MOTORISTS seeking a compact crossover should check out the Mazda CX-30 – because it really is as good as it looks.
As well as having immense kerb appeal, the upmarket Japanese marque’s family-sized vehicle boasts a classy, hi-tech cabin and refined yet engaging driving characteristics.
And it is competitively priced, too. I’ve recently been driving the CX-30 in high-end GT Sport trim with the firm’s excellent e-Skyactiv X engine under the bonnet and was amazed to find it was priced from just £30,405 on the road.
The flowing and dynamic styling of the car – a feature of many Mazdas – immediately drew admiring, envious comments from my neighbours.
A large gloss black grille is framed by slimline headlights linked by a swooping chrome wing design and topped by a long bonnet with muscular creases that hint at the power beneath.
Side on, the steeply raked windscreen, sloping roofline and gliding bodywork lines add a sense of sportiness, as do the 18in bright alloy wheels. The hints of potency are further enhanced at the rear by a gloss black spoiler, slimline lights and two large chrome tailpipes.
Meanwhile, black cladding all around the lower level of the CX-30 adds that essential crossover appearance of robustness.
Open the door of the GT Sport and you are greeted by a sumptuous interior with swathes of black leather along with some rich brown leather accents.
There’s a definite driver focus to the layout at the front of the cabin – with the likes of the 8.8in infotainment screen angled towards the motorist and its controls handily placed in the centre console.
The driving position also adds to the sportiness, with a feeling of being cocooned in the cockpit, while the instrument panel features three large round dials as well as a seven-inch colour driving display.
Also helping those at the wheel to concentrate on the road ahead is a windscreen-projected head-up display that includes traffic sign recognition and navigation instructions.
The back seats are ideal for either three younger kids or two adults. Aiding a sense of airiness in the test car is a powered sunroof.
The 422-litre boot, accessed by a powered tailgate, is good for a couple of suitcases and holdalls, while folding the rear seats offers 1398 litres of space.
The latest Mazda Connect infotainment system is much better than previous generations and includes intelligent sat nav, full smartphone integration and DAB radio. It is linked to a superb 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system.
Other goodies to be found on the GT Sport include keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, auto lights (including adaptive LED headlights), rain sensing wipers, dual-zone air con, heated front seats and steering wheel, and a power-adjusted driver’s seat.
Safety and driver aids are impressive, too, including auto emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, driver attention alert, lane keep assist, intelligent speed assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a reversing camera.
Mazda Connected Services allows you to use a smartphone app to carry out a number of functions such as locating the car, remotely locking it, setting up route planning and requesting Mazda roadside assistance.
Another feature I appreciated was the electronic parking brake with auto-hold and auto-disengage functions.
My test car came with Mazda’s mild-hybrid 2.0-litre petrol engine developing 186PS and driving the front wheels – four-wheel-drive variants are available, if you wish.
Mated to a precise, slick-shifting, six-speed, manual gearbox, the powertrain can push the CX-30 to 62mph in just 8.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 127mph.
But the mild-hybrid gubbins and clever SPCCI fuel efficiency system mean that this crossover can still officially average 49.6mpg – a figure I got pretty close to – with CO2 levels pegged back to just 128g/km.
Driving the Mazda around the hills south of Glasgow, through Ayrshire towns and along stretches of the M77 motorway, I found it to be a nimble performer.
Aside from good acceleration and cruising capability, the steering and braking were reassuringly responsive, while the levels of grip meant I felt able to take corners with confidence.
The ride was also very smooth, with barely any engine or road noise, and the suspension did a great job of ironing out all the lumps and bumps.
I can genuinely say that I got out of the CX-30 with a smile on my face after every journey I made during my week in its thoroughly enjoyable company.
