Mazda CX-30

Great to look at, great to drive

Andrew Walker

Mazda’s designers are on a roll. The facelifted CX-5 and CX-3 and the new Mazda3, our Small Car of the Year, are all fleet friendly, as well as being very attractive, and things have just got better for the marque with the launch of the new Mazda CX-30 mid-range crossover. One made its way to Company Car Towers recently, enabling us to give it the once over.

We were testing the likely bestselling 2.0 litre 180ps GT Sport petrol version, which benefits from Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X petrol engine. It uses spark-controlled compression ignition and a mild-hybrid set-up to reduce emissions, resulting in a pleasingly low 105g/km CO 2 figure on our test car. Skyactiv-X also has the benefit of appealing to both corporate customers and retail folk alike.

It’s decently equipment. Entry level SE-L is fitted with 16”alloys, LED headlights, a head-up display, rear parking sensors and an 8.8” infotainment system, that includes SatNav and smartphone integration. The SE-L Lux adds a reversing camera, front parking sensors and keyless entry. We were testing the GT Sport version, which is further enhanced by leather seat trim, a powered drivers seat, a heated steering wheel, door mirror tilt down function when reversing and the 12-speaker Bose surround sound system, with Bose CenterPoint, BassMatch and AudioPilot technology.

If you stare long and hard at the CX-30 it looks well, just like the CX-3 only slightly larger. Like its smaller sibling, its narrow front LED headlights give it a sporty look. At the back, the slim tail-lights have the same effect. They’re shallow and wide, sitting across the rear wings and hatchback. Inside, the minimalist dashboard puts all switchgear in easy reach, with a dash top-mounted infotainment system controlled by a rotary dial located between the two front seats. The system graphics are excellent, particularly those used in the SatNav and are a real improvement over the old Mazda system. You can connect your smart phone to either Apple CarPlay or Android Auto using the USB connection. The screen is bright and clear and again, changing functions can be selected using the rotary dial.

If you need a load lugger, the boot offers a decent 421 litres of storage, increasing to 1,398 litres with the back seats folded down. Access to the load

Mazda CX-30 in Skyactiv mode: ‘A slick gearbox and sharp handling make it nimble around town, with little body roll by SU V standards ... an enjoyable car to drive that’s also stunning to look at...’

area is decent and the boot will comfortably fit three large suitcases in, if required.

On the road and there’s no doubt that the CX-30 is a comfortable motorway cruiser, and the SkyActiv-X technology is great for fuel economy, as we averaged 42mpg in our week on board, (the claimed is 47.9mpg,). On the downside, however, the lack of low rev oomph is really noticeable. For example, if motorway traffic slows and then speeds up again, the Mazda, which requires 3,000rpm to reach it’s maximum torque of 224Nm, is very slow to react. You have to disengage cruise control, change down from sixth gear to fourth, just to get the car back up to cruising speed. Annoying to say the least. Mazda claim a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds, but with four adults and associated luggage on board, getting to 62mph, takes a bit longer.

On a more positive note, the six-speed manual gearbox is slick and around town the CX-30 is small enough to feel nimble. There’s little or no body roll by SUV standards and it’s an enjoyable car to be in. It’s also stunning to look at, very well built, features all of the latest tech and safety and it’s available to fleet customers at a decent cost. For business customers who choose a petrol CX-30, it comes both with attractive contract hire rates for the more powerful 180PS version, just £215 per month + vat , with the 122PS version offering

drivers a BIK from as little as £101 per month + vat .

To our mind, our Small Car of the Year, the Mazda3, combined with a diesel engine, is more fun to drive but we have to concede that the CX-30 looks better.

Verdict Oh, you handsome devil, you: in a world where cars often look the same, the CX-30 stands out from the crowd

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