Why we ran it: To see if the CX-30’s sleek style and driver-focused dynamics make it stand out in the congested family SUV class
Month 3 - Month 2 - Month 1 - Prices and specs
Life with a Mazda CX-30: Month 3
Has the Japanese brand’s late entry into a crowded class done enough to win us over? It’s time to find out - 14 April 2021
Do the best things come to those who wait? That was the question we hoped to answer when our CX-30 arrived late last year. Considerably late to the increasingly crowded compact crossover class, Mazda was hoping that its first effort would have the talent and tenacity to offset the fact that it would have to fight harder than most to get your attention.
I’ll cut to the chase and reveal that if, like us, you enjoy driving above all else, the CX-30 deserves serious consideration if you’re in the market for a high-riding family car. There were a number of reasons why, but perhaps the most compelling was how much better to drive the CX-30 was than its crossover compadres.
As it has with all of its current models, Mazda really has managed to distil the spirit of its Mazda MX-5 into the CX-30. From the deliciously mechanical gearshift through to the accurate steering and surprisingly biddable handling, it’s always a pleasure to drive. So well-honed are the controls, and so satisfying were they to use, that even a sedate run to the shops elicited more smiles than some harder-driven journeys in faster but less engaging so-called ‘performance’ cars. Really.
Yet there’s more to it than that. The car looks great: its taut lines, sharp creases and unusual concave surfaces drew a surprising amount of attention, which is unusual for what’s essentially a jacked-up family hack. Perhaps a bolder colour than Deep Crystal Blue (it always looked better after a wash and polish) would do the shape even more justice, but few, if any, rivals have a more arresting design.
The flair continues inside, where the CX-30 feels more expensive than its £25,540 price would have you believe. Its flowing dashboard looks great, while most of the materials bear more than a passing comparison to those used in pricier premium models. Sport Lux’s cloth seat trim is a little scratchy, but it’s also hard-wearing and its stiction properties hold you more firmly in place than the leather upgrade of the GT Sport.
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It's a shame and somewhat surprising that in the UK the CX-30 is only available with weedy engine options.
Here in North America, there are 3 engines options for the CX-30. The base engine comes with 155 bhp and 150 lb-ft of torque, next is 186 bhp and 186 lb-ft of torque with the top spec being a turbo unit with up to 250 bhp and 320 lb-ft of torque.
Having driven the base and the Turbo engines in a 3 Saloon I can tell you neither disappoint, especially the turbo which sounds and drives more like a naturally aspirated 6-Cylinder!
I'm no SUV fan, but I'm sure many customers will be prepared to pay the extra for this over the 3 hatchback. You benefit from the same high quality interior, but don't have to put up with the cave like rear quarters nor the leaden exterior appearance.
Sky inactive at work again, not sure how a small suv 2 litre 4 pot with a mild hybrid can take nearly 11 seconds to get 60 and have so little torque, would not be so bad if the mpg was brilliant. These are 1980s figures.