It would be very easy to argue that the Mazda CX-30 is a compromised vehicle – after all, it launched right in the middle of the small SUV boom that carmakers lean hard into the idea of bumping up the ride height of their small hatches and slapping on some black plastic cladding to call it an SUV, and the CX-30 certainly gives off those vibes.
But while the CX-30 looks for all the world like a hatch on stilts, it actually shares no body panels with the Mazda3 it is based on. Yet it is those shared underpinnings that turn what could be a weirdly compromised crossover into one of the better options in the market, particularly for anyone who enjoys sharp driving dynamics and uncompromised comfort.
Mazda NZ has refreshed its local CX-30 range following a refresh of the CX-30 itselft, now featuring two FWD models (GSX and SP25) and two AWD models (Limited and Takami).
The SP25 essentially fits in the middle of the range, being the top-spec FWD model and featuring the same 139kW/252Nm SkyActiv-G 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission as the AWD CX-30 Limited model, but dropping the AWD system and saving around 90kg in weight.
While the SP25 is the most powerful CX-30 (it fractionally out muscles the top-spec Takami AWD model’s newer 2.0-litre e-SkyActiv mild hybrid, but is also a bit thirstier than the AWD car), it’s still not a performance car. But it is a comfortable and extremely competent small car that exudes a wonderful sense of quality throughout.
But more importantly it offers up excellent driving dynamics combined with a comfortable ride, highlighting how Mazda’s approach with the CX-30 has paid off for the driver.
The SP25 feels beautifully lithe and agile on the road, while also maintaining a complaint nature and a very comfortable ride. The engine is nicely smooth and feels surprisingly torquey (despite its relatively modest 252Nm peak output), something that is particularly obvious in urban driving, where it effortlessly rides the torque thanks to the excellent six-speed automatic transmission.
It is around town where the powertrain’s biggest weakness rears its head; fuel consumption. Mazda’s claim of 7.3L/100km combined fuel consumption is pretty accurate and achievable, but does require a good mix of open road running to see it. Urban running alone will have it creeping closer to double digits that is comfortable in a small urban crossover.
Still, it’s not terrible, and does seem a fair price to pay for the comfort and quality on offer in the SP25.
On the inside the SP25 has an attractive cabin that is beautifully put together from high quality materials, and while being a mid-spec offering means it gets manually adjustable seats with cloth upholstery, they are extremely comfortable and arguably nicer than the leather offerings in higher spec models.
If you are prepared to spend a bit more on fuel in exchange for an excellent driving experience, then the CX-30 SP25 is a perfect compromise between the compact size of a small hatch and the practicality of a small SUV.
