The 2025 CX-30 lineup: four trims with different standard features and price points

The 2025 Mazda CX-30 comes in four trim levels: Sport, Preferred, Premium Plus, and Premium Plus AWD. Each step up adds comfort, technology, and safety features. The Sport is the entry point with manual transmission or automatic options; the Preferred adds convenience features like heated seats and a power liftgate; the Premium Plus brings a larger touchscreen and premium audio; and the Premium Plus AWD adds all-wheel drive and additional refinements.

Mazda also offers optional packages within each trim that bundle related features together, usually at a lower cost than buying them separately. Understanding what comes standard at each level and what packages add helps you decide which configuration matches your needs and budget.

Key Takeaways

  • The Sport trim is the base model with manual or automatic transmission, while Preferred adds heated seats, power liftgate, and convenience features.
  • Premium Plus upgrades the infotainment system to an 8.8-inch touchscreen and adds Bose premium audio as standard.
  • Premium Plus AWD is the only configuration with all-wheel drive and includes all Premium Plus features plus additional luxury touches.
  • Optional packages like the i-Activsense safety suite and Preferred Plus package bundle features at a better value than individual options.
  • Transmission choice (manual or automatic) is available on Sport and Preferred trims but not on Premium Plus models.

Sport trim: what comes standard and what you can add

The Sport is the starting configuration and includes a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, a six-speed manual transmission (or six-speed automatic), air conditioning, power windows and locks, a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a rearview camera. Safety features include automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane keep information.

From Sport, you can add the i-Activsense package, which bundles adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. You can also order heated front seats, a power liftgate, and dual-zone automatic climate control as standalone options or as part of the Preferred Plus package, which groups several comfort upgrades together.

Preferred trim: the middle ground with comfort upgrades

Preferred adds heated front seats, a power liftgate, and dual-zone automatic climate control to everything in Sport. The infotainment system remains the 7-inch touchscreen. You still have the choice between manual and automatic transmission on this trim.

Preferred buyers often add the i-Activsense safety package for advanced driver information features, or the Bose premium audio upgrade, which replaces the standard six-speaker system with a nine-speaker setup. Some buyers also add the all-weather floor mats and cargo cover as practical additions.

Premium Plus trim: larger screen and premium audio standard

Premium Plus steps up to an 8.8-inch touchscreen (larger and with faster processing than the 7-inch unit), Bose premium audio as standard, leather-trimmed seats, a power driver seat with lumbar support, and heated steering wheel. The transmission is automatic only at this level.

All-wheel drive is not available on this trim; you must move to Premium Plus AWD for that option. Premium Plus does include the i-Activsense safety features as standard, so you do not need to add that package. Optional additions at this level are fewer because most popular features are already included.

Premium Plus AWD: the top configuration with all-wheel drive

Premium Plus AWD includes everything in Premium Plus—the larger touchscreen, Bose audio, leather seats, heated steering wheel, and i-Activsense safety suite—plus all-wheel drive and a slightly tuned suspension for better traction in snow and wet conditions. This is the only configuration that offers AWD.

At this level, the feature set is nearly complete. Optional additions are limited to items like paint protection film, roof rails, or interior protection packages. Most buyers at this trim level are looking for the full feature set rather than building it piece by piece.

Transmission and drivetrain choices across trims

The 2025 CX-30 offers a six-speed manual transmission on Sport and Preferred trims, with a six-speed automatic available across all trims. The manual is lighter and offers slightly better fuel economy in mixed driving; the automatic is smoother in traffic and preferred by most buyers.

Front-wheel drive is standard on Sport, Preferred, and Premium Plus. All-wheel drive is only available on Premium Plus AWD, which adds weight and reduces fuel economy slightly but improves traction in snow, ice, and wet conditions. Mazda does not offer AWD as an option on lower trims.

How to compare configurations side by side

When shopping, list the features that matter most to you—heated seats, larger screen, all-wheel drive, premium audio—and check which trim includes them as standard. Then look at optional packages to see if bundling saves money compared to adding features individually.

For example, if you want heated seats and a power liftgate, Preferred includes both as standard. If you want those plus the larger touchscreen and Bose audio, Premium Plus is the jump. If you also need all-wheel drive, Premium Plus AWD is your only option. Skipping a trim level to add features piecemeal usually costs more than moving up to the next trim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get all-wheel drive on the Preferred trim?

No. All-wheel drive is only available on Premium Plus AWD. If you want AWD, you must move to that trim level, which also includes the larger touchscreen, Bose audio, and leather seats as standard.

Is the manual transmission available on Premium Plus?

No. The manual transmission is only offered on Sport and Preferred trims. Premium Plus and Premium Plus AWD come with the automatic transmission only.

What is the i-Activsense package and which trims include it?

i-Activsense bundles adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It is standard on Premium Plus and Premium Plus AWD, but optional on Sport and Preferred. On lower trims, you can order it as a package or add individual features separately.

Does the Preferred Plus package exist as a separate trim?

No. Preferred Plus is an optional package available on Sport and Preferred trims that bundles heated seats, power liftgate, and dual-zone climate control. Preferred trim includes these features as standard, so the package is most useful if you want them on a Sport model.

What is the fuel economy difference between front-wheel and all-wheel drive?

The EPA rates Premium Plus AWD slightly lower in fuel economy than front-wheel drive models due to the added weight and drivetrain complexity. The difference is typically a few miles per gallon in combined driving, but varies based on driving conditions and transmission choice.