You don’t have to resort to extreme measures by only choosing between an SUV or a minivan—crossovers exist! Crossovers are a good balance for drivers who want the spaciousness of an SUV and the handling of a smaller car. You don’t have to sacrifice looks either,

Mazda

is all about class with their polished lineup of crossovers.

Stick around if you want to delve deeper into what makes Mazda crossovers stand out, which model you should buy, and how to protect yours with affordable

car insurance

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What crossovers does Mazda have?

Aside from their sedans, hatchbacks, and sports cars, Kia offers three crossover SUVs, all with exceptional ratings from Car and Driver.

Here are Mazda’s crossovers from least to most expensive:

Model	Starting price	Type of crossover	Edmunds.com rating	Car and Driver rating
2021 Mazda CX-30	$22,050	Compact	7.9/10	9.5/10
2021 Mazda CX-5	$25,370	Compact	8.1/10	10/10
2021 Mazda CX-9	$34,160	Mid-size	7.9/10	8.5/10

What’s the difference between crossovers and SUVs?

The difference between crossovers and SUVs lies in their construction.

SUVs and pickup trucks are typically constructed using the body-on-frame method. This means a frame perpendicular to the ground is topped off with a separate body, like a lid.

Crossovers, on the other hand, have a unibody construction—where the body and frame are one piece.

The benefit of a body-on-frame method is that they absorb and move with the rough terrain when off-roading, while unibody cars are more stable and better for regular drives.

Key Takeaway SUVs are similarly built to pickup trucks, while crossovers are more similar to cars.

MORE:

Why you should consider an SUV over a sedan

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How powerful are Mazda crossovers?

The good news is that the base trims of each Mazda crossover are powerful on their own! Unlike most makes that give drivers the short end of the stick when choosing the base trim, Mazda puts quality first and starts each model off strong.

Between the CX-30 and CX-5, horsepower is a minor difference. If you’re looking for speed, go for the Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo or Turbo Signature, which reaches 256 hp with 93 octane premium unleaded fuel. For serious adventurers, the CX-9 is built for driving amidst inclement weather and riskier driving environments, like winding roads.

Take a look at how Mazda’s crossovers rank in horsepower, torque, and towing capacity:

Model	Horsepower	Torque	Towing capacity
2021 Mazda CX-30	186 to 227	186 to 310 lb-ft	Up to 2,000 lbs
2021 Mazda CX-5	187 to 256	186 to 320 lb-ft	Up to 2,000 lbs
2021 Mazda CX-9	227 to 250	310 to 320 lb-ft	Up to 3,500 lbs

Note that if you opt for the higher-end trims fitted with turbocharged engines, fuel costs will be pricier.

MORE:

Mazda CX-9 towing capacity

Are Mazda crossovers good on gas?

When it comes to fuel efficiency, Mazda’s crossovers aren’t making a big splash like the fuel-efficient

Toyota Sienna

, which only uses 2.8 gallons/100 miles. However, they don’t hog all the gas either!

With ever-rising prices at the gas station, your best bet is to go with either the standard engine CX-30 or CX-5, which consume 3 gallons/100 miles, unlike their turbocharged counterparts that consume an entire gallon more.

Model	City	Highway	Combined
2021 Mazda CX-30 2WD	25 mpg	33 mpg	28 mpg
2021 Mazda CX-30 2WD	24 mpg	31 mpg	26 mpg
2021 Mazda CX-5 2WD	25 mpg	31 mpg	28 mpg
2021 Mazda CX-5 2WD	24 mpg	30 mpg	26 mpg
2021 Mazda CX-9 2WD	22 mpg	28 mpg	24 mpg
2021 Mazda CX-9 4WD	20 mpg	26 mpg	23 mpg

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Are Mazda crossovers safe?

According to the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), Mazda’s crossovers are exceptionally safe!

Across all Mazda crossovers, you’ll be protected with the following safety features:

Front- and side-impact airbags

Anti-lock brake system with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assist

Lane departure warning system

Child safety rear door locks

While Mazda’s crossovers have had a total of three recalls, the CX-5 has received both perfect scores and zero recalls at the time of publication.

Model	NHTSA rating	IIHS rating	Recalls
2021 Mazda CX-30	5 stars	Good, 2021 Top Safety Pick+	2 recalls
2021 Mazda CX-5	5 stars	Good, 2021 Top Safety Pick+	0 recall
2021 Mazda CX-9	5 stars	Good, 2021 Top Safety Pick+	1 recall

MORE:

14 safe driving tips

Are Mazda crossovers reliable?

Yes, very reliable! Mazda has a 4- out of 5-star reliability rating from

Repair Pal

—ranking it in 5th place out of 32 car brands.

A big reason for Mazda’s reliable reputation is the automaker’s commitment to high-quality materials. Even though it costs an average of $462a year to repair a Mazda crossover, it all boils down to its long-lasting parts. For that same reason, you won’t need to visit the repair shop often either, if ever—with Repair Pal estimating 0.4 visits a year.

On top of getting a supremely built car, you’re guaranteed the following coverages when you purchase a crossover from Mazda:

New vehicle limited warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles

Powertrain limited warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles

Roadside assistance: 3 years/36,000 miles

Key Takeaway Mazda crossovers rarely need repairing thanks to their high-quality components and built-in warranty, which comes with three years of roadside assistance!

MORE:

Mechanical breakdown insurance vs. extended warranty

Which Mazda crossover is best?

You don’t have to deal with decision fatigue thanks to Mazda’s small crossover lineup—leaving it to your driving preferences, family size, and budget to be the main judges of your final pick. Of course, to make it even easier for you, we’ve chosen a winner… The Mazda CX-5!

Raking in a perfect 10/10 from Car and Driver, the CX-5 checks all the boxes. From a fuel-efficient tank to a laundry list of safety features, the mid-range crossover is the perfect middle ground of efficient but powerful. Starting at $23,370 and $10k less than the premium CX-9, you’ll be glad for the savings!

If you value cost-efficiency, go for the CX-5. At just $1k more than the cheaper CX-30, you have the option of upgrading to a turbocharged engine that’s capable of producing 256 horsepower, and you can feel confident with the sign-offs from both Edmunds.com and Car and Driver that you’ve made the best choice.

If you value fuel efficiency, the CX-30 and CX-5 are great picks. Whether you choose 2WD or 4WD, you’ll only be using up 3 gallons per 100 miles, compared to the 4.3 gallons that the CX-9 inhales!

If you value luxury, splurge on the CX-9. This seven-seater crossover looks and feels high-class before you even step inside. Available in sleek titanic metallic gray and six types of leather upholstery to choose from, a road trip in the CX-9 would feel no different than a plane ride.

MORE:

Are Mazdas good cars?

The best way to save money on Mazda insurance

It’s impossible not to have your heart set on a Mazda crossover now. But before you go zooming to the dealership, we’ve got to find you some cheap, top-notch insurance from the top insurance app in the App Store,

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