Mazda CX-30 FWD (2020-2026)
Also referred to as: Mazda CX-30 FWD 2025 and Mazda CX-30 FWD 2027.18 reviews
- See all
I got this car last month to replace my recently bought Corolla (long story) and really like driving it. I had found the hybrid Corolla surprisingly low on the road, and to get into, even though it was a dream to drive. Decided to go "local" for… Read more
my next car and obvs wanted a higher ground clearance one...I got the Pure from Medlow Bath Mazda as it had everything I really wanted. No separate climate control, but I could live without that! It works perfectly, is very smooth and quiet on the road, the technology works well (although the voice control is not as good as Toyota's and needs a few extra commands) and is reasonable on petrol use. I had initially wanted a hybrid because they're whisper-quiet and they do double the distance before tank refill, but I since discovered that the batteries have a finite lifespan and are very costly to replace - so I was quite happy to go back to petrol! This is a perfect sized car for me, not too small and not too big. The only drawback is the low-set passenger seat, but it doesn't really affect me.
Follow-up · This is a September follow-up; I’m still extremely happy with the car. Many of my friends are farmers and live along deeply rutted tracks, which this car just about copes with without grinding out. The tank is big enough at 51 litres but I can’t pretend petrol use - on shorter trips - is anything spectacular, but it’s no worse than most cars. … Read more
We are very happy with our new Mazda from Artarmon Mazda. Philip Lee was very helpful, knowledgeable and no pressure. Wonderful - Thank you. Show details
Great reliable car for the money – Great reliable car for the money I bought the Astina G25 for 32k used with 18k on the odo back in late 2021 and so far it has been absolutely amazing. The good: - Responsive engine and comfortable ride - Amazing sound system - Android auto support The bad: - I hate the piano panel in the center console, it scratches easily - Fuel economy is not… Read more
the best without a turbo engine option - Had to replace the battery after just 2years of usage, apparently it's a common problem with these models
Equally good and bad – PROS .Just bought the top of the range 3023 Mazda cx30.very nice car to drive.interior nicely built.very good Bose speaker system. CONS.too much bare plastic has been slapped on exterior.expect little trim of plastic but the whole rear bumper is cheap looking plastic and around the whole car.soon car will be sold with no paint work.if it is a… Read more
base model maybe ok.when purchasing a top line Mazda expect all the bells and whistles but, no wireless charger,no wireless apple CarPlay,no roof rail.and the service interval 12month 10000km compare to other Mazdas 12month 15000km
Software – Just bought CX30 Mazda went in for 1000km service told them some problems with Satnav got told it was to do with software and the CX5 and CX30 have the same problem waiting on Mazda Australia reply. Show details
- +8
Simply a raised Mazda 3...and that's a good thing! – This is by far one of the most surprising cars I’ve driven in recent memory. Here I thought I was jumping into something cheap and somewhat cheerful. Instead, I jumped into a car that impressed me so much that I could only label it as ‘affordable luxury’. For an affordable small SUV, you’d expect this car to cheap out a little in quality. In… Read more
true Mazda fashion, it does not. Sure, there are some cheaper materials thrown around this car. But even though you might not like those massive plastic wheel arches, they are all assembled with great accuracy.
A highlight for me was the blue leather trim that is stitched inside this car. It doesn't just feel stuck on but properly integrated into the car, increasing the perceived quality of this SUV.
The CX-30 G20e Evolve M Hybrid is priced from $40,872 drive-away. It’s not just the mild-hybrid motor you’re getting in return. You’re also getting keyless entry/exit and start/stop, a 360° parking camera, a 10-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, front cross traffic alert, cruising and traffic support, driver monitoring and front parking sensors.
This Mazda comes with a 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty. You can either prepay $1151 for 3 years of services or $1641 for 5 years. Service intervals are every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first.
What was wildly impressive was the cabin isolation here.
I’m not sure if it was an increase in sound deadening or the high window belt line, but you really feel like you’re in a sound bubble traveling in the CX-30.
This quiet ride doesn’t match the price, in a good way. The base audio system also works well to fill the cabin despite not being the all time best system you can get from Mazda.
The CX-30 provides a flat driving experience when you press down on that brake pedal. I adore Mazda’s ability to engineer cars that brake this smoothly, regardless of the price.
It’s an extremely comfortable car to operate in traffic, and has autonomous emergency braking on board too.
Annoyingly, Mazda persists in keeping their base engines free of any turbochargers. That means this 2.0L naturally aspirated petrol four-cylinder requires a little more convincing to squeeze more torque out of it.
Attached to this engine is a mild-hybrid system, which allows the CX-30 to achieve better fuel economy and make the most of deceleration.
Nonetheless, you’re getting 114kW (152hp) and 200Nm being sent to the front wheels exclusively. You’ll need to rev this motor up to get that peak power.
It’s not a quick car, but by dropping any additional induction, you have a fairly responsive motor.
Mazda’s traditional 6-speed torque converter automatic offers smooth shifting and I found it to be relatively flawless.
I never really needed to shift my own gears, but the option was there in the form of paddle shifters or by using the gear selector itself.
Mazda’s chassis dynamics in the CX-30 feel far more premium than this car has any business feeling like. You sit down in the car, so you already have a commanding driving position. A flat bottom throttle helps modulate power smoothly. You feel the car move through corners, rather than lean and wallow like you’d expect it to.
For daily driving, this is a plush feeling SUV thanks to dialled in suspension and large tyre walls.
Look, this really isn’t a proper hybrid. It’s a replacement system for the alternator that returns minor fuel savings. It’s no traditional hybrid, but rather a way to power electronics that are usually powered by petrol by using regenerative braking.
The claimed fuel consumption is 6.3L per 100km. I saw figures just above 7L per 100km during my tests. It’s cheap to fuel up, as it’ll accept 91 octane.
Immediately, you notice just how low you sit in this cabin. There isn’t a lot of light that comes into the cabin here, but I don’t think that’s the worst thing either.
You feel less like you’re riding around in a fishbowl for everyone to see in. Despite being offered with cloth seats only, I loved the blue leather touches throughout this cabin. The look and layout of the buttons in this cabin feels more premium than other similarly priced SUVs.
The steering wheel design is top notch, along with the integration of both infotainment and driver displays. You won’t get any fingerprints on that centre screen, as it’s not a touch screen - that might be annoying for some.
There’s only 317L of boot space here with all the seats folded up. You can get a bit more by folding the 60/40 split seats, but you’re not benefiting from this being an ‘SUV’ if storage is your priority.
You’re also getting a spare tyre and everything you need to change one underneath the boot floor.
I found the front seats to offer supreme comfort, partly due to how the cloth seats were cushioned and how smoothly this car drove.
The rear seats are fine for adults, and have easy access for parents needing to throw some car seats in the back.
If your budget is set for sub $40,000, you should check out the CX-30. I thought it seemed like a boring option on paper, and couldn’t really see the appeal, but that was before I drove it.
After spending some time with this car, I found it to be more than just another affordable SUV option. The attention to detail in every aspect of this car was something that stood out for me. I found it pleasant to engage with and drive. If you’re after that premium SUV feel on a budget, I think you have one of the best options here with the CX-30.
*Disclaimer - I work for ProductReview as their independent car and motorbike expert. I borrow new cars and motorbikes from manufacturers and owners to review. I am not paid or incentivised by these brands to post reviews. I write and create content to provide insight and information about any new or used vehicle I can get my hands on.
Ideal small SUV for city driving – Bought this car new in May 2023 and have not regretted the choice. It has all the bells and whistles & it's very comfortable and easy to drive. Has all the safety features which I am finding very helpful especially when driving in Sydney traffic. Easy to park & maneuver in narrow city streets and shopping centres. Love the soul red colour which… Read more
looks great on this car & is also easy to see. The boot space is adequate for me and my family & closes automatically at the push of a button situated on the boot which will lock the whole car too if needed. There have not been any issues with this car and I love driving it.
Excellent for two people – 12 months at 22.5k later, completely impressed. I consider myself a car bloke, and I keep coming back to Mazda. This is my wife's car, so it has to be car park friendly, yet be comfortable for a 1000km trip to see her parents. Not one thing has gone wrong. I have used only 2 mechanics in 24 years, and when the last one retired, I crossed my… Read more
fingers and had the Mazda dealer do the 20k service, and even they were acceptable. In a regional town, not the big smoke, mind you. I agree with Mazda about the screen. Our other vehicle has a touch screen and its feckin' dangerous. Your attention is continually pulled from the (country) road whilst you carefully make a selection. The Mazda way is far safer. Yes, it's a bit small in the back for my 18 yo 6 foot tall son, but he drives himself and almost never rides with us anyway. Neither does his older sister. After trying other vehicles with active drive support e.g. lane keep assist and the like, Mazda has the tech side bang on. I was incredibly frustrated with the chimes, beeps and assertive steering forces in the Korean marques. You might like it, but it's a deal breaker for me. I have owned Holdens, Fords, Toyotas, Isuzu and Nissans, but I keep deciding on Mazda. My son's Mazda 3 is 16 years old. We bought it new and it hasn't put a foot wrong. My daughter's Mazda 2 is 13 years old .Same result. I flogged the hell out of a Ford Laser ( ford Australia assembled mazda 323)in my 20s, it was excellent . The Mazda diesel farm ute I learned on did 450,000 kms before it gave up the ghost . Farm miles are much harder on a vehicle . This is where my trust in Mazda comes from. Like Toyota, they are worthy of your trust.
A few annoying shortfalls – Nice looking car nice design but ..... 1. Brakes pedal require more force to respond compare to other cars... 2. Back seat good for kids... not for adults.. you hit your head each time you get in and out.. leg room hardly any. 3. Driver side mirror is enlarging giving false judgment of distance. 4. No touch screen, the wheel selection… Read more
system is too complicated takes longer time to set up the GPS. 4. Chrome fittings on the steering wheel are so bright. On a clear day they reflect too much like a light torch right in your face. 5. The Auto Transmission not as smooth too long time revving in lower gear before it switches to higher gears. no difference in sport or standard (off)
Make sure you check these before you part of your hard earned cash.
- +2
A great spacious and economical SUV with more safety features than most cars on the market! – The Mazda CX-30 became available in early 2020 and I was one of the lucky people to purchase one early. After test driving the Mazda 3 and other SUVs, I was highly impressed with the Mazda CX-30 for many reasons. Firstly, the car is easy to drive, smooth and comfortable, with plenty of space inside so that passengers are comfortable as well. I… Read more
often have 2 booster seats in the back and there is plenty of room. I also like the extra height for an SUV compared to a Mazda 3 sedan. I use the car for commuting to work, as well as for road trips with my family and it is always a comfortable and smooth drive.
Secondly, the safety features give me the peace of mind to know that the car is equipped with multiple airbags, safety breaking features, radial cruise control, deviation sensors etc. when I drive it daily to work and on long road trips.
Thirdly, the car is economical to drive, especially on highways and travelling long distances. It is comfortable for up to 4 people in it and still with sufficient boot space, however, it would not deem suitable for a family car with young children where prams and bags are needed. The boot space is great and the back seats can be put down to transport bikes and long items.
The only negative features of the car I have found are: the layout of the controls and vents on the dashboard isn't well thought-out, the air conditioning is not very efficient or strong enough on very hot days, the modelling of the dashboard makes it difficult to install any kind of mobile phone holder/carrier and the dial control is a bit cumbersome to use for navigation. Also, the switches on the steering wheel for the entertainment features aren't very precise and will often change the channel when you're trying to turn the volume up or down.
Overall, a very efficient and safe car to drive, which is spacious and comfortable, giving a smooth and enjoyable drive. I have had random drivers call out to say what a nice car it is when I've been driving it, especially after a car wash! I think the metallic red gives it that amazing appearance! It is a very aesthetically nice-looking car!
Beautiful car, very, very happy – I bought my CX30 G20 Touring in Pearl White from City Mazda in Adelaide in mid-November 2021 and collected it just before Christmas, due to a shipping delay, not doubt COVID-related. I've waiting for a few months to be able to provide a review of what it is like to live with this car. Coming from a Honda HRV, I find that this has much better… Read more
performance and is exceptionally quiet. You can hear the engine a little from take off, but once underway, it is virtually silent. The sound deadening is exceptional. The transmission is very smooth and it has no problems going up hills etc.
I've read on various forums that people were unhappy with the airconditioning performance. Perhaps the model I have has been upgraded? I found it almost too cold on a hot Adelaide summer's day, with the climate control set to 22.5C. Sometimes, I need to override the auto-fan setting and turn the fan down as it's just too cold. It also seems to cool the car down much more quickly than the system in the Honda, but without the hurricane-like rush of air that happened in the HRV. Rear passengers also appreciate the additional air vents.
The car is more than adequate for a couple of people and their shopping etc, with room enough for the occasional passengers travelling in the back. No, it wouldn't be ideal for a family of five for an interstate road trip, but then again, no car in this class/size would be any better. I often need to take my quite elderly mother to the shops etc., and her walker fits easily into the the boot. She also finds it much easier to get into the car compared to the HRV... perhaps it has something to do with the door aperture?
All in all, I'm very, very pleased with the car and can highly recommend it. It's my second Mazda and, so far, it has proven to be completely reliable. There are many safety and convenience features and these are easy to use. I've found the dial to control the screen very natural to use after a couple of weeks and it's better than a touch screen as you don't get finger marks all over it. The heads up display is also excellent.
City Mazda were terrific to deal with - there was no sales pressure and Nick took his time to explain all the features of the vehicle at the time of delivery. I've only had the complimentary 1,000km service, but this was also done efficiently and on time.
8 Months and I am without the car – My 8 months old Mazda CX30 has been broken. This morning it started shaking and gave different messages like: Engine Malfunction. Have the Vehicle Inspected. I tried Mazda Hornsby and was advised to call Roadside Assistance. They are unresponsive so I called GIO and they towed the car to Hornsby Mazda. They say they cannot touch it until next week… Read more
and cannot provide a loan vehicle. This is absolutely unacceptable as we are unable to go to work or do anything without a car.
Great stylish car. BUT – Bought a brand new CX-30 Touring in January after a test drive. A week usage we realised this car is made for short people. Most of the time we hit our head getting in the car. Back seat passengers complained about the legroom. We wanted a SUV but CX30 felt like a car. As we used to drive SUVs, CX30 felt like it’s too low. The car is great to… Read more
drive, not much road noise and excellent suspension. The safety features work great (Except changing lanes when cars stopped in front of you could give a surprise and unexpected BREAK! although there were abut 2 or 3 cars space in front of you.)
Lane keep assist is not as good as many other cars. It's 2022 and there are self driving cars!!! my car just bounce me off a line to the wrong side of the road!! (When testing lane keep assist!!)
Very Disappointed there is no touch screen. Mazda thinks using touch screen distracts driver!! but using the dial is a lot more harder to use simple tasks usually takes just one touch on the screen.
no front and side cameras on the trim I got!!
Now returning this car and getting the 2022 CX-5.
Pros: Great HUD and Dashboard and information. Excellent sound system. Very comfortable seats. 2 user memory buttons are great to set seat adjustments and side mirrors. (I wish it memorises the reverse mirror tilt angle too! ) Adaptive Cruise control is great in traffic conditions. Great speed limit detection system. (although it doesn't recognise 'End of 40' sign and kept warning me for speeding!! so I had to disable the warning for over speeding)
Cons: In my opinion, its not an SUV just a bit bigger hatchback (Same height as a Toyota Corolla. Too low and hard to get in and out if you are over 6' Using Apple carplay is frustrating with the dial wheel thing!! adding destination on GPS with the dial wheely thing is so hard. frustrating to type the address! Driver side mirror is too magnified!! No steering assist on the Touring trim. Car doesn't always lock itself when you walk away with the proximity key.
Find out how Mazda CX-30 FWD compares to other Small / Compact SUVs
Know better, choose better.
Warning Motorone And Mazda Soul Red Paint Issues Have Been Longstanding – ***Update still trying to receive a refund. My purchase has been a huge disappointment. :( I pre-ordered my new Soul Red Mazda CX30 with paint protection and collected my new car May 2021. In Oct '21 when the car was in the shade I noticed marks all over it. Mazda was notified and referred me to Motorone stating it was an after market product.… Read more
Office Of Fair Trading states otherwise. Motorone wanted to cut and polish the 'water marks' from my new car. After doing some research I realise it's not just poor quality paint protection, but also Soul Red Mazda paint has longstanding paint issues - is very thin, chips, rusts, and marks easily. The brochure states LIFETIME WARRANTY. The fine print states - LIMITED 5 YEAR WARRANTY and IS NOT TRANSFERABLE when you resell car. Mazda Australia closed my case and has refused to state their reasons despite several requests I have made in writing. A Mazda Dealership owner advised that Mazda purchased Motorone paint protection company. Is Mazda really repainting some of the cars or are they just getting a cut and polish? Today I received an email from Motorone stating the marks are minor. My issue is with Mazda Australia as my new car was ordered inhouse via the Mazda Representative.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CX5/comments/ghp5dq/has_mazda_fixed_the_soul_red_crystal_metallic/ https://3dbodyworks.com/2019/08/24/problems-mazda-soul-red-crystal-chipping-paint/ https://www.reddit.com/r/mazda/comments/8uou8y/soul_red_paint_chipping/ https://www.change.org/p/mazda-cx-5-mazda-soul-red-crystal-chipping-issue-recall-is-need https://www.cx30talk.com/threads/how-is-the-paint-on-2020-cx-30s.357
Perfect for a couple – This vehicle is great for a couple that don't need to transport others often. Rear seating is a little cramped for a family. The General feel, driving experience and safety features are sensational. Show details
Super comfortable even on long trips – We have long commutes each day, and are grateful for the comfort and safety this car offers. Safety was a key factor for us when purchasing this vehicle, as our 2019 Mazda 3 SP25 was destroyed when part of a truck broke off and hit us head on at full speed recently. Having seen how well our Mazda 3 handled the impact and how safe it kept us,… Read more
another Mazda 3 seemed the obvious choice. The 2021 Mazda CX-30 caught our attention however as it offered a more spacious and luxurious feel, with additional safety features than we had previously, and for a very similar price.
No car is ever perfect, and I feel that the new software and entertainment systems are what sometimes let this car down, so I'll get them out of the way first. None of these issues are deal breakers, and I hope they'll be resolved with future software updates, as these problems were not present in the 2019 Mazda 3's software: - Failing to correctly make calls or navigate to an address using the car's voice-controlled system usually ends with us giving up as we feel we are becoming distracted. However, as both iPhone and Android connect seamlessly via Bluetooth, verbally asking Siri to call is super easy and is still completely handsfree and uses the car speaker system perfectly. - Repeated audible "reduce your speed" alerts, this becomes a near constant stream of alerts when driving on the motorway near Brisbane, even though there are no cameras on the motorway there. It must also be said that this alert repeats itself even if you are well under the speed limit, and even if you are slowing down or braking. - The mute and pause buttons have been combined in this car both on the steering wheel and in the central controls, unlike in earlier Mazdas. You can click through a few screens to bring up playback controls so that you may purely pause the music, but you need to do this every time as it doesn't stay on your screen if you navigate away for any reason. This means that if you are listening to music through your phone's bluetooth connection, and also using the GPS on your phone to give audible directions, pausing the music will also mute the GPS so you won't be notified of turns. - Smart City Brake Support is something that we love about the safety features of this car, however like others have mentioned, when using Radar Cruise Control it does tend to brake too hard when another car merges in front of you.
Unrelated to the software, we find the headlights too bright on high beam as we often get blinded by the reflection of our high beams on passing road signs. So I apologise to any cars coming the opposite way to us :/
Now for all the stuff we love...
Unlike others, we have found that this 2.5L engine has all the power we want or need, as well as being very fuel efficient. We have always had manual vehicles prior to this, so accepting that the engine takes a quick moment to respond when you hit the accelerator to take off quickly was disconcerting at first, but we're used to this now, and find that the car has plenty of 'go' even when heading up hills at high or low speeds.
The Radar Cruise Control is overall a very good system, we find it particularly wonderful when stuck in peak hour traffic. Other than the previously mentioned issue with automatic braking when a car moves between you and the car you were following, having recently used this technology in two rental vehicles (a new Subaru and a new Mitsubishi Outlander), I can confidently say that Mazda have the better RCC system.
As we needed a new car quickly, and with limited vehicles available due to Covid slowing everything down, we were unable to purchase a CX-30 with Vision 360o view technology. We test drove a vehicle with Vision and decided we were happy to pay the extra to have it, but it seems this is something that must be built in at the factory and cannot be added once at the dealer, so no Vision for us. In saying that though, the standard reversing camera is still a noteworthy improvement on our 2019 Mazda 3's camera. For those interested, we can see how this technology would be a highly valuable addition, especially to people with younger children or pets that may move around the vehicle when you're trying to pull out of the driveway or into your garage.
Regarding general comfort there's not much we can say other than "Thank you Mazda!". The rear air-conditioning vents are invaluable for passengers on a hot day. The seats are very supportive and comfortable even in the back and the adjustable lumbar support for the driver is fantastic, hopefully this will someday be introduced for the front passenger also. Despite being a "small SUV" we feel there is plenty of space front and back even for adults.
We are extremely happy with our purchase, and can see why it won the 2021 Wheels Car of the Year Award!
Great Car, Fantastic Technology but has its Drawbacks – The safety features are everything they say they are, commuting some 100km per day on Freeway each day I find the Active Cruise Control a real blessing, it has saved me from many a potential collision and makes the job of driving a great deal less stressful. It takes some getting used too but it works. However with these technological… Read more
advancements come technological drawbacks. The software can have a bit of a glich sometimes and when this happens everything shuts down. Not a car for the backyard mechanic.
Promised So Much but failed to deliver – Before I get into this review I must make it clear I am not an SUV person. I have always had sporty hatches or RWD sport sedans, but not huge V8's. As I am getting older and wiser now I decided to try this SUV thing, it seem so many have and I thought I must have a go at it, so I did my research (on line) test drove all the major brands and… Read more
bought a CX30, went for the Fwd as I really didn't see the need to go off road. On paper and in the show room the Mazda is a very tempting package, the top of the range Astina has it all and then some you would be hard pressed to find an option or piece of tech not fitted to this car. Now this is the issue, tech is great only if it works and I must say it failed to deliver. The engine is fitted with cylinder deactivation so on light cruse it drops back to a 2 cyl this is great for fuel consumption ( which is actually very good in this size car) but at 70 to 90 ks it causes the car to vibrate and it quite un pleasant, mazda service informed me it is not able to deactivate it so live with it. Radar cruse is fantastic if it work and I'm afraid it fails in the mazda, slow to speed up then slams on the brakes, the calibration engineers failed here as well. it is so uncomfortable to use so I stopped using it. the crash avoidance systems, are so sensitive would slam on the brakes when doing a reverse park or backing into a garage, the warning systems are constantly going off when changing lanes or entering into a round about, fortunately it can be turned off. some other gripes I have are lack of torque from the engine and the auto calibration team up so you must work hard to get it to move ( rev the crap out of it ) torsion beam rear suspension is awful the ride and noise is irritating. paint work and body fit and finish are as to be expected in a car built it Thailand but the paint is so soft it scratches with a chamois as does the piano black finishes on the exterior. Some good thing are a lovely interior with comfy heated seats. the multi media system and phone connections work a treat and are very easy and intuitive the HUD is good but a little bright at night. the Bose sound system is treat and media options endless. in all being inside the car is a very pleasant experience until you start to drive it. I will have to say it is also very quiet at speed and idle with no wind noise or tyre roar. So after about 6 months and 6k I have sold the Mazda. I am now back in a Rwd 4 dr sporty sedan. I was fortunate not to loose to much money. I would have to say the SUV thing is not my cup of tea but this mazda was a disappointment and not because it is a SUV its just a poorly done one.
Extra Information
ProductReview.com.au has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence our content moderation policies in any way, though ProductReview.com.au may earn commissions for products/services purchased via affiliate links.
This car allot more Thirsty then my previous Mitsubishi lancer. Daily use going to work, a full tank lasted 10 days, Mazda CX30 barley 1 week.