Thinking of getting a Mazda CX-30?
The style of the car
The CX-30 is a stylish mid-size SUV (some people might call it a crossover) that’s a rival for cars such as the Toyota CH-R and the Volkswagen T-Roc. It’s slightly larger than Mazda’s CX-3 yet it’s lower, shorter and more sporty than Mazda’s CX-5 SUV and aimed less towards family buyers. The interior looks great and has a premium feel and a user-friendly dashboard and infotainment system.
How it drives
The CX-30 feels great to drive – light and agile, yet solid and comfortable. Town driving is stress-free, though the standard parking sensors (some models have cameras) are a big help when manoeuvring. It gives a smooth and relaxing ride on long journeys, too. There are two engines available, both petrol mild-hybrids. That means they have an electrical system that improves the engines’ efficiency and smoothness. They’re both very quiet and give good acceleration, though the more powerful SkyActiv-X engine is better if you make regular long journeys. Manual and automatic gearboxes are available, and some models have four-wheel drive.
The interior
The CX-30 is a mid-size crossover with five doors and five seats. It’s about the same size as the Nissan Qashqai or Seat Ateca. The CX-30’s interior is comfortable for four adults, or two adults in front and three children in the back. The boot has space for a few medium suitcases, or a pushchair and some shopping, so it works well as a family car. The interior feels very well made, too. All models come generously equipped with features including sat nav, air con, parking sensors and adaptive cruise control.
Running costs
The CX-30 isn’t available with a diesel engine, but its petrol engines are still very fuel-efficient for this type of car. The more powerful SkyActiv-X engine actually gives the best fuel economy, as much as 50mpg according to official figures. The less powerful SkyActiv-G engine isn’t far behind, giving up to 47mpg. Automatic and four-wheel drive models give slightly lower mpg. Road tax and insurance costs are reasonable. Safety experts Euro NCAP awarded the CX-30 a full five-star rating, noting the many drive safety systems that come as standard.
How it compares with similar cars
There are a lot of crossovers and SUVs of a similar size to the CX-30, including the Jeep Compass and Vauxhall Grandland X. The CX-30’s style, great driving experience and high-quality interior create a feel-good factor that really stands out from the crowd.
