logo
No turbocharge needed in the stylish Mazda CX-30

No turbocharge needed in the stylish Mazda CX-30

Mail & Guardian26-04-2025

The Mazda CX-30 sports a coupe-like front.
Mazda sales figures have declined terribly since the Covid-19 pandemic. The legacy brand was further pegged back by the arrival of Chinese manufacturers in South Africa and is still on the road to recovery.
The
Mail & Guardian
previously tested the brand's flagship
The brand has been given a lot of stick in the past few years for failing to evolve and manufacturing vehicles that seem outmoded. But, like the CX-60, the updated CX-30 is anything but outdated.
I found the front of this compact SUV very attractive, with its polished, coupe-like shape complemented by sleek headlights. The thin bonnet lines close in towards the headlights and blend everything together very neatly in front. The black rims on the 18-inch alloys (of the tested vehicle) add to that feel.
However, the back is slightly disappointing and doesn't really offer much. The tail lights are on their own — I felt that a light bar across the back would have added so much more to the exterior.
Not doing much: The back of the Mazda CX-30 does not apply the same sportiness that the front does.
The interior gives you that fancy feeling. The variant we tested was fitted with black and terracotta leather and suede stitching. It also had low seats, which echoed the look of the front of the vehicle. When you view the front, you can picture a similar interior — Mazda got this spot-on.
The interior is fitted with a 12-speaker Bose system that allows clear sound throughout the car. Mazda has included a 10.25-inch infotainment system that is not a touchscreen but works through a dial on the centre console.
This is a very clever feature of the manufacturer's vehicles because it gives space between the user and the infotainment screen. Instead of having to poke your entire face into the screen while driving — which can also be distracting — it allows you to just move the dial as you need to toggle through the options on the screen. It will also pause action on the dial if you continue toggling for too long, to make sure that you keep your eyes on the road.
But with all that style and convenience, something that the vehicle lacks is space. The front seats were not too comfortable on long journeys. I haven't been to the gym in months and I had to keep adjusting my back while driving.
The back is very tight. If you insert a car seat, you only have space for one more passenger. While I get that Mazda has bigger vehicles, and opted for a coupe-type SUV with the CX-30, this vehicle does fit into the compact SUV segment, so the amount of space for passengers is an issue.
The interior of the Mazda CX-30
However, once you are on the road, the 2.0 Skyactiv G naturally aspirated engine that pushes out 121kW of power and 213Nm of torque makes the drive very pleasant.
Despite many disapproving of the naturally aspirated engine, in a turbocharged world, I quite like how the car picks up speed in a calm, linear fashion. Of course, you won't feel that satisfying kick if you need to put your foot down and overtake other cars. Keep pushing your foot down and you might feel strain due to the low torque figure. But bear in mind this is by no means a performance vehicle.
The vehicle doesn't feel stretched and the engine is very responsive. It handles perfectly for the size of the car and it feels uncomplicated to drive.
Mazda has taken a driver-centric approach with this vehicle. Sometimes, I prefer this over technology that makes you feel like you are controlling a spaceship.
The Mazda CX-30 has consistently received high safety scores, including the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
It has front and rear parking sensors and rear cross-traffic alert, which is the equivalent of blind-spot detection in other vehicles.
Overall, the Mazda CX-30 is a striking vehicle in the front, but lacks the same standard at the back. The interior was so impressive that I just wanted to stay in it.
The drive and safety features make this car a good option for a small family or a single person.
We tested the Individual (top-of-the-range) variant which is priced at R630 900. The Active edition will set you back R531 800, the Dynamic edition R569 800 and the Carbon edition R587 500.
Alternatives in this segment include the VW T-Roc and the Peugeot 2008. If you need more space, those are recommended, but if you just want style and satisfaction, this might be the right choice for you.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Uber to launch self-driving taxis in London in 2026
Uber to launch self-driving taxis in London in 2026

The Citizen

time2 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Uber to launch self-driving taxis in London in 2026

Trials will begin with safety drivers for emergencies before fully autonomous Uber taxis hit the London streets. Ride-hailing firm Uber will launch self-driving taxis in London next year when England trials new driverless services, the firm and the UK government said on Tuesday. Under the Uber pilot scheme, services will initially have a human in the driver's seat who can take control of the vehicle in an emergency, but the trials will eventually transition to being fully driverless. The government announcement will see companies including Uber allowed to trial commercial driverless services without a human presence for the first time in the UK. They will include taxis and 'bus-like' services. Making autonomy 'safe and reliable' Uber CEO Andrew Macdonald described London's roads as 'one of the world's busiest and most complex urban environments'. 'Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality,' he said. Members of the public will be able to book the transport via an app from spring 2026, ahead of a potential wider rollout when new legislation — the Automated Vehicles Act — becomes law from the second half of 2027, the Department for Transport added. Job opportunities The technology could create 38,000 jobs, add £42 billion ($57 billion) to the UK economy by 2025, and make roads safer, it said. ALSO READ: Uber stresses safety as 'top priority' amid concerns over driver profiles for sale [VIDEO] 'The future of transport is arriving. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology,' Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. 'We can't afford to take a back seat on AI…. That's why we're bringing timelines forward today,' added Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. The wider rollout will also allow the sale and use of self-driving, private cars. Driverless vehicle trials have been underway in the UK since January 2015, with British companies Wayve and Oxa 'spearheading significant breakthroughs in the technology', the ministry said. 'These early pilots will help build public trust and unlock new jobs, services, and markets,' said Wayve CEO Alex Kendall. Safety in self-driving According to the government the forthcoming legislation will require self-driving vehicles to 'achieve a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers'. 'By having faster reaction times than humans, and by being trained on large numbers of driving scenarios, including learning from real-world incidents, self-driving vehicles can help reduce deaths and injuries,' it said. Driverless taxis with limited capacity are already on the roads in the United States and China, most notably in the central Chinese city of Wuhan where a fleet of over 500 can be hailed by app in designated areas. NOW READ: Plug-in Jaecoo J7 and Omoda C9's shock goes further than power

Why China's car and tech giants threaten Tesla's self-driving future
Why China's car and tech giants threaten Tesla's self-driving future

TimesLIVE

time8 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Why China's car and tech giants threaten Tesla's self-driving future

'God's Eye' on the cheap Chinese EV makers are moving quickly to develop driver-assistance systems in a market where car buyers are demanding them at a faster pace than in other regions, analysts said. Their ability to do so at lower costs poses the biggest threat to Tesla's new autonomy-based business model. BYD buyers can get an FSD-comparable version of God's Eye as a standard feature in cars priced at about $30,000 (R532,220). The cheapest FSD-equipped Tesla in China is a Model 3 selling for about $41,500 (R736,210). According to an analysis by A2MAC1, a Paris-based tear-down firm that benchmarks components, the mid-level God's Eye version most comparable to Tesla's FSD runs on an Nvidia computing chip with data collected through 12 cameras, five radars, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and one lidar sensor, at a cost of $2,105 (R37,342). That compares to $2,360 (R41,863) for Tesla's FSD, which uses cameras without sensors and two AI chips, the firm estimated. Cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors are 40% cheaper in China than comparable devices in Europe and the US, A2MAC1 estimated. Lidar sensors cost about 20% less, the firm said. Sensor costs have fallen because China's EV boom created economies of scale, said A2MAC1 engineer Elena Zhelondz. The fierce competition also pushed carmakers and suppliers to accept lower profits on driver-assistance equipment, she said. BYD's 22% gross margin will likely fall as it gives away God's Eye but it will benefit from a vehicle sales boost, said Chris McNally, head of global automotive and mobility research for advisory firm Evercore.

Large multinational company shuts factory in South Africa
Large multinational company shuts factory in South Africa

The South African

timea day ago

  • The South African

Large multinational company shuts factory in South Africa

It's sad news for the 78-year old Goodyear factory in South Africa. Last week it was announced that the large multinational will be close its Kariega plant in Nelson Mandela Bay. Without Goodyear, there will only be three international companies with a factory in South Africa: Continental, Sumitomo (Dunlop) and Bridgestone. The trading environment is becoming increasingly difficult for international tyre companies with manufacturing in South Africa. This is primarily due to high energy costs and cheap, sub-par Chinese imports being dumped in the country. Back in 2020, Bridgestone came close to shutting its Brits factory in South Africa. Likewise, Sumitomo was forced into restructuring at its Ladysmith plant in KwaZulu-Natal earlier this year, in February. Nevertheless, the local tyre manufacturers that remain are all part of larger global organisations that feed the rest of Africa. As such, they employ around 5 000 workers collectively, and are responsible for more than 7-million tyres annually, says the South African Tyre Manufacturing Conference (SATMCC). Sadly, the Goodyear factory in South Africa has been in operation since 1947. It employs in the region of 900 workers. The firm announced the closure in a general statement last week, on Thursday 5 June 2025. It said Goodyear South Africa will transform to a 'go-to-market' to optimise its footprint and portfolio, reports TopAuto. Cheap Chinese imports are being challenged by the competition commission. Image: File 'As part of that transformation, Goodyear South Africa is launching a restructuring process in accordance with the provisions of the Labour Relations Act. To address the closure of the factory in South Africa, it will realign sales, administration and general management functions. As such, Goodyear South Africa will continue to maintain sales, distribution and retail presence in South Africa through Hi-Q,' confirms the statement. Goodyear says closing the factory in South Africa is in no way a reflection of the efforts and years of dedication. Therefore, it says it is committed to acting fairly and providing affected employees with appropriate support. As such, the reorganisation process will be overseen by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA). There are also job loss mitigation initiatives in place with the Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber to assist those who have been made redundant. Experts says unreliable electricity supply, above-inflation cost increases and cheap Chinese imports have all contributed to tough trading conditions for local tyre manufacturers over the last five years. It's a shame to see hard-working South Africans losing jobs … Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store