So you’re looking into purchasing a crossover, something reliable and stylish, possibly the Mazda CX-30. We’ve gone ahead and done all the homework for you so you don’t have to. Here are 5 things that you need to know about Mazda’s CX-30.
Appealing looks
There’s no doubt that Mazda’s current design language is a winning formula. You look at any of their current products and there’s not much to fault. The CX-30 in particular has an overall appealing design and even looks like a slightly scaled-down version of the Mazda CX-5. We’ve always liked the front side profile of these modern Mazda's. You must find it aesthetically appealing too, which is why you’re here.
Quality interior
Many car manufacturers will give you a leather interior, which only includes leather on the seats and steering wheel, leaving the rest of the cabin bare and plasticky. Not Mazda. What’s impressive about the CX-30 interior is that the leather treatment abounds and even the door panels which are normally plastic, have nice padding that's covered in two-tone leather. It extends to the entire dashboard and gives you a feeling of being in an upscale space.
Lean rear seating
Admittedly, based on the overall size of the Mazda CX-30, we assumed that it would offer adequate legroom for rear passengers. We were taken aback when discovering that there isn’t much room to speak of in the back. To fit adults here, the front seats have to be moved forward. Unless the driver is a short individual, in which case you’ll have enough space for a third person at the back.
Dated powertrain
It’s no secret that Mazda’s engines are a bit dated as far as modern cars go. Nearly every new vehicle you drive these days is turbocharged, and this has many benefits, but mainly performance and fuel economy. For the longest time, the powers that be at Mazda have insisted on maintaining naturally aspirated engines across their range, at least locally. The CX-30 is no acceptation with its 2.0 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine. It lacks the typical oomph found in most cars when you need to overtake or accelerate into a gap. This may not sound like a big deal but the lack of shove is very noticeable. This setup doesn't do your fuel economy any favours either. We were able to get an average fuel consumption figure of 7.8l/100km, which isn’t the 6.6l/100km claimed by Mazda.
Refined ride
This is where the Mazda impresses. Where ride quality is concerned nothing from the Japanese manufacturer has felt this good, and the feeling is immediate. Not only is the Mazda CX-30 smooth on the road, but it also has a very pleasant and refined ride, which gives the feeling of driving something with a German badge on it. Well done Mazda.
Something to look forward to is the upcoming Mazda CX-60, which will be the brand’s new flagship. Its official SA launch is tomorrow. We’ll have more details for you soon.
Gugu Masuku - CHANGECARS
