CX-30 Driving Experience Review: Improvements and Wear & Tear
TLDR; The CX-30 driving experience has improved with better fuel economy and transmission, but the interior shows signs of wear and tear. Maintenance and repairs have been minimal, making the CX-30 an overall positive experience.
🚗 Engine, mpg, transmission improvements!
The driving experience of the CX-30 has improved after 25,000 miles, with the engine still feeling powerful and smooth.
Fuel economy has increased from an average of 26.7 to 27 miles per gallon, despite a shift to shorter trips.
The transmission has become more decisive and responsive, a significant improvement from the initial stages of ownership.
🛣️ Ride, NVH, cabin rattles
The ride quality and cabin noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) have deteriorated, resulting in more rattles and buzziness in the cabin.
The increase in rattliness and buzziness might be attributed to greater vibrations from the tires as they age.
🔧 Tire wear, alignment, steering, brakes
The tire wear has been even, with the current tread depth at 6/32 inches, showing good rotation and potential for 50,000 to 55,000 miles of use.
The steering feels good, precise, and tight, while the brakes remain in perfect condition, showing no issues.
🔍 Driving experience summary
The driving experience has seen improvements in the powertrain efficiency, despite some cabin rattliness and decreased ride quality.
Shorter trips have had an unfortunate side effect, causing damage to the 12-volt battery.
👩🔧 Interior wear and tear
The white leather interior has held up well, with minor signs of aging such as flattened foam and slight wrinkling, mostly on the driver's seat.
The gear shift area and steering wheel show wear, while the buttons, switches, and knobs remain in perfect condition.
🚗🔍 Exterior wear and tear (incl. light rear-end damage)
The metallic black exterior helps hide scratches, but there are more door dings and a dent from road debris and a light rear-end collision.
🔋 Oil changes, alignments, dead batteries
Maintenance and repairs have included oil changes, tire rotations, and a battery replacement due to the habit of taking very short trips.
The total maintenance and repairs cost over two years have been less than $500, with minimal expenses.
👍 Would we do it again?
The overall experience with the CX-30 has been positive, with plans to continue driving it for the next two years.
The decision to buy out the lease instead of turning it in reflects a strong inclination to choose the CX-30 again.