Road test
MAZDA CX-30 2020
No, Mazda isn't splitting hairs with its (other) small SUV
December 20, 2019
Pros and cons
Pros
- Practical size
- Well-adapted 2.5-litre engine
- Dynamic drive
- Good sound insulation for the segment
- Attractive cabin
Cons
- Tight rear seating
- Narrowness of trunk
- Advanced safety systems unavailable on base model
- Restricted rear visibility
- Over-cautious blind-spot alert
Overview
It’s official: Mazda’s lineup comprises more SUV’s than cars with the arrival of the CX-30, which slots between the subcompact CX-3 and the compact CX-5.
The Mazda CX-30 shares the drivetrains, platform and many of the concepts of the most recent Mazda 3 Sport, unveiled in the spring of 2019. But it is not just a lifted copy (think Subaru Crosstrek relative to the Impreza hatchback). In profile, cabin and dimensions, Mazda’s new crossover has an identity all its own.
Other than the Crosstrek, the Mazda CX-30’s direct competitors are the Honda HR-V, Mitsubishi RVR and Nissan Qashqai. In size, engine and price (between $25,900 and $36,250), the new Mazda also compares to smaller models like the Hyundai Kona, or slightly larger vehicles like the Kia Sportage. The borders are more porous than ever between SUV categories, and with customer demand seemingly unending, automakers are eager to fill every niche they can find.
The Mazda CX-30 is built in Mexico at a new plant that also assembles some of the Mazda 3’s distributed in North America. It will arrive at Canadian dealerships in mid-January 2020.
Verdict
Is Mazda splitting hairs with the CX-30? Absolutely not; it is offering a very up-to-date, mechanically proven product with all the qualities necessary to take on the competition, with refined finish and dynamics as a bonus. In the end, it’s the Mazda CX‑3 that stands to lose the most at the hands of the new arrival: for a slightly higher price, the Mazda CX‑30 offers much more, especially in terms of versatility and refinement.
Evaluation
Body and cabin
Based essentially on a new platform launched last year by the Mazda 3 compact, the Mazda CX-30 is slightly shorter in overall length and wheelbase than the hatchback version of the 3. However, the higher, wider CX‑30 looks, and feels, roomier. And while the Nissan Qashqai and Subaru Crosstrek are more accommodating in terms of rear seating, the CX-30 easily overshadows its smaller CX-3 sibling in this respect.The same is true of cargo volume. The CX-30 offers more than the other two Mazda’s, but less than its two direct rivals or the Honda HR‑V, because of its narrow trunk. On the other hand, the carpeted trunk finish is rare for the class, as is the power liftgate on the GT model. With or without power assistance, the hatch opens much wider than on the CX-3, contributing to the versatility of the CX-30.
The impressive trunk finish is reflected in the cabin, which displays quality materials and refined colour combinations. Even the less expensive trims get a two-tone interior and eight-way driver seat adjustment. As on the latest Mazda 3, the bucket seats are better padded than those traditionally found on the automaker’s compact models, without affecting overall support.
The controls and layout mirror those of the Mazda 3. That includes the two very clear screens, a 7‑inch in front of the driver and an 8.8‑inch screen centered on the dash. The latter is distinctive in that it is non-tactile, functioning via two rotary controllers, one large and one small, and a handful of buttons placed behind the gear shifter.
The system seems unusual at first, but Mazda has provided several shortcut options and integrated explanations to make it easier to use. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also included on all models.
For the detail oriented, Mazda even gave each control the same tactile feel and harmonized the illumination of all the white cabin elements: unessential, but definitely refined.
Safety
All Mazda CX-30’s come with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Which is fortunate, since the narrow windows and wide roof pillars compromise side and rear visibility, a common shortcoming with Mazda.However, the base model is deprived of other advanced safety features, including automatic emergency braking (AEB). Several competitors no longer skimp on this important technology, and Mazda itself supplies it at no extra cost on the CX‑30 in the United States. The industry promises to include AEB on all their models by 2022, and it is none too soon.
Crash test results
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
Overall score: 5 / 5
Frontal impact: 5 / 5
Side impact: 5 / 5
Rollover resistance: 4 / 5
Insurance Institute For Highway Safety (IIHS)
Moderate overlap frontal impact: 4 / 4
Small overlap frontal impact:
- driver side: 4 / 4
- passenger side: 4 / 4
Side impact: 4 / 4
Rear impact: 4 / 4
Roof strength: 4 / 4
IIHS Top Safety Pick
Mechanical overview
The Mazda CX-30’s affiliation with the Mazda 3 is most evident from a mechanical point of view. It not only uses the same freshly developed platform but also benefits from the latest innovations from Mazda in terms of suspensions.For example, the engineers stiffened the front suspension bushings and chose more supple tires for a more compliant ride. To reduce maintenance costs, a rear torsion beam system replaces the former multilink setup; if it is well tuned, this suspension system is amply suited to a vehicle of average weight.
The Mazda CX-30 is also equipped with the latest iteration of Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control system, which imperceptibly modulates engine torque and braking to reduce lean and steering inputs during cornering.
It can be associated with an optional, on-demand all-wheel-drive system that transfers up to 50 percent of torque to the rear, depending on traction conditions. In the case of the CX-30, loss of power linked to the drive system is reduced by 96 percent, compared to the CX-5.
Mazda devotees will immediately recognize the two listed engines. Both the GX’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder and the 2.5-litre on the GS and GT have been around for close to 10 years on several of the manufacturer’s products. On the menu, direct injection as well as a high compression ratio for better fuel efficiency; GT models also offer a cylinder deactivation system.
At 8.6 L/100 km, Natural Resources Canada's combined city/highway fuel consumption rating for the CX-30 GT closely resembles that of a Mazda 3 or all-wheel-drive CX-5; both the Qashqai and Crosstrek do slightly better.
The larger engine’s 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque place it among the more powerful subcompact SUVs; the 2.0-litre, with 155 hp and 150 lb-ft, is average for the segment.
Both engines are hooked to a six-speed automatic transmission. Die-hard manual fans will have to turn to a base 2WD Qashqai or a Crosstrek—neither of which can match the manual gearbox Mazda offers on the 3. Too bad it is unavailable on the Mazda CX‑30.
Driving impressions
If you have driven a Mazda 3 since it was renewed a year ago, you know pretty much how the CX-30 handles.Like all Mazda products, the new arrival is all about driving pleasure. On the twisty portions on the road we took between San Diego and Palm Springs, California, the CX-30 displayed class-leading stability, consistency and agility.
The steering is heads above, precise and with just the right power assistance, though previous-generation Mazda’s were a bit more communicative.
But no matter: for most buyers, the advances in refinement will easily compensate the slight loss of feedback. The CX-30 displays the same good sound insulation as the 3, which makes it much quieter when accelerating and on the highway than certain competitors.
The suspension delivers a settled ride while avoiding abrupt reactions on uneven surfaces—very unlike the softness of a Qashqai or harshness of a Hyundai Kona.
Though the 2.5-litre engine does not necessarily feel as energetic as its numbers might suggest, acceleration is still more potent than average for the segment. More pleasurable, too, thanks to the linear response of the accelerator and the well-geared six-speed automatic. This transmission downshifts crisply when necessary and is nicely smooth once it is warmed up.
Overall, the Mazda CX-30 seems to be above reproach on the road, our only quibble being with the overreaction of the blind-spot monitoring system. The warning light in the side mirrors stays on too long after passing another vehicle on the highway, often generating a false alert. Fortunately, the audible signal can be deactivated to obtain a bit of peace and quiet.