2023-06-18 16:30:33
ROME – Put aside for once zero emissions, aggressive SUVs, quick accelerations. We have just sat behind the wheel of a Mazda CX-30, with a 186 horsepower 2-liter petrol engine underneath, with mild hybrid technology, which never allows you to go electric but helps reduce fuel consumption and emissions and benefits, according to Regions and Municipalities, from reductions on the road tax, free parking on the blue lines and other incentives.
Say Mazda and you will have heard exotic names like Kodo, Jimba Ittai, Komura. Well, put these aside too and think of the CX-30 as a streamlined and elegant 4.39-metre crossover that above all makes personal style a sign of recognition within a super-crowded and super-desired market segment. Mazda, unlike other Japanese brands, has a history of constant attention to design over time and that is not betrayed even on the CX-30. Some may not like certain plastic guards on the wheel arches and on the lower part of the bodywork, but those who live in the urban jungles know how useful they are.
Seated in a raised position as is appropriate in the best families of SUVs and crossovers, one is greeted by a passenger compartment that is pleasant to the eye and to the touch, with standard leather in the Exclusive trim of the CX-30 being tested. Ergonomics, like the exterior design, receives special care at Mazda: controls and screens are where the eyes and hands think they are, starting with the large display on top of the dashboard so as not to get distracted while driving, plus a large knob on the central tunnel to manage the navigator and infotainment system more easily. The dashboard is a model of clarity as is the head up display which is also standard on the entry level trim.
The space available for the driver and passengers is good, behind a possible fifth person in the center can complain about the rise of the tunnel but overall it is comfortable. The boot capacity is more than sufficient with its 430 liters in five-seater configuration and standard electric tailgate.
It’s time to get going. But don’t set off: if your seat belt isn’t fastened properly or a door isn’t closed properly, even engaging first gear (six-speed gearbox, optional automatic) the automatic handbrake keeps you in your responsibilities as a sensible driver. We slip into our shoes and go. Perceiving the help of the mild hybrid system in restarting is another detail to put aside, except to always feel very quiet and zero vibrations. The level of acoustic comfort is high both in the city and on extra-urban roads such as at maximum motorway speed, where you travel at 2700 rpm in sixth gear to the benefit of fuel consumption. The short gear lever has quick and smooth engagements, another specialty of the house.
If in the city the irregularities of the asphalt transmit sharp responses (standard 18-inch rims), the solid set-up of the suspension limits excessive lying down when cornering and always gives the car stability. The steering does not impress in terms of precision, while the driver assistance systems work very well and are complete on the test set-up (but the entry-level version is also richly equipped) and act as a serious safety shield.
In addition to the classic lane keeping and blind spot monitoring, the CX-30 being tested features intelligent braking systems in the city both front and rear in case of emergencies, a 360-degree camera, front parking exit danger detection and automatic braking in rear parking exit. To be honest, a holy hand when you leave the car at its fingertips and to get out you would need a thousand eyes and ears to see or sense the arrival of bicycles, scooters, motorbikes and cars. Sensors and cameras are life savers, and sooner rather than later they should be made mandatory by industry as seat belts did so long ago.
The price of the tested front-wheel drive Mazda CX-30 2.0L e-Skyactiv XM Hybrid Exclusive is 36,170 euros, plus a thousand in Premium Machine Gray metallic paint. The 2024 model year – with updates to the equipment, price list and main Adas and infotainment systems – can now be ordered with first deliveries from September.
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