The Mazda CX-30

We have all grown to love and respect Mazda as a family brand that offers beautiful and high-quality products. The new CX-30 is nothing shy of those traits, and with my experience with Mazda, I have always praised them for their pristine interior quality and mindfulness to detail.

Interior

The CX-30 is basically a crossover Mazda 3 and slots between the CX-3 and CX-5. Having driven the CX-3, I found it to be extremely small, especially considering that it is a family car. Mazda did well by bringing this in, as the cabin feels larger and spacious than the former. The interior is phenomenal and exudes a sense of minimalism, with little clutter and fuss which is a huge pro for the car. The dark interior gave it a very mysterious feel, which I surely liked. The 8.8inch infotainment system screen is slotted in the dash and is not touchscreen, but you can toggle through functions with a swivel knob located in the centre console. Connectivity is simple, with two USB ports – one by the infotainment system and one in the armrest storage compartment. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is available, so is Bluetooth connectivity and a voice-command feature.

Engine and drive

Underneath the bonnet is a 2.0l naturally aspirated engine that produces 121kW/213Nm, mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox. In some markets, the CX-30 is available in with a turbocharged motor which is something we would love to see here in South Africa. The drive is slightly unengaging especially when you want more oomph to overtake and accelerate but one it has gained momentum, the drive is decent and okay. I have experienced this drive in the Mazda’s I’ve tested, and I can confidently say that if the engines were better, these cars would be perfect. Mazda claims a fuel economy of 6.6l/100Km, I was doing around 7.9l/100Km, yikes.

The CX-30 handles well on the road, albeit I found the ride and steering to be a little stiff, it is not all so bad. A lot of these mechanical “flaws” are made up by the fact that the car is insanely comfortable, beautiful and of exceptional quality. I used to navigate towards the CX-3 but now, my money is on the CX-30. The CX-30 Dynamic model we had on test comes equipped with keyless entry, push-start button, heads-up display, LEDs, and 16-inch metallic alloy wheels. Overall, there are three trim levels, namely Active, Dynamic and Individual.

Verdict

This car is in a tough segment as it competes with favourites such as the Volkswagen T-Roc, but it proves to be a desirable alternative to it. The CX-30 is good, very good in fact and I think it would work for almost any kind of person. There is a lot of uniqueness to this car and I think that is its purpose, to give customers more options and variety. Overall, I am highly impressed. I still do wish for a turbocharged model, though.

Pricing for the Mazda CX-30 starts at R469 900, and the Individual trim goes for R540 000.