27 September 2023

Quirky Mazda Does The Job

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By Paul Gover.

Hooray for something different, very different, in the world of SUVs.

It’s the Mazda MX-30, which is closely related to the CX-3 and CX-30 but is named to link it also with the world’s favourite sports car, the MX-5.

So it’s a compact five-seater SUV, but with off-beat design touches all over the place, a mild hybrid powertrain, and premium pricing from $33,990.

The CX-30 will also soon become available in Australia with a battery-electric power-plant as Mazda’s first dedicated electric model in Australia and we’re expecting an expanded range of MX electric models into the future.

But most people will be drawn first to the car’s doors, which open like a clamshell to a reveal an eco-friendly interior with recycled materials for the seat trim and plastics, as well as cork tiling – but no pins for post-it notes – in the centre console.

It comes as Mazda reverts to its history of left-field cars and ideas, which have included everything from rotary engines to the RX-8 sports car which was the first model to have doors similar to the MX-30.

The hybrid drivetrain, which harvests braking energy which is then used to power the car’s electrical systems, unlike others which convert it into drive. So it’s a milder hybrid than something like a Toyota Prius, with the real action reserved for the full-electric model.

Even so, Mazda claims fuel economy of 6.4 litres/100 kilometres, a reasonable figure for a 2.0-litre combustion engine that turns the front wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Although it’s a Mazda, and has deep Mazda roots, the MX-30 is most like the pioneering BMW i3 electric car in its design work and eco-friendly finishing. The i3 also had clamshell doors and recycled materials, but failed to fire in Australia because it lacked electric range for anything but city runabout work and was also too costly.

The CX-30 is also priced with a premium, but picks up Mazda’s ‘zoom-zoom’ approach to driving with a reasonably perky powertrain and a sporty – for an SUV – ride and cornering grip.

It’s fully loaded with safety systems from the get-go, with more as you graduate from the basic Evolve through the Touring to the Astina at $40,990 as well as extra luxury touches.

The body is not as practical as it looks for, despite wide-opening doors, access to the back seat is not easy and you always have to open the front doors before you can open the rears. And the seat belts, which are mounted on the front doors, also cause complications.

But the overall design is refreshing in a world of me-too SUVs, with Mazda’s latest fresh take on the cabin layout and finishing with the instruments an infotainment system.

So it’s not the most practical SUV on sale today, but it’s one of the more enjoyable drives in the class and definitely steps out of the mainstream.

It promises to be even better as a fully-electric model.

MAZDA MX-30
Position: quirky compact hybrid SUV
Price: from $33,990
Engine: 2.0-litre petrol
Power: 114kW/200Nm
Transmission: 6-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Safety: 5-star ANCAP
Plus: distinctive looks, nice to drive
Minus: not a full hybrid, not cheap
THE TICK: not for everyone
Score: 8/10

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