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Midway Mazda CX-30 ups SUV standards

Peter AtkinsonAAP
The Mazda CX-30 has slotted neatly between stablemates CX-3 and Cx-5 and quickly found favour.
Camera IconThe Mazda CX-30 has slotted neatly between stablemates CX-3 and Cx-5 and quickly found favour.

Think of a number between three and five.

Okay, did you come up with 30? Neither did I.

Strange, because that's the number Mazda came up with.

The high-flying Japanese brand's newest, compact SUV, sits midway between the sharp-looking CX-3 and its strong-selling big brother, the CX-5.

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A CX-4, you might expect. Nope. This one is called the CX-30.

OK, they might not be great at mathematics, but the clever people at Mazda's Hiroshima headquarters certainly know how to design and build great cars. And the CX-30 is one of them. It's just won one of Australia's best-known car awards - the Wheels Magazine Car of the Year - and quite deservedly so.

And that out-of-sequence name even starts to make sense when you drive the CX-30.

Size-wise it sits midway between the CX-3 and CX-5 but it's fundamentally a very different machine than those two SUVs.

It's sleeker, rides lower and, oddly enough, feels more like a wagon (you remember them) than its SUV roots would indicate.

It also brings some new Mazda DNA to the market - like the very posh, wrap-around, driver-focused cockpit. It features an upgraded digital display screen, integrated nicely into the very plush, fully-upholstered dash (which also houses a smart head-up display for the driver).

Mazda says the interior benefits from "ergonomic driver research" used to create a "human-centric cabin", which sounds like marketing-speak but has some foundation in fact.

It's the second all-new Mazda model (the new 3 was the first) to adopt the theory and it certainly delivers a calming, luxurious feel. It even learns to recognise the driver's face and to issue an alert if it detects signs of fatigue on extended trips. The technology is being gradually rolled out to all Mazda models as they're updated.

The CX-30 will be offered in four trim levels - Pure, Evolve, Touring and Astina - and with a choice of 2-litre or 2.5-litre SkyACTIV four-cylinder engines - each coupled to a six-speed auto. The bigger engine is only offered on the two higher-spec variants.

We tested the mid-range G20 Evolve, with the less potent of the two engines and a fairly modest price of $32,990 plus on road costs.

While no doubt the bigger engine (139kW, 252Nm) would deliver a sportier driving experience, the G20 offered more than adequate performance and nicely balanced and serene road manners.

The CX-30 range starts a tick under $30-grand and extends to the flagship Astina AWD at $43,490 plus on-roads.

Standard equipment on all models includes satellite navigation and 22cm Mazda Connect infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay. A strong electronic suite includes blind-spot monitoring, smart brake support, traffic sign recognition and radar cruise control.

More expensive models enjoy 360-degree view monitor, cruising and traffic support, cross traffic alert and driver monitoring. Creature comforts stretch to leather trim - in black or white - while lesser models get cloth seats.

Even in our cheaper variant, the Mazda's quietness and refinement suggested a car with a substantially bigger price tag.

Ride wise, the CX-30 has raised the bar on its SUV siblings as well, with that sleeker design and lower ride-height meaning smooth, flat handling.

The engine is quiet and free spinning and while its performance is modest (114kW, 200Nm) , it's a willing device that gets the car up and rolling without fuss or unnecessary noise. Rather than accelerate strongly, it brings a gradual build-up of speed and a gliding, flowing experience on the road.

It feels solid and nicely resolved at highway speeds, too.

Despite its slinky design, interior space is pretty decent, although the cargo hatch feels a little under-sized when compared to the CX-5.

Which still leaves one question unanswered. Why call it a CX-30, rather than CX-4?

Well, Mazda's numerical sequencing had to face the facts at some point. Their range already includes most of the single digits with the Mazda2, 3 and 6, complemented by SUVs like the CX-3, 5, (former) 7, 8 and 9.

But the CX-30? Hmmm.

I guess we can forgive them in this case. Because even if the numbers don't quite stack up, it's an impressively good thing.

MAZDA CX-30

* HOW BIG: It sits midway between the small CX-3 and mid-sized CX-5, but with a sleek design probably doesn't feel as roomy inside.

* HOW FAST? We drove the modest-powered G20 (four cylinders, 2 litres) but the bigger 2.5-litre engine would make for more urgent performance. It's perfectly enjoyable in its basic form.

* HOW THIRSTY? Sipping just 6.4L/100km it comes close to matching the Mazda3, with which this car shares much of its running gear.

* HOW MUCH? Entry-level models start just below $30-grand, while the full-spec Astina will set you back $43,490. We'd happily settle for our $32,990 option (which includes a $1500 Vision pack).

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