Automotive

Published on July 19th, 2019 | by Subhash Nair

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How does the Mazda CX-30 Fit in the Picture?

Earlier this week, Mazda detailed their European specification CX-30. Bermaz’s comments during the Mazda3 launch on Wednesday indicate that the CX-30 may end being locally-assembled here instead of the 3. So let’s explore just what the CX-30 is and how it might be specced.

What is the CX-30 within Mazda?

The CX-30 breaks Mazda’s naming conventions and is understandably a difficult car to place. It sits between the CX-3 and CX-5, but isn’t named the CX-4 because that name already belongs to a Chinese-domestic market vehicle. Unlike the current CX-3 and CX-5, the CX-30 is built upon the same new-generation SkyActiv platform. In that sense, it’s better to think of the CX-30 as a crossover variant of the Mazda 3 Hatchback.

If all that was confusing, here’s a visual representation of their smaller SUVs:

Rear view

CX-3
CX-30
CX-4
CX-5

Front view

CX-3
CX-30
CX-4
CX-5

Side

CX-3
CX-30
CX-4
CX-5

Dimensions Comparison

The figures in (brackets) show you which vehicle has the highest value. (1 is highest, 4 is lowest).

Mazda CX-3

Wheelbase2,570 mm (4)
Length4,275 mm (4)
Width1,765 mm (4)
Height1,550 mm (2)

Mazda CX-30

Wheelbase2,655 mm (3)
Length4,395 mm (3)
Width1,795 mm (3)
Height1,540 mm (3)

Mazda CX-4

Wheelbase2,700 mm (1)
Length4,633 mm (1)
Width1,840 mm (2)
Height1,530–1,535 mm (4)

Mazda CX-5 (2nd gen)

Wheelbase2,698 mm (2)
Length4,550 mm (2)
Width1,842 mm (1)
Height1,680 mm (1)

As you can see, the CX-4 is a bit of an outlier that upsets the structure of Mazda’s small-to-mid sized SUVs. It has the longest wheelbase and length but its wagon-like design makes it shorter than the CX-3 and narrower than CX-5. Calling it a CX-6 (or calling the CX-3 the CX-2) may have been a better option and would have allowed the CX-30 to fit into a more comfortable place in the nomenclature.

What about pricing?

In Malaysia, here’s how the relevant Mazdas are priced:

  • Mazda CX-3 – RM128k (2-litre, B-segment, CBU)
  • Mazda CX-5 – RM132k-174k (2-litre, 2.5-litre, 2.2-litre diesel, C-segment, CKD)
  • Mazda3 – RM139k-160k (1.5-litre, 2-litre, C-segment, CBU)

In Europe, the CX-30 is being offered with either Skyactiv-X or a mild hybrid system. These are extreme high-tech powertrains, but there’s a chance it might just come here with the standard 2-litre that we’re familiar with here. We know that European emissions regulations are forcing a lot of Japanese manufacturers to provide these more expensive engines, but we also know Malaysians prefer more proven technology. Our money is on the Skyactiv-G 2-litre, based on the fact that even the CBU Mazda3 (which is similar to the CX-30) comes with that engine.

If that’s the case, we can expect it to perhaps surplant the CX-3 and base model CX-5 in pricing.

If we’re wrong and Bermaz goes all out with Skyactiv-X here, they might push into more premium territory with CX-30 pricing as they seem to have done with the Mazda3 justified based on its look and feel.

Who are the CX-30’s competitors?

While the Mazda CX-3 (which is more closely related to the Mazda2) is often seen as a little too small to take on the Subaru XV, Honda HR-V, and Toyota C-HR, the CX-30 will have no such problem. In other markets, it goes up against the new Mitsubishi Eclipse SUV as well.

As we mentioned earlier, the CX-30 comes with some of the most high-tech powertrain options to be seen out of Japan. SkyActiv-X itself is a revolutionary new way of burning petrol, so it’s a more sophisticated and premium SUV than its peers.


About the Author

Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.



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