Mazda crossover stands out in a crowded segment

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- At the current rate of vehicle introductions, there will be enough compact crossover sport-utility vehicles to circle the globe 10 times over, if all those SUVs are parked nose to tail.

But the recently tested, all-new 2020 Mazda CX-30 does stand out.  Like many compact crossovers, it handles like a midsize sedan and offers enough interior space to double as a semi-robust carrier of people or cargo.  But wait, there's more.

The CX-30 shares DNA with the Mazda3, incorporating the automaker's "Kodo" design. I'm sure there's a book to be read on this, but for my simple tastes, the tested CX-30 looked downright saucy-sporty with sharp, angular cuts in the bodywork and wearing "Soul Red Crystal Metallic" paint.

Set off with black leather on the inside, the tester was striking in appearance, especially for a small SUV.  That's probably one of the reasons Mazda has been marketing this new creation like mad on the TV airwaves.

Another selling bonus is an exceptionally long list of standard features, more than enough to please frugal SUV shoppers hunting down the compact with the most for the money.  On that score, the CX-30 does not disappoint, with LED lighting front to back, leather surfaces and a boatload of safety/security features.

Fuel mileage on the tester was very good at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

Did I mention the power moonroof, power liftgate and paddle shifters?  Passenger volume is generous at 94.1 cubic feet; cargo volume maxes at 20.2 cubic feet.

The pricing is right too. A basic CX-30 can be had for a starting price of just $21,900.  My tester had the Premium Package of extras and all-wheel drive, but it still came in at a touch less than $30,000.

How did it drive?  Truthfully, like a dream.  The four-cylinder, 186-horsepower engine offers more than enough oomph in this segment.  Only a medium amount of engine noise reaches the interior cabin on the highway, and that bumps up only slightly when you demand the most with your right foot.

The CX-30 competes in a decidedly crowded segment, but in my view, it competes near the top, especially given the price.  Think of it as the little SUV with a lot going for it.