2026 CX-30 2.5 S Preferred
Quick Answer: 2026 Mazda CX-30 2.5 S Preferred
The Preferred lands at $29,690 MSRP and adds a power sliding-glass moonroof with a tilt feature, a larger 10.25-inch center display, and front and rear parking sensors on top of everything the Select Sport already offers. It's the trim where the CX-30 starts to feel genuinely equipped rather than just competent — and it's still running the same 186-hp engine and standard AWD as every trim below the Premium. For a lot of Green Brook households, this is the one where the equipment list stops feeling like a compromise.
The moonroof, the bigger screen, and the sensors that actually get used
The Preferred's headline addition is the power sliding-glass moonroof with a tilt feature — it's the first CX-30 trim to get one, and it's the kind of feature that either matters a lot to a buyer or not at all. Paired with it: a 10.25-inch center display, noticeably larger than the Select Sport's screen, and front and rear parking sensors that make parallel parking on tighter Green Brook side streets less of a guessing game. None of this changes the driving experience — the 186-hp engine and i-Activ AWD are identical to the trims below it — but it does change how the cabin feels day to day.
Fuel economy holds at 24 city / 31 highway / 27 combined EPA-estimated, same as every naturally aspirated CX-30 trim.
Is the jump from Select Sport worth $1,630?
That depends entirely on whether you'll actually open the moonroof. If yes, the Preferred is a clean call — the parking sensors and bigger display are genuinely useful bonuses on top. If the moonroof isn't a priority, the Select Sport already covers wireless CarPlay, dual-zone climate, and the full safety suite for $1,630 less, and you won't miss anything mechanical.
What Green Brook buyers say
One recent Empire review captures the Preferred-level experience well — a buyer identified as "CCC" who worked with both sales and service: "Sam Franco in sales provided great service helping me find a CX-30. The car has everything I am looking for and was an easy experience. Janet in service was a big help." That combination — a salesperson who matches the car to what a buyer actually wants, plus a service department that stays helpful after the sale — comes up often in reviews naming this trim range specifically.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Preferred add over the Select Sport?
A power sliding-glass moonroof with tilt, a larger 10.25-inch center display, and front and rear parking sensors — for $1,630 more than the Select Sport's $28,060 MSRP.
Does the Preferred have leather seats?
No — leather-trimmed seating starts with the Premium trim. The Preferred keeps the same seating material as the trims below it; the upgrades here are the moonroof, display, and parking sensors.
Are the parking sensors front and rear, or just rear?
Both — the Preferred is the first CX-30 trim with front and rear parking sensors standard.
Where can I see one in Green Brook?
Check live Preferred inventory at Empire Mazda of Green Brook, or reach out through the dealership's contact page to confirm what's currently on the lot.
The bottom line
The Preferred is the trim where the CX-30 stops feeling like an entry-level crossover. The moonroof is the reason to be here; the bigger display and parking sensors are the bonus. If none of those three things move the needle for you, the Select Sport does everything else identically for less.
MSRP figures exclude Mazda's $1,495 destination charge plus taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates. Equipment and availability can shift with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Empire Mazda of Green Brook. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Empire Mazda of Green Brook.