It is no secret that SUV crossovers have become the default vehicle choice for families, with the compact crossover category, including Mazda's CX-5 and CX-50 models, being the most popular of all. But what if the space in your garage or budget makes you crave something smaller? The CX-30 is Mazda's smallest crossover, and the category it belongs to is often aimed at singles or young married couples. However, AutoBlog's Kristen Brown, a mother of two toddler girls, wanted to see if the CX-30 works as a family vehicle. Team Gillman Mazda shares what she discovered. 

• The flowing lines and clean details of the CX-30's "Kodo" design language already make it a small gem in the category. But Brown goes on to state this of her tester: "It had a beautiful interior, a wonderful driving feel, more cargo space than meets the eye, and was a lot more toddler-friendly than I could have imagined." 
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She admits that the 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second-row seats, while competitive in the category, would have been a challenge for fitting her double stroller. But now that her two- and three-year-old daughters are past stroller age and in front-facing car seats, there was space for everyone. Nor was there any trouble fitting in the child seats, though it required removing the rear headrests. The seats were close together, which allowed the girls to amuse themselves by kicking each other's seats. Her CX-30 was used during warm weather, so she appreciated the rear seat vents to keep her kids comfortable. 

The CX-30's 2.5-liter engine is somewhat large for its segment, and Brown's test vehicle went even further by being a top trim with the turbocharged version of the same engine. It delivers 225 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, which could almost qualify it as a muscle car in such a small vehicle. It likely offers more power than most young mothers who aren't automotive writers need. 

As a 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus, this tester also included AWD, a 12-speaker Bose® Centerpoint audio system, and various other luxury features that might not be essential for a family vehicle but can definitely make a parent happy. This increased the car's price to $38,505, over $10K above the starting price for the model line and well into compact crossover territory, including the CX-5, which starts at $29,050. Ultimately, it's a classic size versus feature decision. 

Fortunately, safety—a key factor for any family vehicle—is assured with an overall 5-star rating from the NHTSA and the TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation from the IIHS. Thanks to the standard i-ACTIVSENSE, the model comes equipped with a comprehensive set of safety and driver assistance technologies, including: 

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Smart Brake Support
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane-Keep Assist
• Driver Attention Alert
• High Beam Control
• Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Vehicle Exit Warning
• Rear Seat Alert

The author concludes that there is a window during which the CX-30 works well as a family vehicle. With her earlier need to carry a double stroller, she would have needed a larger vehicle. By the time the kids are in middle school, they might want more back-seat space. However, that leaves about an 8- to 9-year period when the CX-30 is all this family of four needs.  

No matter your life stage, Mazda offers a beautiful, well-engineered, and fun-to-drive vehicle for you. Visit Team Gillman Mazda just off of Houston's North Freeway to find the Mazda that fits you best.