Selwyn Times: July 15, 2020

22
Wednesday July 15 2020
Mazda expands its SUV line-up
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
SELWYN TIMES
MAZDA COULDN’T put it more
simply, its new crossover sport
utility vehicle – the CX-30 – is
bigger than a CX-3 and smaller
than a CX-5.
I once wrote that the CX-3 was
my favourite car in the whole
Mazda line-up, but that feeling
wasn’t shared by everyone, it took
a lot of criticism for a lack of space
in the rear seating compartment.
My argument was that if you were
mostly driving with one or two-up,
then that became irrelevant.
Whichever way you look at it,
those who were captured by the
CX-3’s dynamics everywhere else
will find the CX-30 a fabulous
driving vehicle, and it gets the
benefit of extra space in the rear
seats, along with increased load
space. Of course, the CX-30
also shares the DNA of its other
stablemates that span a wide crosssection
of the SUV market, there’s
a size for all families depending on
how many travel in the vehicle on a
daily basis.
The CX-30 is also priced midway
between CX-3 and CX-5, there
are three variants – GSX, GTX
and Limited – the range starts at
$41,490 for a 2-litre model, the
other two are 2.5-litre powered
and list at $44,990 and $50,990
respectively. Factor in the 2.5-litre
variants are four-wheel-drive, the
2-litre engine drives out the front
wheels only.
I’m scheduled into all three
variants, and I’m really looking
forward to the two remaining
drives – the CX-30 is a smart piece
of kit, and if you have read any of
my recent Mazda evaluations you’ll
notice that a pattern has developed,
I’m constantly saying the product
that is coming out of the Mazda
factories is high on quality and
desire.
My first drive was the mid-spec
model, and even though it doesn’t
get all the bells and whistles it will
still satisfy, I particularly like it for
its cloth trim, I don’t need leather.
It took me many years to fully
relate to the traditional sport utility
vehicle, and now I can certainly see
their appeal through functionality
and practicality, and you can’t help
but being impressed with the way
the CX-30 drives and handles, it
has form and function built into
every aspect.
Under the bonnet sits the fourcylinder
2488cc engine, there are
no surprises here, it is an engine
that has been utilised by Mazda
for several years in this form. It’s
part of a SkyActive range that has
been constantly upgraded and
engineered for maximum efficiency
both in terms of power outputs and
fuel efficiency.
It is rated with 139kW and
252Nm, both outputs realised at
traditional points in the rev band
– 6000 and 4000rpm respectively.
TRENDY: The Mazda CX-30 offers traditional sport utility
vehicle capacity.
CX-30: Comprehensive series that fits seamlessly into Mazda’s range of SUVs.
The engine is coupled to a sixspeed
automatic transmission,
also very traditional. But the
reality of this is that over time
and development the two main
engineering pieces work perfectly
together, the electronic mapping
between the two is fluid and, of
course, very smooth.
This engine works well in the
CX-30, of course it feels more
responsive than what it does in
the CX-5 because of the weight
difference between the two models,
the CX-30 feels feisty and vibrant,
responding willingly to throttle
application and is always hooked
into the right gearing.
The norm these days is to
incorporate driver-selectable
engine management modes and
the CX-30 is no exception,
although there is just a choice of
two, the default mode being
a normal setting which I use
almost always. There is also a
sport mode which is selfexplanatory,
it is there for when
overtaking opportunities present
themselves and it is also useful
for that long hill climb through
to Akaroa, it keeps the engine
working in the point of strength
and maximum delivery.
Mazda claim fuel usage figures
of 6.8-litres per 100km for the
2.5 engine on a combined cycle
average. I tried reaching that figure
• Price – Mazda CX-30 GTX,
$44,990
• Dimensions – Length,
4395mm; width, 1795mm;
height, 1540mm
• Configuration – Fourcylinder,
four-wheel-drive,
2488cc, 139kW, 252Nm,
six-speed automatic
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 9.3sec
• Fuel usage – 6.8l/100km
as a target but couldn’t quite get
there. When I took the evaluation
vehicle back to the dealership it
was listing at around 7.4l/100km,
which was promisingly close.
At 100km/h on the highway the
engine is quite relaxed working
away at 1900rpm, at that speed
it sips fuel instantaneously at the
rate of 6l/100km. That translates to
economical motoring if you are on
that long road trip.
As you would expect from a
company that has long had a
history of sports car development,
the CX-30 also handles with a
feel that is most unlike a tall sport
utility vehicle. Sure, at 1.54m there
is a bit of body movement, even
with moderate spring and damper
firming there is going to be some
gravitational transition, but it
is well arrested and occupants
aren’t lurched through directional
changes.
I took the evaluation on a burst
up and down the twists and turns
of the Waimakariri River gorge
road and it felt delightful with solid
turn-in and suspension freedom,
he latter garnered through the fourwheel
fully independent system.
Obviously it needs that design to
get drive to the rear wheels, but
the point I’m making is that the
suspension is quality through
and through and is the perfect
compromise between comfort and
handling ability.
It must also be pointed out that
four-wheel-drive also has on-seal
grip and handling benefits, the
CX-30 feels well attached to the
road surface and that is a key safety
ingredient. It works alongside the
suite of safety features that Mazda
has long developed in all of its
product range.
The CX-30 is far more than a
stretched CX-3, it draws on all the
fundamentals sport utility vehicles
require, and packages them in a
comprehensive range.
As much as I’m looking forward
to getting into the other variants,
I’m also a huge believer in the
CX-3.
The choice as a buyer must be
very complicated, but it’s great
to know that Mazda has all bases
covered.
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