Review - Mazda CX-30

Since its introduction, it’s taken out a number of industry awards, and remains one of the top-sellers in the crossover SUV category. One of the biggest problems for the CX-30, though, is the fierce competition from the likes of the Toyota CH-R, Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona and the Kia Seltos, meaning that it needs to perform to an exceptionally high level to earn your buy.

How does it perform compared to those competitors? Let’s find out.

Starting Price: $29,990

OnlineAuto Savings: $2,656

Mazda CX-30 - G20 PURE VISION (FWD) Specifications

For more details and other variants, check Mazda CX-30 car page.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Mazda CX-30 in its cheapest form (G20 Pure) can be purchased for $29,990, excluding on-road costs, and steps up in variants to the Evolve, Touring and range-topping Astina models. The CX-30 Evolve is priced from $31,490, while the Touring costs $34,990 and the range-topping CX-30 G20 Astina is priced at $38,990.

Stepping up to the more powerful and luxury-focussed G25 variant of the CX-30 brings the price to $36,490 for the Touring, and $41,490 for the range-topping Astina model.  

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What Features Does the CX-30 Have?

Mazda is known as one of the leading manufacturers for packaging a lot of features into a modestly priced car, and with the CX-30, this tradition continues. In the base model G20 Pure, Mazda throws in features like 16-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, LED head and tail lights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support connected to a 8.0-inch infotainment screen, heads-up display, automatic side mirrors, rear parking sensors, satellite navigation as well as digital radio and automatic wipers.

Stepping up the G20 Evolve adds niceties like bigger 18-inch alloys, lashings of leather in the interior, steering wheel-mounted paddles for the transmission, dual-zone climate control and some added storage options.

The G20 Touring receives tilting side mirrors to help while you’re parking, 10-way adjustable leather-wrapped seats, front parking sensors, and a proximity key.

The flagship CX-30 Astina comes packaged with adaptive LED headlights, stylish white leather interior package, panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker audio system from BOSE, as well as a 360-degree camera and some added safety equipment like front cross-traffic alerts.

Range Features:

• 8.8-inch screen with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Head-up Display
• 16-inch alloys (Pure)
• 18-inch alloys (Evolve)
• Leather interior (Touring)
• 360 Degree Camera (Astina)
• Panoramic Sunroof (Astina)

Mazda CX-30 Colours

Is it Comfortable to Drive?

The Mazda CX-30 shares all the important stuff underneath with an incredibly well-respected car, the Mazda 3. That means that, while this is a relatively new car from Mazda, all the important underpinnings have been tried and tested, and the result is an extremely comfortable and capable drive on Australian roads.

Most notably, the steering is extremely lightweight, meaning that the CX-30 is a perfect companion for a commute through the urban environment, and shines particularly in the confines of a tight car park and adds a great amount of visibility. The suspension is extremely comfortable while mitigating the worst of body roll, and overall, the Mazda CX-30’s ride is extremely admirable for the price.

Depending if you’re opting for the G20 or G25, you’ll have the choice of two engines. The first, a 2.0-litre four cylinder unit producing 114kW and 200NM or a 2.5-litre four-cylinder pushing out 139kW and 252Nm. The added torque from the G25 engine is definitely welcomed, but very few drivers will be unhappy with the performance of the base model 2.0-litre unit.

Is it Practical and Spacious?

One of the major criticisms of the CX-30’s smaller relative, the CX-3, was that there was not enough space or practicality on offer. With their latest car, Mazda has fixed a number of these issues, but there are still some problems remaining.

In terms of occupant space and practicality up front, there’s a number of cubby holes for water bottles and loose items, while headroom will not be an issue for even the tallest of passengers. In the rear, however, longer legs will be cramped up against the driver and front passenger seats. While this won’t be an option for any children or smaller teenagers, it’s important to note that the CX-30 is not a full-sized SUV, and isn’t able to soak up people in the same way. The rear seats come fitted with a number of ISO-fix harness points for children’s seats.

In terms of cargo space in the boot, there’s 317L of boot space on offer in the CX-30, but with the rear seats folded down, potential cargo storage in the rear increases to 1406L for bulkier items.

Is it Safe?

Even the base model G20 Pure, Mazda throws in a huge amount of safety equipment free of charge. This includes seven airbags, blind-spot monitoring system, front and rear autonomous braking, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, driver attention alert, as well as radar-monitored active cruise control. All of which contribute to the CX-30’s Five Star ANCAP Safety rating, as well as one of the highest-ever recorded scores of 99% for occupant protection.

Is It Fuel Efficient?

Mazda claims a combined fuel cycle of 6.5L per 100km for the base model G20 2.0-litre engine, while this figure increases to 6.8L per 100km in the thirstier 2.5-litre G25 variant. Real-world driving conditions will likely see this figure rise north to around 7-7.5L/100km. All up, though, this is a pretty impressive economy figure for a car that is creeping up toward the mid-size SUV mark.

Our Verdict: Is the CX-30 Worth it?

If you’re looking for a stylish compact SUV that ticks all the important boxes of technology, safety, economy and driving dynamics, Mazda has - once again - created one of the segment’s leaders with the CX-30. While the cheaper variants lack some of the features you might want as standard, overall the CX-30 represents an extremely quality car that is built to a high standard by a manufacturer famous for its value for money.

If you’re in the market, we recommended you book yourself in for a CX-30 car test drive in the very near future. 

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Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Official Economy 6.5L/100km
2. Front-Wheel Drive as Standard; AWD $2,000 option
3. 16-inch alloys as standard (18-inch on Evolve and above)
4. Five Year, Unlimited Kilometer Warranty
5. Five Star ANCAP Safety Rating

Pros

• Value for money
• Stylish exterior
• Quality interior finish

Cons

• 16-inch rims as standard
• Rear passenger leg & headroom
• 360-degree camera only on more expensive variant

OnlineAuto Rating: 8/10

Mazda CX-30 Competition