26 June 25th - July 1st, 2026 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) 2026 MAZDA CX-30 S AIRE: THE BEST LOOKING CAR IN THE TARGET PARKING LOT 2026 MAZDA CX-30 S AIRE The 2026 Mazda CX-30 S The 2026 Mazda CX-30 S Aire is the automotive equivalent Aire is the automotive equivalent of showing up to a backyard BBQ of showing up to a backyard BBQ wearing a clean button-down while wearing a clean button-down while everyone else is rocking stained everyone else is rocking stained cargo shorts. It costs $32,535, gets a cargo shorts. It costs $32,535, gets a respectable 24 city and 31 highway respectable 24 city and 31 highway MPG, and somehow manages to MPG, and somehow manages to look way more expensive than it look way more expensive than it has any right to. Mazda has built has any right to. Mazda has built an entire business around making an entire business around making affordable vehicles that feel like affordable vehicles that feel like they accidentally wandered out of they accidentally wandered out of a luxury dealership, and the CX- a luxury dealership, and the CX- 30 keeps that streak alive. Pull up 30 keeps that streak alive. Pull up to valet at a Scottsdale resort and to valet at a Scottsdale resort and nobody’s rushing to hand you a nobody’s rushing to hand you a participation trophy. participation trophy. Under the hood is Mazda’s trusty Under the hood is Mazda’s trusty 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine pumping 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine pumping out 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of out 186 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque through a 6-speed automatic. torque through a 6-speed automatic. No, it isn’t going to pin you to the No, it isn’t going to pin you to the seat like a Hellcat. But that’s not seat like a Hellcat. But that’s not the assignment here. The CX-30 is the assignment here. The CX-30 is more like that friend who casually more like that friend who casually runs a half marathon on Saturday runs a half marathon on Saturday morning and never talks about it. It morning and never talks about it. It has enough power to confidently has enough power to confidently merge onto the freeway, enough merge onto the freeway, enough agility to make the drive home from agility to make the drive home from work slightly less soul-crushing, and work slightly less soul-crushing, and enough personality to remind you enough personality to remind you that driving doesn’t have to feel like that driving doesn’t have to feel like operating a household appliance. operating a household appliance. Every time I got behind the wheel, Every time I got behind the wheel, I found myself taking the long way I found myself taking the long way home for absolutely no reason. home for absolutely no reason. What I appreciate most about the What I appreciate most about the CX-30 is that it doesn’t participate in CX-30 is that it doesn’t participate in the arms race of nonsense. There the arms race of nonsense. There are no fake exhaust tips the size are no fake exhaust tips the size of coffee cans. No giant screens of coffee cans. No giant screens demanding your attention like a demanding your attention like a needy toddler. No off-road badges needy toddler. No off-road badges pretending this thing is crossing the pretending this thing is crossing the Rubicon after a quick trip to Target. Rubicon after a quick trip to Target. It’s just a well-built, sharp-looking It’s just a well-built, sharp-looking crossover that does everything crossover that does everything most people actually need. If your most people actually need. If your daily routine consists of commuting, daily routine consists of commuting, grocery runs, golf course parking grocery runs, golf course parking lots, and occasionally convincing lots, and occasionally convincing yourself you’re going to start hiking yourself you’re going to start hiking again, the CX-30 S Aire makes a again, the CX-30 S Aire makes a compelling case. It won’t change compelling case. It won’t change your life, but it might make you enjoy your life, but it might make you enjoy the drive to Costco a lot more than the drive to Costco a lot more than you expected. you expected. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles:
