There’s no shortage of SUVs in Mazda Australia’s lineup—seven, to be exact. Among them, the CX-30 isn’t the newest, flashiest, or most tech-loaded option, but it remains one of the brand’s most important models.
Essentially a Mazda3 on stilts, the CX-30 was first unveiled in early 2019, and while it hasn’t undergone a facelift since then, it remains popular. Almost 11,000 units were sold across the country in the first ten months of 2024. Up until recently, we’d never driven one, despite having plenty of seat time in most other Mazda’s, but recently, we took one for a ~1,600 km (~1,000 mile) roadtrip from Melbourne to rural New South Wales to see what it’s made of.
QUICK FACTS
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Five Years Old, But Still Looks Fresh
The specific version we tested was the G20 Touring LE, priced from AU$43,500 (~$27,000). This variant sits towards the top end of the line-up, above the Pure, Evolve, and Touring specifications but below the GT SP and Astina.
Much like the Mazda3, the CX-30 is offered with a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder and a more powerful 2.5-liter four-cylinder. Our tester had the 2.0-liter, which is good for 153 hp (114 kW) and 200 Nm (157 lb-ft), all of which is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
As mentioned, it’s almost been five years since the CX-30 was first shown to the world, and yet, it still looks fresh and up-to-date. It has a very similar look to the Mazda3 and a far less imposing shape to vehicles like the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90. Painted in Deep Crystal Blue Mica, the sleek lines and curves really stood out while being contrasted by the black 18-inch alloy wheels.
We’ve long been fans of Mazda’s current generation interiors, and the CX-30 is no different, particularly when specced like this one.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
Impressively Plush Interior
Adorning much of the cabin is plush, soft-touch black leather, including on the upper area of the dashboard, the door panels, steering wheel, and the center storage cubby. Like some of Mazda’s higher-end models, heaps of black Alcantara have also been added, most notably across the seats and the center of the dash. Not only is it nice to touch, but it also adds a nice scent to the cabin.
The highlight of this CX-30’s interior is the terracotta-colored leather accents, which extend across the seats and include contrast stitching. Colored leathers like this aren’t often found at this price point, which is a shame, as they add a luxury feel to the Mazda. Other carmakers should take note.
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The rest of the cockpit is familiar Mazda and virtually identical to the Mazda3 we tested last year. This means there’s the same 8.8-inch infotainment screen perched on the dashboard and a semi-digital gauge cluster. The main screen is a touch-sensitive unit but can also be controlled with a handful of physical buttons and a large dial positioned just behind the shifter.
This system rocks Mazda’s familiar UI, which, while responsive and intuitive, is starting to feel a little old and basic compared to the competition. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, and thankfully, both systems offer wireless support.
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
The cluster is part digital and part analog and consists of a central screen and two traditional gauges. We have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it’s nice to see a car with round gauges and a physical tachometer, but on the other, most rivals have moved to fully digital displays. Newer models like the CX-60 and CX-90 have also made the switch. It’s also a shame the CX-30’s speedometer only offers a few different settings for displays, like fuel economy and the driver assistance systems.
Beyond some minor technology shortcomings, the interior of the CX-30 is a pleasant place to spend time. The electrically adjustable front seats are very comfortable on long journeys, and the driving position is excellent. The steering wheel is also perfectly sized.
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Space in the rear is adequate, although taller passengers will be wanting for a little more legroom. The headroom is good and is noticeably better than the Mazda3. Creature comforts found at the rear are limited to map pockets and a pair of plastic air vents, meaning there are no USB-C charging ports in sight. Cargo carrying capacity is quite low at 317 liters (11.1 cubic-feet).
Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops
A Comfortable Daily
The CX-30 shines on the open road. After jumping into the driver’s seat for the first time, I was immediately impressed with how lightweight and compact it felt. Tipping the scales at 1,468 kg (3,236 lbs), it’s relatively light by modern standards and seems to shrink around you when behind the wheel.
Most of our time with the CX-30 G20 Touring LE was spent on long stretches of rural highways with 100 km/h (62 mph) and 110 km/h (68 mph) speed limits. It felt right at home in this environment, and driving assistance systems, including the radar cruise control and lane-centering, performed flawlessly.
While the 2.0-liter engine is happy to pull the small SUV along at highway speeds for hours on end, it does feel a little strained getting up to these speeds. Stamp on the throttle, and the four-cylinder is quite loud and isn’t particularly spritely. By comparison, the 2.5-liter with its extra 33 hp (25 kW) and 52 Nm (38 lb-ft) feels significantly more punchy.
However, we can forgive the 2.0-liter CX-30 for being a little slow, as it is quite good on fuel. Mazda claims combined fuel consumption of 6.3 l/100 km (37.3 US mpg), and during our time with the car, we averaged 6.4 l/100 (36.7 US mpg), with a heavy bias skewed towards highway driving. The engine will also happily sip 91 octane feel, helping drivers save a few extra bucks at the bowser. That said, we saw fuel consumption drop to 6.1 l/100 km (38.5 US mpg) when we brimmed up the tank with 95 octane fuel, but individual experiences may differ depending on the environment.
Nicely Tuned Chassis And Steering With A Sporty Feel
As mentioned, the 2.0-liter is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. Automatic ‘boxes with only six gears aren’t as common as they once were, and there were times when we were sitting on the highway and wished there was a seventh gear for higher speeds to mute the engine a little bit. Around town, it’s mostly good, providing smooth and quiet changes with little fuss. However, the changes aren’t rapid. There are a pair of plastic paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, but I rarely used them, and most customers probably won’t.
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Mazda has also done well at tuning the chassis and ensuring the CX-30 rides well on Australia’s often poor road surfaces. While the CX-30 we tested did seem more stiffly sprung than Mazda3s we’ve driven in the past, it was still comfortable and soaked up bumps well.
Most shoppers looking to pick up the keys to the CX-30 will likely never drive their cars in a particularly spirited manner, but if they chose to, they could. The weight of the SUV’s steering is bang on, and it’s easy to recognize when the Toyo Proxes R56 tires reach the limit of adhesion. Ease off the throttle, shift up a couple of gears, and start to cruise, and the Mazda feels right at home, too.
Verdict
While the Mazda CX-30 would benefit from an update, there’s no denying the fact that it remains a solid all-rounder. Efficiency is good, the interior feels more refined and high-end than many of the competitors, and it’s very nice to look at.
In Australia, prices start at AU$35,990 (~$22,400) for the entry-level G20 Pure and top out at AU$49,648 (~$30,900) for the G25 Astina with optional all-wheel drive. Our pick of the bunch would not be the G20 Touring LE we drove but the G25 Touring. It starts at AU$42,667 (~$26,500), making it slightly more expensive than the G20 Touring LE, but comes with the larger 2.5-liter engine, which has a transformative effect on the SUV, offering a lot more grunt while only needing an extra 0.3 l/100 km over the combined cycle.
