Review - 2024 Mazda CX-30

Within the CX-30 range, though, there are two different engine options and a stack of different variants, which means it can be difficult to pin down your best options, especially if you’re on a budget.

Let's take a closer look at the latest MY24 CX-30 lineup to see how it stacks up against its rivals and which variant is the pick of the bunch.

Mazda CX-30 Competition

Starting Price: $32,990

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How Much Does It Cost?

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 range is priced from $32,990 for the entry-level G20 Pure, while the G20 Evolve is priced at $34,690. Stepping up to the G20 Touring brings the price to $38,690 while the G20 Astina is priced at $43,890.

Opting for the more powerful CX-30 G25 lineup brings the price to $40,190 for the G25 Touring, up to $42,190 for the G25 GT SP and up to $44,190 for the GT SP AWD.

Finally, the range-topping Mazda CX-30 G25 Astina is priced at $45,390.

Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change and do not include on-road costs.

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Mazda CX-30 - G25 GT SP (FWD) Specifications

What Features Does the Mazda CX-30 Have?

Mazda’s entry-level G20 Pure comes riding on a set of 16-inch alloys and receives automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever, a rear-view camera with rear parking sensors, a head-up display, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto paired with an eight-speaker sound system.

Stepping up to the CX-30 Evolve adds a set of 18-inch alloys, dual-zone climate control, wheel-mounted paddle shifters and a folding armrest in the rear of the cabin.

Mazda’s CX-30 Touring picks up keyless entry, black leather upholstery, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front parking sensors, a wireless charging pad, 10-way power adjustable driver’s seat and wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto.

The new CX-30 GT SP receives 18-inch alloys, a panoramic sunroof, burgundy leather upholstery with heated front seats and steering heel, an upgraded 10.25-inch infotainment display and some black styling enhancements.

Finally, the range-topping CX-30 Astina picks up adaptive LED headlights, a powered boot lift, a surround-view monitor, black leather upholstery and a frameless rear-view mirror atop some added safety equipment.

Range Features:

• 16-inch alloys 

• LED headlights 

• Adaptive cruise control 

• Cloth upholstery with leather-wrapped steering wheel & gear lever 

• Rear-view camera with rear parking sensors 

• 8.8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• 18-inch alloys (Evolve) 

• Black leather upholstery (Touring) 

• Front parking sensors (Touring) 

• Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto 

• Panoramic sunroof (GT SP) 

• Burgundy leather upholstery with heated seats & steering wheel (GT SP) 

• 10.25-inch infotainment system (GT SP) 

• Adaptive LED headlights (Astina) 

• Powered boot lift (Astina) 

• Surround-view monitor (Astina)

Is the Mazda CX-30 Comfortable to Drive?

Comfort and user-friendliness around town has always been a top priority for buyers in the small SUV space, and in this respect, the CX-30 is a strong performer.

Under the compact SUV bodywork, the CX-30 is based on the Mazda 3 platform, which is renowned for its ease of driving and nimble handling that makes it a heavy hitter around town.

Under the bonnet, the CX-30 is available with a choice of two powertrains, with the base model picking up a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol pushing out 114kW of power and 200Nm of torque and a front-wheel drive layout.

Acceleration in the base model is leisurely, to say it kindly, with Mazda’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder (G25) offering a much more respectable push thanks to the 139kW of power and 252Nm that proves itself as a wise investment on the road.

The G25 is also available in an all-wheel-drive format that adds some stability in bad weather conditions and loose surfaces, with both picking up a silky-smooth six-speed automatic transmission.

Around town, the CX-30 feels agile, zippy and super confident thanks to its narrow wheelbase and Mazda’s expertise with the Mazda 3-based platform.

That means it’s super easy to navigate traffic and squeeze into tight car parks thanks to the lightweight steering and the petite proportions that make it truly user-friendly around town.

The CX-30’s suspension package handles small and moderate bumps with confidence while remaining nice and smooth at highway speeds thanks to a solid suspension package underneath.

All up, the CX-30 is a strong performer on a mix of town and country roads while offering all the user-friendly hallmarks that compact SUV buyers are looking for, albeit with a boring entry-level engine that might be worth upgrading if you’re after some decent acceleration.

Is it Fuel Efficient?

Mazda has removed the previous mild-hybrid engine options within the CX-30 range, which means it fails to keep up with some of its most fuel-efficient, hybridised rivals in the compact SUV segment.

Having said that, the CX-30’s engine range is impressively fuel-efficient for a non-hybrid unit, returning fuel economy figures between 6.3L/100km in the base model that top-out at 6.8L/100km in the G25 AWD.

• G20 2.0-litre four-cylinder FWD: 6.3L/100km 

• G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder FWD: 6.6L/100km 

• G25 2.5-litre four-cylinder AWD: 6.8L/100km

Is it Practical and Spacious?

Like all small SUV packages, the main event inside the CX-30’s cabin is reserved for those sitting in the front, rather than the rear.

Having said that, the CX-30 confidently asserts itself atop the leaderboard when it comes to the design, quality and finish of the interior layout which looks impressively premium, even in the base model.

Up front, the driver and front passenger have a decent amount of space to stretch out and find a comfortable driving position, while visibility is decent enough to give you confidence of your surroundings.

The CX-30’s cabin looks and feels remarkably premium, with the sleek layout benefitting from a range of practical touches that give its stylish cabin some substantive storage options.

Behind the gear lever sits a storage tray for smartphones and loose items which, combined with the cup holders, sizable bottle holders inside the door pockets and added storage inside the folding armrest can swallow up loose items.

Move to the rear of the CX-30 and things get more cramped, though there’s just enough legroom for adults to sit in the rear, while headroom is far more plentiful than the smaller CX-3 compact SUV.

The second row of the cabin folds in a 60:40 arrangement and picks up air vents and a pair of ISOFIX anchors and top tether mounts to accommodate child seats without a problem.

In terms of cargo storage, the CX-30 has a boot measuring in at 317L, which isn’t groundbreaking for the segment, though capacity expands to a more respectable 430L when you factor in the added storage underneath the boot floor.

Is the Mazda CX-30 Safe?

The Mazda CX-30 has been awarded a five-star ANCAP safety rating after scoring the following results during testing in 2019.

• Adult Occupant Protection: 99% 

• Child Occupant Protection: 88% 

• Vulnerable Road User Protection: 80% 

• Safety Assist: 76%

As standard, the entry-level CX-30 is packed with forward and reverse autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, lane-departure alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, blind-spot monitoring and tyre pressure monitoring.

Stepping up to the CX-30 Touring adds a set of front-mounted parking sensors, while the Astina picks up a surround-view monitor, driver attention alerts, cruising and traffic support and front cross-traffic alerts.

Our Verdict: Is the Mazda CX-30 Worth it?

If you’re looking for a more premium take on the small SUV bodyshape, the Mazda CX-30 remains one of the leading options in the segment.

We found Mazda’s base engine to be quite uninspiring, which means a move to the more powerful G25 engine may prove a wise investment if you’re after some more decent acceleration.

All up, though, the CX-30 handles extremely well on a drive around town and a long-distance highway cruise, making it a great and versatile compact SUV package for Australian roads.

Don’t forget - if you’re looking to upgrade to a new car, be sure to reach out to one of our car-buying experts who can help find you the best possible price.

Five Specs You Need to Know

1. Five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 
2. 12-month/15,000km service intervals
3. Two engines available with 6.3 - 6.8L/100km fuel economy figures 
4. 317L boot (430L including underfloor storage) 
5. Five-star ANCAP safety rating