Mazda CX-30 Review 2024

If you want a stylish crossover with a superb cabin and don’t feel the need to impress your neighbours with a premium badge (spoiler alert: they probably won’t care anyway), the CX-30 is an excellent choice. It comes loaded with kit, while a limited options list makes it an easy second-hand purchase. It sells in relatively small numbers so you’re less likely to park next to one at Waitrose compared to, say, a Volkswagen T-Roc.

There are some caveats. If you cover lots of miles, you’d be better looking for a diesel-powered alternative. And for those seeking a spacious interior, there are much more practical options. If neither of these are an issue, we’d highly recommend the Mazda CX-30.

Neither engine is particularly strong and deciding between them is difficult. The Skyactiv-G is slow, but cheaper to buy and very refined. We also suspect it’ll go on forever with little more than regular maintenance. The Skyactiv-X has a useful amount of extra power, but doesn’t necessarily feel as quick as you might expect. It also loses a bit of the G’s refinement and is a fair chunk pricier to buy.

In terms of trim levels, all are well-equipped. We don’t think you’d be disappointed with the entry-level SE-L, although the SE-L Lux isn’t much more expensive on the used market and brings such niceties as a reversing camera, an electric tailgate and heated front seats. If you want a sportier choice with a plusher cabin, look for one of the Sport Lux or GT Sport models.

In late 2023, Mazda changed its trims, so the base model is now the Prime-Line, followed by Centre-Line, Homura, Exclusive-Line, and Takumi, so you're not short on options.

There’s no shortage of good crossover SUVs on the market. Cars like the Kia XCeed, Toyota C-HR and Volkswagen T-Roc are probably the closest alternatives, yet the CX-30 also stacks up against premium rivals like the BMW X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q2. Then there are more staid alternatives like the SEAT Ateca and Skoda Karoq.

The build quality of the CX-30’s cabin is nothing less than superb. Soft-touch materials and stylish chrome finishes mean you simply can’t compare it with the likes of the Volkswagen T-Roc or Toyota C-HR. The CX-30’s interior is in the same league as the Audi Q2 and BMW X2 in terms of finish.

Even inquisitive fingers won’t find any harsh finishes, and all the buttons operate with a pleasing tactility. The doors close with a meaty ‘thunk’ and it all feels like it’ll last for a very long time.

As is always the case, pricier models feel more upmarket, but the more affordable trim levels are far from sparse. All come with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift, while the dark grey cloth trim feels about as classy as cloth gets. You’ll need to hunt out a Takumi, GT Sport or GT Sport Tech model for leather seats.

Although the Mazda CX-30’s button-heavy approach is a little old school, we think it works perfectly well. Refreshingly, the media system isn’t the focal point of the interior and you don’t need to use a central touchscreen display to control, well, pretty much everything.

You get actual buttons to adjust things like the climate control or the volume of the stereo. And then there’s a ‘multimedia commander’ (Mazda’s words) positioned between the front seats to navigate the slim 8.8-inch display which is perched on top of the dash. From October 2023, the CX-30 gained a 10.25-inch infotainment display as standard, which is still as easy to use as the earlier version.

We’d go as far as saying either screen size is a brilliant setup. The TFT display is perfectly positioned for glancing at while driving, while the rotary controller makes navigating menus easy. Anyone who’s ever tried prodding a touchscreen system on the move and accidentally called their mother-in-law will appreciate this.

Navigation is standard across the range, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These are great for accessing your phone’s features (from Google Maps to your music playlists) on the move. While sometimes the integration of these leave a lot to be desired, they work flawlessly in the Mazda.

The graphics of the infotainment display are clear and it’s quick to respond. If we’re being picky, the relatively slim display of the 8.8-inch screen is smaller than alternatives, but we can forgive it that and the larger, later 10.25 item addresses this.

It’s also worth noting that the CX-30 comes with a CD player on most earlier models. That’s unusual but if you’ve got a back catalogue you’re not prepared to give up, it might well appeal.

If you’re looking to buy an SUV for carrying all the family and the associated luggage that goes with that, you’d be better looking at versatile alternatives like the Skoda Karoq or the bigger Mazda CX-5. While the CX-30 is a classy choice with a superb cabin, it’s not exactly spacious.

Things are fine up front. All that adjustment in the seats means there’s loads of room for even the tallest of drivers, while the CX-30’s relatively wide cabin means you won’t be lacking shoulder room, either. There’s also a reasonable amount of storage space, including generous door pockets and a useful cubby box under the central armrest.

Just like stylish rivals like the Toyota C-HR, the Mazda CX-30 feels quite claustrophobic in the back. The doors are relatively small, making access difficult, while the windows are also quite compact. That’s not great for travel sickness if you have young kids.

Teenage children will complain about legroom - especially with tall adults in the front - while headroom is best described as ‘adequate’. There are Isofix points fitted to the outer rear seats which, theoretically, means it ought to be fairly easy to fit child seats. Actually getting them through the tight rear doors could be a mission in itself, though.

Capable of carrying up to 430 litres of luggage, the CX-30’s boot is usefully bigger than the Mazda 3’s. It’s bigger than the Toyota C-HR’s too, although not as big as a Volkswagen T-Roc or BMW X2. A hefty boot lip is amplified back the lack of an adjustable boot floor.

The rear bench splits 60:40, enabling it to be dropped down easily, providing up to 1406 litres of space. However, if you choose a CX-30 with the uprated Bose stereo, the amplifier for this nicks a bit of boot space, dropping maximum capacity to 1398 litres and normal load room to 422 litres, so hardly a huge loss in either case.

You can have the Mazda CX-30 with any engine you like as long as it’s a 2.0-litre petrol.

If you opt for the entry-level version - known as the Skyactiv-G - don’t go expecting thrilling performance. It might have a big engine but, with only 122PS and not a turbocharger in sight, it’s pretty sluggish. Officially it’ll reach 62mph in 10.6 seconds with the manual gearbox (11.2 with the auto). It’s quite a rev-hungry engine, needing a lot of work to do make progress, and could be a shock to the system if you’re used to a turbocharged rival with dollops of low-down torque.

The more powerful engine is an 186PS unit, known as the Skyactiv-X. Mazda makes quite a song and dance out of this engine, thanks to its unusual spark-controlled compression ignition. All that really matters is that it’s significantly quicker than the lethargic Skyactiv-G, reaching 62mph in as little as 8.3 seconds with the front-drive, manual gearbox version.

While this would be our engine of choice if the majority of your driving is out of town, it’ll still need a little getting used to compared to punchy turbocharged offerings. It simply doesn’t feel as quick as the figures suggest.

Mazda’s so invested in naturally-aspirated engines that we won’t be seeing a turbocharged CX-30, and we think that’s a bit of a shame, really. On the plus side, the unstrained petrol engines should be relatively reliable and frugal in the real world.

There’s no diesel engine in the CX-30 - at least not in the UK. Mazda says the Skyactiv-X has enough diesel-like traits to tick that box, but we’d be inclined to disagree. If you spend all your time covering motorway miles or plan to tow a caravan, we’d look for a diesel-powered alternative, such as Mazda's own CX-5.

If you’re after luxury, we’d recommend the six-speed automatic gearbox with the Mazda CX-30 which takes a lot of the chore out of driving. It’s a traditional torque-converter transmission which, in plain English, means it should be more reliable than complicated dual-clutch systems like those used in Volkswagen Group rivals. It’s fast enough to respond and provides pretty seamless gear changes.

Don’t dismiss the manual, though. It provides the most satisfying gear change in a car of this type, with a direct throw and a light enough clutch. That’s good news as the sluggish engines mean you’ll be changing gear a lot.

The fact that the engines need to be worked hard does impact refinement, especially with the Skyactiv-X which provides a strange diesel-like clatter in the mid-range. That said, they’re much quieter than noisy three-cylinder alternatives which are often described euphemistically as ‘characterful’.

Indeed, once settled into a cruise, most engines are very quiet and refined, helped by the soft suspension which won’t pass too many bumps into the cabin.

Around town, the mild-hybrid setup helps with refinement, allowing the stop-start engine to kick in before the car rolls to a complete stop. Don’t go expecting it to drive under electric power alone, though.

The Mazda CX-30 is an extremely safe car to travel in. When it was crash tested by Euro NCAP in 2019, it scored an incredible 99 per cent of adult occupants, and 86 per cent for children. It achieved an 80 per cent score for vulnerable road users and 77 per cent for its safety assist features. The overall result is an impressive five-star safety rating.

There’s a whole host of safety equipment that’s standard across the range. Lane-keep Assist will keep you in your lane on the motorway, while Smart Brake Support will apply the anchors if it thinks you’re about to be involved in a crash.

Look for a top-spec Takumi or the earlier GT Sport Tech model if you want the ultimate in safety equipment. A clever 360-degree view monitor uses cameras at the front, rear and side of the car to help you when manoeuvring. Cruising and traffic support will operate the brake and accelerator (and even the steering) when you’re in slow-moving traffic.

The Takumi and GT Sport Tech also come with a Driver Monitoring system which can detect when you’re getting drowsy and warn you to take a break, while Smart City Brake Support helps to prevent low-speed impacts by applying the brakes if it detects a potential collision - whether you’re going forward or in reverse.

The Mazda CX-30 should prove to be a very reliable car. Not only is Mazda as a brand one of the most reliable manufacturers in the UK but the CX-30's more established sister car, the CX-5, has also been rated one of the most reliable cars in the latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index.

If you’re looking for cheap car insurance, you’d be best looking for a CX-30 with the Skyactiv-G engine. Trim level won’t make a huge difference, and neither will deciding between an automatic or manual gearbox: all CX-30 Skyactiv-G models fall into insurance groups 12 to 14 based on trim level.

With the Skyactiv-X engine, the CX-30 is placed into insurance groups 18 to 21. Again, it doesn’t really matter which trim level or gearbox you opt for, and four-wheel-drive models should cost any more to insure, either. Insurance shouldn’t be particularly expensive (unless you’re a young or inexperienced driver), with the CX-30 stacking up well against rivals in this regards.

As a mild-hybrid, the CX-30 qualifies for a generous £10 discount on your annual car tax. So, you’ll pay £170 a year, rather than £180.

You’re not going to find a Mazda CX-30 with a list price of more than £40,000, so you needn’t be concerned about the premium car tax. In the first year, road tax will be either £265 or £310 dictated by which particular model you choose and its CO2 emissions.

All Mazda CX-30 models are pretty well kitted out as standard. Highlights of the entry-level SE-L model for used buyers include LED head and taillights, 16-inch alloy wheels and rear parking sensors. Inside, there’s dark grey cloth seats with manual adjustment, a windscreen-projected head-up display and a seven-inch TFT colour instrument panel. An 8.8-inch infotainment system with navigation is standard along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The SE-L Lux adds an auto-dimming driver door mirror, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and an electric tailgate. Inside, you get an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry. There’s even a CD player.

As the name suggests, Sport Lux models add a sportier touch: with 18-inch alloy wheels, various black exterior highlights, rear privacy glass and an electric sunroof (when paired with the Skyactiv-X engine). Inside gets chrome interior trim and a frameless auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The GT Sport features black leather upholstery with electric adjustment in the driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel and a premium Bose surround sound system. The top-spec GT Sport Tech adds a 360-degree view monitors and various useful safety features: from cruising and traffic sport to rear cross-traffic brake.

From late 2023, Mazda changed it naming policy for the CX-30, so the Prime-Line became the start point and comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, satin black trim, heated and power folding door mirrors, automatic headlights with high beam control, rear parking sensors and camera, and roof spoiler. The interior has grey cloth upholstery, 7.0-inch driver display, radar cruise control, 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, sat-nav, air conditioning, and there's blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition.

The Centre-Line trim adds rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, heated front seats, climate control, keyless entry, wireless phone charging, and a Sport mode if you choose the automatic gearbox.

The Homura trim gains 18-inch alloy wheels, powered tailgate opening, rear privacy glass, and black cloth upholstery. It also has three-stage heated front seats.

On top of this, the Exclusive-Line comes with adaptive headlights, electric sunroof, and a 12 speaker Bose stereo system.

At the top of the range sits the Takumi with its 360-degree parking camera, black leather upholstery with electric front seat adjustment, and heated steering wheel. It also comes with added safety tech comprising cruising and traffic support, driver monitoring, frotn cross traffic alert, and Smart Brake Support at the rear.