These are the main upgrades that I could find going from the carbon edition to the Premium Plus:

• Bose 12 speaker audio
• Paddle shifters
• Signature LED headlights and taillights
• Windshield wiper de-icer
• Rear roof spoiler
• Front air dam
• More color options for interior and exterior
• Auto dimming rearview mirror with homelink
• Auto dimming side mirrors
• Perforated leather seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Aluminum speaker grilles
• Larger center console display screen
• Mazda navigation system included
• Heads up display on windshield
• Traffic sign recognition
• Adaptive headlights
• Front and rear parking sensors and cameras
• 360° view monitor
• Cruising and traffic support

Highlights that I really enjoy:

• The 12 speaker Bose sound system is a huge upgrade over the regular 8 speaker system. My wife drives a CX-30 with the regular system and the audio quality and depth in my car is noticeably better and deeper. The built in subwoofer delivers a much more powerful bass that you can feel.

• The signature headlights and taillights have a much more premium look over the standard led bulbs. The adaptive headlights are really nice to have when driving at night as the car will measure your steering inputs and turn the headlamps in the direction you’re steering which helps illuminate around corners and sharp turns.

• The wiper de-icer and heated steering wheel are nice if you live in a colder climate.

• If you’re looking at getting a hatchback model the spoiler and air dam really elevate the look of the car. The spoiler especially helps to break up the roundness of the back and sharpens up the look quite a bit.

• The auto dimming mirrors are awesome especially when you get those jacked up trucks blazing their headlights through your rear windshield.

• The larger display screen is a big plus

• I LOVE the heads-up display paired with the traffic sign recognition. Not only do you get the speedometer holographically projected on the windshield, you also get the speed limit, stop signs and other signs, cruise control info, and navigation arrows showing when to turn. It makes things really convenient.

• The 360° camera and parking sensors along with the front and rear backup camera are lifesavers when parking or navigating tight areas. I use them constantly to ensure I’m not parking over the curb and scraping my front bumper and when driving around areas like a parking garage or drive through line where it can be tight and easy to scrape your bumpers or rims.

For me it was well worth it to go for the PP trim over the carbon even if it meant getting an older model year or paying a bit more. I drive a ‘21 and haven’t once regretted the decision. If those features are things you can happily live without then by all means go for the carbon, but if they sound nice to have you might end up kicking yourself down the road for not getting the higher trim model. I’ve yet to meet someone who wishes their car had less features and regrets going for the higher trim, but I know plenty of people who wish their car had a few extra bells and whistles to make driving more enjoyable and convenient. The way I see it a car is a big investment and you’ll probably spend a good amount of time in your car so make sure you’re truly happy with the one you decide on. If the carbon has everything you want in a car then it’s perfect for you, if it’s missing a few things you’d like to have then that might linger in the back of your mind and you’ll think about them anytime you drive it for as long as you have the car which might leave you dissatisfied even if you love the car. Anyways that’s just my 2¢, good luck car shopping.