What makes the 2021 Mazda CX-30 such a winter driving enthusiast's dream?

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With a good set of winter rubber and the right stretch of snow-covered backroad, the Mazda CX-30 is a hell of a thing to drive.

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No, not like that. It’s not a spicy powerslide rig built to chuck snow into orbit on command. My tester’s 2.5-mustered 182 horsepower, sent to all four corners via a six-speed automatic. It’s a good setup for responsive torque at lower revs, decent oomph when required, and solid fuel economy as well. But the soul of a sports car shines through the driving experience on winding backroads covered in a bit of fresh powder, even if it isn’t the hod-rod choice for your dollar. Driving enthusiasts will find some convincingly spirited driving dynamics at their fingertips, and a driveline that’s an expert at letting you lead and delivering the response you expect in all conditions.

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The driveline features a driver-selectable off-road mode that instantly recalibrates power delivery to the ground ahead of use in challenging conditions — perhaps deep snow, ice, or a steep and slippery climb. A simple button press toggles this system on and off as needed.

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Otherwise, the all-wheel-drive system requires no driver input or decision making at any time. Mazda’s i-ACTIV AWD system is full of neat little tidbits ; for instance, special machining on the inside of the system’s gear-case means less fluid is required to lubricate the gears within, saving weight and improving economy. The system can consider inputs from the steering, throttle, brakes, and even windshield wipers to help it make better decisions.

These are executed by an electromagnetic centre coupler that can go from locked to unlocked (or anywhere in between) as quickly as you can change the current through a circuit. The traction control system even knows exactly how much wheelspin it can get away with before you notice it from the driver’s seat, and is programmed to use it all to its advantage. Point is, Mazda put a lot of work into the finer details of how their vehicles feel and respond.

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On snow and ice, that means an AWD system that works hand in hand with electronic traction aids and the tuning of the steering and handling and chassis to pick up on the driver’s vibe, and deliver exactly what they expect. For example, in hazardous conditions like a blizzard or freezing rainstorm, you’re driving carefully. Here, the CX-30 responds smoothly to your inputs, reacts instantly to your requests, and feels keen to keep itself as glued to your selected line as possible, at all times. With above-average sharpness and feedback from the road’s surface, too.

And on a winding backroad with a few inches of fresh powder, the CX-30 is ready to put a grin on the faces of spirited drivers. Subtle and properly-timed inputs to the brakes, throttle, and steering quickly send the CX-30 turning, sliding, and rotating on its axis with glee. I found it a real chuckle; even with stability control left on and sport mode turned off, I could steer the CX-30 around slippery corners with its throttle, brakes, or a timely flick of the steering with absolutely no argument.

With a pendulum rhythm going through some sequential bends, it’s a joy to toss around, too: the agile chassis and driveline calibrations mean CX-30 responds to spirited winter driving maneuvers with an eagerness uncommon in many competitors. I found the response from the stability control system fascinating: if you keep your inputs smooth and the vehicle controlled, you don’t feel it doing a thing. Put simply, if you know what you’re doing, the system just lets you do your thing. It’s Mazda’s way of saying they care about having fun.

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There are two more elements that make the CX-30 a worthy wintertime drive for any spirited rural driver. First, the powerful lighting system — after dark, the CX-30’s adaptive LED headlights soak the forward scenery with bright, clean, and nicely focused light that’s easy on your eyes and reduces the need to strain to see details far away. The light steers into corners, and the system proved a worthy driving companion on multiple after-dark drives down various unlit northern Ontario highways.

Second, the wiper system. Each wiper arm has a triple-nipple squirter mounted just above the point where the wiper arm attaches to the wiper blade. They sit just above the windshield, applying washer fluid directly to the glass and only on the upward stroke. Drivers get cleaner glass faster, and because there’s virtually no wasted wiper juice, you’re spending less time filling the jug at 20 below. Also, moving the nozzles into a position on the wiper arm means less digging to expose washer fluid nozzles that otherwise tend to get buried in snow at the bottom of the windshield cowl.

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Of course, there is one final thing: the ride. If you’re coming to a CX-30 from a sportier small car, you’ll feel right at home. It’s not a spine-basher, but rougher roads can stir a fair bit of noise from the suspension beneath, along with the odd whack on worst-case-scenario surfaces. If rough-road ride-comfort is a priority for you, you’ve got better choices — such as the Nissan Qashqai and Subaru Crosstrek .

But comfort vs. handling is the elemental trade-off. The CX-30 nicely balances both in many situations, but its sporting intentions shine through when the going gets rough. If you’re a bit of a winter driving enthusiast like me, you’ll probably be OK with the compromise. There’s a good bit of character and soul dialed into the CX-30, especially in the snow and in the right set of hands.