.
The cx30 woudve looked better with less cladding 😅
A cargo cover is NOT supplied with the 2024 CX-30. Shame on Mazda!
Boxer engine and CVT? No thanks.
That Subaru looks 10 years old just sitting on the lot
Actually Mazda hasn't changed there design in years
Please Lord help me get a Subaru wilderness in Red! Please Lord your will be done
20minutes of non-decisiom
My opinion. Mazda looks ugly on the outside. Subaru just feels right when you get inside. Familiar buttons and everything is so easy to get used to. Easy to drive. Just more practical. I like the outside look much better than Mazda. Subaru is an easy pick for me.
The mazda is considerably more premium feeling, Subaru feels really cheap inside but hey if you prefer safety over style and functionality then go Subaru.
Mazda has no cvt that a good thing
@benemtb7067 one of the most appealing parts for me
Me too!
I prefer ride and where I live a cx30 is jittery harsh and like 4 grand more
Both are cheap, disposable junk, like all other new cars.
ride quality is a huge difference, the mazda has a far better ride, smoother, alot quieter and the seat is twice as good as the subaru. Subaru is known for leaky head gaskets and the cvt is an absolute trainwreck, they are loud and extremely slow in traffic. hands down i go with the mazda, subaru may have more room inside but mazda uses more materials to knock down road noise, ill take that over more room any day. you deal with road noise all the time extra room comes in handy once in a while. safety wise mazda got 5 stars all the way around also...
Have you driven one in the last 20 years?
@@bobobi9372 everyday, work at a automall with all vehicles.