Mazda CX-30
Revisions to Mazda’s family SUV aim to boost engine power and make it even more efficient On sale Now Priced from £22,945
Engine revisions promise to give Mazda’s classy family SUV more low-rev muscle and better fuel economy
HESTON BLUMENTHAL USES advanced cookery methods in the pursuit of improving your culinary experience, and it seems Mazda is also employing this approach with the updates to the engine range of the CX-30 family SUV. Despite having one of the most efficient petrol engines already, the e-skyactiv X model has received a raft of tweaks, all to gain more power, increase low-rev muscle and reduce emissions and fuel consumption.
That all sounds great, but we doubt anyone will notice that power is up from 177bhp to 183bhp, or that the 0-62mph time is down fractionally from 8.5sec to 8.3sec. Improvements have also been made to in-gear acceleration, but the normally aspirated e-skyactiv X is still weaker at low revs than the turbocharged engines in rivals such as the Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq, meaning you need to work the CX-30 hard to get the best from it.
Fortunately, the standard manual gearbox is easy to get on with, due to its mechanical feel and short action – a good thing considering how much you’ll use it. Most drivers will also appreciate the precise, well-weighted steering. Body lean is neatly controlled, with the CX-30 feeling agile enough in quick changes of direction, although the front tyres tend to run wide of your chosen line earlier than in some rivals, especially in the wet.
The trade-off for the tight body control is that the CX-30 has a firm ride; it tends to fidget at higher speeds and thuds into drain covers around town. Sticking with the 16in wheels fitted to SE L and SE L Lux models will help alleviate this issue, unlike the 18in ones on our GT Sport Tech test car. Refinement is strong on all versions, with little wind and road noise.
The driver gets a good seating position with plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel and seat – although you sit quite low by SUV standards. The dashboard controls are clear and simple to use, with physical switches for the likes of the air-con, plus there’s a handy head-up display that projects information such as speed right in your line of sight. And the infotainment system is among the best anywhere, with wellplaced shortcut buttons and a rotary controller between the front seats that make for easy operation while driving.
Material quality is pleasingly plush, with lots of the squidgy surfaces you’d usually expect to find only in far pricier cars, and all of the switches and stalks have a slick, expensive feel when you operate them.
Visibility forwards and over your shoulder is fine, albeit not as clear as in boxier rivals such
as the Karoq. Small back windows and a shallow rear screen can be a hindrance when parking, but a reversing camera and parking sensors all round are standard from mid-range SE L Lux trim up to help in these situations.
Interior space is fine up front, but rear head and leg room are in limited supply; anyone approaching six feet tall wouldn’t want to be there long. Boot space also comes up short next to the Ateca and Karoq, while the seating isn’t as flexible as the latter’s.
Neither of those rivals can match the CX-30’S running costs, though, because the e-skyactiv X has better official fuel economy (50.4mpg) and puts out less CO2, making it an affordable company car. The CX-30 is exceptionally well equipped with safety kit, too.
There’s a lot to like about the CX-30; it’s just a shame that practicality has taken a back seat, compromising its appeal as a family runabout.