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Mazda CX-30 review

2019 onwards (change model)
Parkers overall rating: 3.8 out of 53.8
” A compact SUV that sits firmly in the left field “

At a glance

Price new £25,415 - £37,315
Used prices £10,437 - £29,298
Road tax cost £190
Insurance group 12 - 21
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Fuel economy 40.4 - 50.4 mpg
Miles per pound 5.9 - 7.4
View full specs for a specific version

Available fuel types

Petrol

Pros & cons

PROS
  • Attractive exterior design
  • Well-built and highly equipped interior
  • Comfortable and good to drive
CONS
  • Engines need working hard
  • No diesel, full hybrid, PHEV or electric options
  • Interior not as practical as a SEAT Ateca's

Written by Jake Groves Updated: 10 August 2022

Overview

Mazda’s known for doing things a little differently with its cars, so it should come as no surprise that the CX-30 isn’t like most other compact SUVs. For starters, though it’s small enough to be a comparison with cars like the Peugeot 2008 or Ford Puma, it’s based on the underpinnings of a full-sized family hatchback rather than a supermini, which endows it with a grown-up character missing from many rivals.

The engine line-up’s curious too. No small-capacity turbocharged petrol engines here – you can choose from a pair of 2.0-litre units that don’t have turbochargers. What they do have are mild hybrid systems to boost economy and, in the case of the range-topping SkyActiv-X, an incredibly clever compression ignition system that allows it to burn petrol in a similar fashion to diesel.

The CX-30 certainly doesn’t follow the crowd, then, and sticks out in a rather marmite way. There’s less marmite in the cabin, which is the same as the Mazda 3 hatchback’s and therefore high-quality and intuitive to use.

But even here it’s not free of Mazda’s stubbornness – there’s no touchscreen infotainment system. Instead, the display’s set far back out of the driver’s reach and you interact with it via a rotary dial on the centre console. It’s great when you’re using Mazda’s own software, but a bit frustrating when you’re using the touchscreen-optimised Apple Carplay or Android Auto…

So the Mazda CX-30 won’t be for everybody, but that just means that for some it’ll be everything they want and more. Want to know more? Keep reading for our full review – covering what the Mazda CX-30 is like inside and out, how practical it is, how much it’ll cost you to run and what it’s like to drive.