Bay Harbour: July 15, 2020

PAGE 18 Wednesday July 15 2020
BAY HARBOUR
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Mazda expands its SUV line-up
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
Ferrymead
Slime
by David Walliams, Tony Ross
The new children’s book from No. 1
bestselling author David Walliams – a
fantastically funny tale illustrated by
artistic genius, Tony Ross.
WELCOME TO THE ISLE OF MULCH…
This little island is home to a large
number of horrible grown-ups. The
school, the local park, the toy shop and
even the island’s ice-cream van are all run
by awful adults who like nothing more than
making children miserable. And the island
is owned by the most awful one of all – Aunt
Greta Greed!
Something needs to be done about them.
But who could be brave enough?
Meet Ned – an extraordinary boy with a special power. SLIMEPOWER!
KIdS
ENTER TO
The World’s Worst Parents
by David Walliams, Tony Ross
Millions of young readers have loved the World’s Worst Children tales
and revelled in the World’s Worst Teachers with their delightfully dreadful
deeds – now prepare for…THE WORLD’S WORST PARENTS! From the
phenomenally bestselling David Walliams and illustrated in glorious
colour by the artistic genius, Tony Ross.
Are you ready to meet the worst parents ever?
Sure, some parents are embarrassing – but they’re NOTHING on this
lot. These ten tales of the world’s most spectacularly silly mums and
deliriously daft dads will leave you rocking with laughter.
Pinch your nose for Peter Pong, the man with the stinkiest feet in the
world… jump out of the way of Harriet Hurry, the fastest mum on two
wheels… watch out for Monty Monopolize, the dad who takes all his
kids’ toys… and oh no, it’s Supermum! Brandishing a toilet brush, a
mop and a very bad homemade outfit…
WIN THIS BOOK
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 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.
WIN
THIS BOOK
childrens
books
We have one copy of Slime to give away, courtesy of Take Note Ferrymead. To be in the draw, email
giveaways@starmedia.kiwi with Slime in the subject line or write to Take Note Book Giveaway, Slime Star
Media, PO Box 1467, Christchurch 8140. To be eligible for the draw, all entries must include your name,
address and contact number. Entries close Tuesday, July 28, 2020. The book winner for Broken is Kerry
Newton of Sumner.
CX-30: Comprehensive series that fits seamlessly into Mazda’s
range of SUVs.
It is rated with 139kW and
252Nm, both outputs realised at
traditional points in the rev band –
6000 and 4000rpm respectively. The
engine is coupled to a six-speed
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
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
• 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
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.
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.