The emergence of compact crossover SUVs has been nothing but a blessing for many automakers. The compact crossover has carved such a massive niche for itself in the market that it often steps on the toes of hatchbacks and C-segment sedans when it comes to sales prospects of those vehicles. However, for auto brands, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing at all. On the contrary, compact crossovers can make more money for companies, considering many of them cost more than hatchbacks if not sedans.
One of the latest entrants in the world of compact crossovers hails from Japan, and it is the all-new 2020 Mazda CX-30. As with its immediate rivals in the segment, the Mazda CX-30 is based on a car platform, in this case, the donor vehicle is the Mazda 3. The 2020 Mazda CX-30 made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in 2019, and in the Japanese marque’s line-up, it is placed between the subcompact CX-3 and the slightly larger CX-5. In the UAE market, the new Mazda CX-30 will compete against models like the Nissan Kicks, Kia Seltos, and Hyundai Creta to name a few.
Exterior
On the design front, the all-new CX-30 is a typical Mazda in every way – right from its long, sloping hood, sharp nose, large front grille, sleek headlamps, stylish LED tail lamps, and dual rear exhausts. Moreover, the subtle slope of the roof, stylish windows, trendy alloy wheels, and sleek wing mirrors and door handles all aid in this crossover’s urbane design. Of course, you do get loads of black body cladding all around and evidently boisterous fenders that add to the CX-30’s “SUV-ness”.
As for its dimensions, the Mazda CX-30 comes in at 4.395 meters in length, 1.795 meters in width, 1.562 meters in height, and its wheelbase stands at 2.654 meters. Meanwhile, the CX-30 boasts a 566-liter boot, which is fairly decent but nothing to write home about. Higher trim models come with shiny chrome on the grille, window line and exhaust tips, and there are also faux roof rails finished in satin silver, larger alloy wheels, and a more purposeful-looking rear spoiler.
Interior
On the inside as well, there’s a certain sense of familiarity. The new CX-30, like many of its modern Mazda stablemates, follows the trend of maintaining a clean yet feature-rich cabin. The driving position, again like other Mazdas, feels sporty and driver-oriented. The dials are all easy to read, and outward visibility is fairly decent, despite the smaller rear windows – even so, parking sensors and a rear camera are surely a boon in the CX-30.
On a better note, the quality of materials used by Mazda in the CX-30 remains top-notch, and there’s no dearth of soft-touch surfaces in this interior. However, if you go searching for cheaper plastic, you will find them lower down in the cabin. But then again, they are not awful at all. As for space, you must remember that the CX-30’s cabin is only a tad bit larger than the 3 it is based upon. So while there is room here, the rear is best suited for two adults.
Engine and performance
In the UAE, the base Mazda CX-30 is powered by a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated in-line four-cylinder engine. Add oxygen and petrol to the mix, and this four-popper outputs 189 hp and 252 Nm of torque. What those numbers result in is a 0-100 km/h time of less than 8.0 seconds, while top whack should be in the neighborhood of 180 km/h. The CX-30 is quite an efficient car as well, given its size and performance, averaging around 6.4 L/100 km on a combined cycle. Oh, and you will surely enjoy driving the CX-30 around corners. Mazda rarely disappoints on the driving experience front.
Verdict
While official prices of the 2020 Mazda CX-30 haven’t surfaced yet, you can easily expect to fork in north of AED 70,000 for the entry-level trim. Keep in mind that the smaller CX-3 starts from AED 67,900, and it sits a segment below the CX-30.
