Mazda CX-30

For the CX-30, Mazda has resorted to a minimalistic yet classy layout for the cabin, which easily makes it one of the most premium compact crossovers to be in. The all-black layout for the cabin is well-contrasted by silver bits at places, enriching the overall experience of the interior of the Mazda CX-30.

The Mazda CX-30 gets a simple-looking driver’s cockpit comprising a three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel and an all-analogue instrument console with three gauges placed side-by-side. We would have loved to see a more modern and colourful full-TFT instrument console in the Mazda CX-30, though. The centre console of the cabin looks clean and has a horizontal design for the rest of the dashboard. The upper part of the dashboard has a recessed area, where the free-standing 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system is placed within.

The broad-looking lower centre console of the Mazda CX-30 is bathed in a gloss black finish, while housing the transmission lever and various switches for other controls, including those of the audio system and climate control. Talking about the features, the Mazda CX-30 gets cruise control, rear AC vents, auto wipers and headlamps, an 8-speaker audio system and dual-zone automatic climate control.

There are no second opinions on the overall look and design of the Mazda CX-30, as it is one eye-catching attempt by the Japanese carmaker to attract everyone who looks at it. While it looks a bit squatted and not SUV-ish enough, there are some design elements which make the Mazda CX-30 look rugged and appealing to the eyes.

Mazdas are known for their elegant front-end designs, and the CX-30 follows the tradition by sharing much of its front profile with the rest of the offerings from the Japanese carmaker. The front grille here has a bold appeal, with a wide-mouthed grille in the middle having chrome garnish spread across its lower width. Even the slim-looking eyebrow-shaped headlamp clusters get chrome garnish below them, which is an extension of that below the grille. The rest of the front bumper looks clean and gets minimalist cladding at its bottom.

The Mazda CX-30 has a squatted stance when you look at it from the side, however, the thick-looking side body cladding over the rounded wheel arches and at the bottom of the door panels add a sense of ruggedness to the whole design. The sloping bonnet, curved haunches over the fenders, curved window frame and door-mounted rear view mirrors make the side profile of the Mazda CX-30 look sporty.

From the rear, the Mazda CX-30 has a nice-looking muscular appeal, thanks to the wide and curved design of the boot lid, backed by bird’s eye-shaped tail lamp clusters spread horizontally on the sides of the boot lid. The rear bumper also gets heavy-looking black cladding in its lower portion, which is an extension of the side body cladding over the wheel arches and door panels. The steeply-angled rear windscreen, roof-mounted spoiler and dual exhaust pipes add more sportiness to the overall design of the Mazda CX-30.

The Mazda CX-30 comes with the carmaker’s i-Activ all-wheel drive layout as standard. Backed by off-road traction assist and G-Vectoring control plus, which enhance the overall dynamics of the Mazda CX-30 on off-road terrains, the CX-30 is one of the most versatile to drive compact crossovers one can buy in its segment.

One of the most old-school powertrains in its segment, the Mazda CX-30 comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated petrol engine under its hood as standard. Paired with a conventional 6-speed torque converter, the petrol engine produces a maximum power output of 153 bhp and a maximum torque output of 200 Nm.

Apart from the essentials like the front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, front and rear parking sensors and rear camera, the Mazda CX-30 also gets an electronic parking brake, blind spot monitoring and rear-cross traffic alert.

While the Mazda CX-30 is one stunning crossover to look at, it also showcases its true potential with lovable driving dynamics on both on and off-road surfaces.