Mazda CX-300 AWD Sport

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MAZDA CX-30 AWD SPORT

Good things come in small packages

What is it? It’s a sub-compact crossover. They’re making SUV versions of subcompacts now and they’re actually quite sensible versions of the cars they’re based on, especially since our roads are pretty bad here. This time we take a closer look at Mazda’s CX 30 which is based on the current Mazda 3.

EXTERIOR

At first glance you’ll see a handsome looking small SUV, lets see if the rest of it is as good as it looks. Don’t let the name confuse you, yes there is a CX-3, but this slots between that and the CX-5 in the line up. The CX-30’s exterior has a lot in common with the new Mazda 3, no creases on the side panels, keeping everything simple and uncluttered save for cladding on the lower part of the doors and over the tire wells to give it more of rugged look about it. It rolls on 215/55’s on 18” alloy wheels. Up front is has Mazda’s LED Adaptive Front Lighting System and a powered rear tailgate. Side mirrors are power adjust and power fold, you also get the rain sensing wipers which are hidden nicely.

ENGINE

Under the hood is a Skyactiv-G 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve 2.0 liter gasoline engine that puts out 155 Ps at 6000rpm with 200Nm torque at 4000rpm mated to a Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport Mode, you also get paddle shifters in this variant. Power is transferred to tarmac via i-Activ All Wheel Drive with G-Vectoring control.

INTERIOR

Inside, its spacious enough for a small crossover, but it’s everything you expect from Mazda, premium materials and almost a transplant of the Mazda 3’s interior. Just like the Mazda 3, just about everything is soft touch and buttons and knobs have a consistently deliberate premium feeling “tactileness” to it. The leather wrapped Electric Power-Assisted Steering wheel is tilt and telescopic adjustable, with controls for audio, Bluetooth controls and the Cruise Control system. The entertainment system is Mazda Connect with an 8.8” monitor, with connectivity via 2 USB, Bluetooth and has smartphone mirroring. The piece de resistance is the 12-speaker BOSE® Sound System and the moon roof.

It’s leather comes in black, brown and a dark maroon trim on the driver and front passenger seats, and just like the other Mazdas, the driver’s seat is 10-way adjustable to fit all drivers to the perfect driving position, the front passenger is 6-way manual adjust. The rear 60/40

split seat has just enough legroom and space for three average sized pinoys.

SAFETY

The CX-30 has seven airbags, front and side Driver and passenger airbags with curtain and driver knee airbags. Its equipped with AntiLock Braking Syatem (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Dynamic Stability Control (DCS) with Off-road traction assist and a 360° View Camera. It’s also got Mazda’s i-Activsense suite of active safety features like: Radar Cruise Control (adaptive cruise control), Smart Brake Support, Front-Cross Traffic Alert, Driver Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist and BlindSpot Monitoring with Rear-Cross Traffic Alert.

The CX-30 is fun to drive because it’s small, but with a higher than sedan field of view which is as expected with it’s 180mm ground clearance. Despite it’s small size, it has a refined ride just like the Mazda 3 it’s based on, and everything about that car translated perfectly into this SUV. Most exterior and road noises are blocked out, allowing you to enjoy the entertainment system even a relatively low volumes, or just have some peace and quiet on the road, even at high speeds.

It’s nimble, steering is responsive and gives a good feel for the road. You’ll notice our roads don’t seem as bad in the CX-30 as it soaks up bumps and imperfections, just like more expensive vehicles. It’s AWD system will keep you on the road even in slippery conditions and it’s helped along with G-vectoring to make sure the right amount of traction goes to the tires that need it. There’s a lot of cargo space too, 430 liters behind the second row seats. An interesting feature is when the front camera activates whenever it senses something too close to the front of the car, handy especially if there’s an unseen obstacle or someone’s pet or child strays in your way and you don’t see them over the hood.

This CX-30 AWD Sport is priced at Php1,990,000 which is at the higher end of this category of SUV. Now you might think that most of the features can be had in the Mazda 3 for a lot less or, you can move up to the next category CX-5 FWD for even a little less or maybe even a cheaper brand sub-compact SUV, and that may seem logical, but buying a car is never a logical choice is it? What you do get is a lot of car, loaded with all of Mazda’s features you want, in a sub-compact SUV, and in colors only Mazda has. Everything you could want in a small package. That should put things in perspective. NEIL PAGULAYAN

MAZDA CX30 AAAAB

Price PHP 1,990,000 Engine Skyactiv-G 2.0 liter 4-cylinder gasoline Power 155 Ps @ 6000rpm Torque 200Nm @ 4000rpm Transmission Skyactiv-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission with Sport Mode Fuel Capacity 48 liters