Mazda is bridging the gap between the CX-5 and CX-3 with the CX-30. And if you're wondering why they didn't give it the obvious name, there's already a CX-4 that is sold in China.
The plastic cladding on the rather neat crossover calls for a proper chunky appeal despite the fact its off-road skills probably won't stretch any further than a muddy field. We believe Mazda when it says that this car “targets greater styling prestige through the elegance and purity of a minimalist aesthetic inspired by the purest traditions of Japanese art and the beauty of space between objects.” The front-fascia as we know will be directly pulled from the Mazda 6 sedan while the rear derives design cues from the CZ-9 and 3 sedan.
The inside, unlike the outside, carries a user-friendly vibe. Four adults can be seated without any hassle along with their luggage in the 430-litre boot. An 8.8-inch infotainment system dominates the dash alongside an optional 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Mazda has decided to keep the powertrain options as simple as possible. The new CX-30 comes with a full range of Skyactiv petrol engines that will migrate into the CX-30 alongside the new M-Hybrid system that sees all cars get a small electric motor and battery to assist the internal combustion engine. Hence, you can expect the 2.0-litre inline-four petrol engine to be coupled with a mild-hybrid system.
The CX-30 is set to arrive with an optional all-wheel drive which we think could sway some loyal Subaru owners. There has not been a final word on the output figures of the new CX-30, but the company, which the company will unveil later this year when the car hits the showrooms.
