It's been swell - dealbreakers or why I changed my mind and didn't buy a Cross

waynorth said:

I was shocked when my insurance broker found me insurance for my new 2020 crv awd for 82 bucks a month ; 30 bucks a month cheaper than my previous provider for my 2016 crv awd . The better rate she found was through CAA

I guess if you found a cheaper rate it doesnt solve the seat height issue on passenger side though .

The rear window view is something thats always going to seem a bit off when going for a test drive because your used to your good ol' hrv or civic's view . After a few days of owning the cross your senses would get used to the new enviroment .

you mention civic and hrv ; which one do you own ?

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• Better/More-Refined push-button start system on CX-30 (Better tactile feel, dash position & it starts on first push every time unlike my Corolla). I was also on my third brand new OEM replacement battery for my Corolla after less than 2 years (despite being driven an ample amount to keep it healthy), but Toyota said everything was "normal".
• Headlight visibility & illumination at night on the CX-30 is MUCH BETTER than it was on the Corolla. Perhaps the higher elevation of the CX-30 is a factor in that (& perhaps the design).
• NOT a fan of the Mazda key fob design with buttons on side. Way too easy to accidentally push them & it makes the FOB somewhat awkward to handle/carry. But then, I hate smart keys & proximity/auto-sense lock/unlock systems in general on all newer cars.
• CX-30 is my first automatic transmission vehicle ever. It acts like a regular 6-speed automatic should (in both normal & sport) & I'm glad it's not a belt/chain CVT automatic. Will miss some of the fun of manual driving though. Would have loved a manual version of the CX-30 CE. Manuals are just a lot more fun to drive, except in gridlock type conditions.
• More comfortable/premium interior in the CX-30 CE. Has a strong luxury vehicle feel to it & the dark wine/burgundy pseudo-leather seats (w/black interior) are gorgeous.
• Like the higher, softer ride & quieter cabin in the CX-30 CE. The Corolla SE Sedan was more buzzy/noisy w/rattles in the cabin, & with a harsher ride on those 40 profile tires.
• The Corolla SE sedan was more agile/tight on corners & such, & easier to drive aggressively - not surprisingly since it sits much lower & has very low-profile tires.
• Like the lower profile, sleeker infotainment screen, it's dash positioning/integration & the non-touchscreen knob control station on the CX-30 much better, versus the clunky/protruding & very dated-looking Corolla touchscreen system.
• Like the climate control system layout/controls better in the CX-30 than my Corolla.
• Love the Mazda sporty & classic dual-exhaust set-up (one exhaust pipe integrated on each side, each with a nice, sexy exhaust tip trim piece). Toyota really needs to learn how to make an exhaust system sporty & attractive on all their vehicles.
• Great to have a hatch again & solid compact-class hatch cargo space.
• Unlike the Corolla SE sedan, the CX-30 CE came with the under hood fiber insulation/dampening pad standard from factory (had to purchase the XSE factory one separately for $250 for my Corolla SE). Toyota has been cutting little corners more & more over the years, since my previous 2015 Yaris SE 5-MT hatch had one standard from the factory.
• Worse MPG in the CX-30 (averaging about 31 MPG around town), but that was expected with the beefier 2.5L engine & heavier vehicle. My 6-MT Corolla was averaging around 38 under the same around-town driving conditions.
• The TNGA 2.0L engine in the Corolla is a better design IMO - with both direct & port injection smartly working together. Most automakers (including Mazda) use straight direct injection, so cleaning additives in fuel aren't getting to certain parts in the engine & that means professional deep-cleaning of the engine may be required at a certain point to remove the eventual carbon build-up. The current Mazda Skyactiv engines are designed to run a bit hotter though in key areas to help slow/reduce the carbon problem, so that's good I suppose.
• Daytime running lights on both CX-30 & Corolla are pretty uninspired - basically, just the core round LED headlights are turned on. Still, better than some vehicles which sport ridiculous, over-the-top stupid/cheesy/obnoxious looking LED accent lights as daytime running lights.
• Both vehicles use gloss piano black plastic trim in their interiors. Good luck keeping that clean & scratch free, without any alterations (such as a vinyl/film wrap). Just not a practical interior design decision on the part of Mazda or Toyota for real-world use. Looks good when clean (& not yet scratched) though I suppose.
• The Polymetal Gray Metallic paint of the CX-30 is much nicer than the Toyota Super White paint, & the plastic painted pieces actually match the metal painted parts on the CX-30 (unlike on the Super White Corolla). Not sure what the problem was with Toyota on my Japan-built Corolla, as my 2015 France-built Super White Yaris SE hatch matched properly. Toyota seems to be getting more sloppy on their newer vehicles (IMO), & cutting more little corners.