The Mazda CX-30’s sales decline had nothing to do with its popularity – Jalopnik

We are fans of the Mazda CX-30, and not just because of its striking turn signals. Last year, however, US sales plummeted from 96,515 in 2024 (the best year ever) to just 56,684. The CX-30 received a few updates for the 2025 model year, but it wasn’t an unpopular redesign that caused sales to plummet, unlike some other cars. It appears to have been a conscious choice on Mazda’s part, influenced by, you guessed it, tariffs. In a statement to CarBuzz, Mazda said:

The CX-30 is currently built in Mexico and due to the continued uncertainty surrounding tariff agreements between the US and Mexico, we have made the strategic decision to reduce production of this model.

Donald Trump has been pushing tariffs on Mexican-made cars for a while now, at one point even proposing a ridiculous 2,000% tariff. It’s no wonder Mazda saw this coming from the moment Trump won his second term and made plans to cut production despite the CX-30’s popularity. As popular as the car was, Mazda wouldn’t be able to sell one if the tariffs launched prices through the stratosphere.

The 25% tariff that went into effect last March is not nearly as bad as Trump previously threatened, but it is still quite significant. Unsurprisingly, CX-30 sales began to decline significantly after a strong March, with 8,666 CX-30s sold in the first quarter of the year. Only 6,261 were sold in April, compared to 4,329 in May, and numbers have continued to decline since then. Only 2,749 CX-30s were sold in December 2025, the lowest monthly total since first sales in early 2020.

Meanwhile, sales of the American-made CX-50 have increased, while CX-30 sales have declined. CX-50 monthly sales exceeded 10,000 for the first time last July, so Mazda doesn’t appear to be losing overall sales between the two models. The CX-50 only has a slightly higher starting price of $31,395, including destination, so it’s not too difficult for potential CX-30 customers to step up to the larger, more readily available model. Considering it’s about as good as midsize CUVs, they’ll probably be happy with the upgrade.

But if you prefer a sporty compact crossover, the CX-30 still offers great value, at least for now. The low production figures are likely to continue as President Trump continues to be unconcerned about Mexican and Canadian imports. Affordable imports with low profit margins don’t play well with tariffs, so you might want to consider buying one while you still can. Ask the Dodge Hornet why.