Car Deal of the Day: Mazda CX-30 offers plenty of fun for under £217 a month
Comfortable, well made interior
Just £216.96 a month
The Mazda CX-30 stands out in the small SUV class for a number of reasons. But easily the most compelling reason why you'd buy one is simply because it's great fun to drive. Judging by this deal, though, you can factor in excellent value for money, too. Advertisement - Article continues below
Scouring the Auto Express Find a Car service, we found Leasing Options is offering Mazda's smallest SUV for a bargain £216.96 a month.
This three-year deal requires a £2,953.51 initial payment to get things moving, and mileage is capped at 5,000 a year. But should you need more, an 8,000-miles-a-year limit can be had for less than £14 extra a month.
The CX-30 is a genuinely enjoyable drive, and it embarrasses plenty of other more expensive and prestigious small SUVs. At its heart is a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder mild-hybrid petrol engine.
No, that isn't a typo – Mazda really does fit a large-capacity engine to a small car. It's a rarity these days, but Mazda believes that higher-capacity engines are cleaner and give better fuel economy. Mazda says you'll likely see just over 47mpg in normal driving.
With 138bhp, the engine performs smoothly, delivering strong refinement and punchy performance. Here, it's matched to an excellent six-speed manual gearbox that's precise and a joy to use.
Along with the enthusiastic engine, there is engaging handling to match. Meanwhile, the interior is well made and the tech is easy to use.
It's not the roomiest small SUV around, that's for sure, but it has that enjoyment factor in spades. Plus, standard equipment is good – this Prime-Line trim gets you 16-inch alloys, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, radar cruise control, LED headlights, and rear parking sensors.
The Car Deal of the Day selections we make are taken from our own Auto Express Find A Car deals service, which includes the best current offers from car dealers and leasing companies around the UK. Terms and conditions apply, while prices and offers are subject to change and limited availability. If this deal expires, you can find more top Mazda CX-30 leasing offers from leading providers on our Mazda CX-30 page.
Check out the Mazda CX-30 deal or take a look at our previous Car Deal of the Day selection here…
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Reuters
44 minutes ago
- Reuters
Trump wants more American pick-ups in Tokyo and London. That may be a hard sell
TOKYO/STOCKHOLM, August 7 (Reuters) - Donald Trump is right that Japan and Europe buy few American-made cars - but it has little to do with trade barriers. From Tokyo to London, many consumers see Detroit's offerings as simply too big and too gas-guzzling. That view has made Chevrolets and Cadillacs a hard sell, and a rare sight, in cities full of slimmer cars from the Toyota Corolla to Honda Civic, Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio. Trump often complains about what he sees as a refusal to accept U.S. cars while the Japanese, opens new tab and Europeans sell millions of automobiles a year into the United States. In recent trade deals, opens new tab, both markets agreed to drop or ease safety tests on American vehicle imports. Europe will lower levies on U.S. cars. But it may take more than a change of rules and lower tariffs to convince Japanese and European consumers, who contend with narrow roads and painfully tight parking, to buy big American-made Ford F-150 trucks and Cadillac Escalade SUVs. "American cars are designed for wide roads and freeway driving, so handling them on narrow Japanese streets can be tricky. It takes a bit of technique," said Yumihito Yasue, president of Johnan Jeep Petit in Tokyo, which imports and services vintage cars from the United States. His customers tend to be enthusiasts in their 50s and 60s who grew up seeing American cars on TV and in movies. On a recent weekday, he was servicing two Chevrolets, a lustrous brown 1971 Nova and a low-slung 1986 El Camino, both with their steering wheels on the left. In Japan, steering is on the right. Yasue inherited his love of American cars from his father, who started the business four decades ago and would travel to California to scout for cars. Yasue took over after his father died nine years ago, and sells about 20 vehicles a year. "What makes American cars special is the design. Compared to Japanese or German cars, the body shape is more beautiful. Especially the lines, like the rear lines and the fenders," he said. Some 3.7 million new cars were sold in Japan last year, with a third of those mini or "kei" cars - tiny, fuel efficient vehicles not produced by American automakers. Overall, foreign cars accounted for 6% of new car sales, data from the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association showed. Of those, around 570 Chevys, 450 Cadillacs and 120 Dodges were sold, data from the Japan Automobile Importers Association showed. Ford (F.N), opens new tab pulled out of Japan almost a decade ago. Tesla (TSLA.O), opens new tab makes cars sleeker than some of Detroit's and is becoming more popular. The data does not give a breakdown for the EV maker. In Europe, smaller locally-made U.S. cars have done well: models like the best-selling Ford Puma and the older Fiesta. But over the past two decades, Ford and General Motors (GM.N), opens new tab have pivoted towards larger pickups and SUVs, vehicles less suited to Europe's narrow streets and compact-car culture. Ford, a big player in Europe from the early 1900s, has seen sales in the region fall sharply, from 1.26 million vehicles in 2005 to just 426,000 in 2024, according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA). Its market share dropped from 8.3% to 3.3%. "We don't buy Ford F-150s, that's not what our roads are scaled for, it's not what our customers want," Andy Palmer, former CEO of Aston Martin, told Reuters. GM exited Europe in 2017, selling Opel after pulling back Chevrolet, but returned with its Cadillac Lyriq last year. It sold a mere 1,514 of the U.S.-made SUV, according to auto data firm Jato. A GM spokesperson said Cadillac was growing its all-electric lineup in Europe, and the vehicles had been well-received in the markets where they were launched. A Ford spokesperson said the firm exported "passion products" to Europe like the Bronco and Mustang, alongside locally-made models tailored for the market. Clive Sutton, a British car dealer in London who sells luxury American models, said his buyers were drawn to the rarity of vehicles like the giant Cadillac Escalade. But he admitted it was a challenge. "There are people that want that car because of its exclusivity and its perceived status," Sutton said. "But it's not the most easy car to find a parking space for, certainly in central London." Trump has also put pressure on South Korea to open its market to American cars and said duty-free access was part of the trade deal the two countries agreed last week. There, imported vehicles account for less than one-fifth of the car market and U.S. models for only 16% of the imported car segment, which is dominated by German rivals, according to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association. German manufacturers have also carved out a strong presence in Japan's luxury market. Mercedes-Benz ( opens new tab sold more than 53,000 vehicles last year, making it the most popular foreign brand, followed by BMW ( opens new tab at more than 35,000. Japanese automakers say Europeans have been successful because they committed the time and resources to the market. Detroit carmakers, meanwhile, are often associated with left-hand drive cars, which are more challenging to drive on the left-hand side of the road. But some U.S. manufacturers are changing. GM has offered the Corvette only in right-hand drive since the eighth generation version went on sale in 2021. That may be one reason why some 80% of buyers are new customers, a GM spokesperson said. The Corvette is the only model Chevy offers in Japan, and it has sold fewer than 1,000 of them a year for the last decade. GM this year announced plans for a line-up of right-hand-drive Cadillac EVs and deliveries of the Lyriq started in July. Jeep, which sells right-hand drive models, has been the most popular American brand for more than a decade, the importer data showed. It sold just shy of 10,000 vehicles last year in Japan. Yukimi Nitta used to drive a "kei" car but she was drawn to the Jeep Wrangler's appearance, which she described as "friendly" and "outdoorsy". The 42-year-old hair salon owner is now on her second Jeep - a limited-edition beige model - and hopes to switch again to another limited-edition colour. Parking is tight but manageable, she said, and two of her friends have since bought Wranglers. "People often say, 'Wow, a foreign car!' 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Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
Why you Might be Better Off with a Mazda CX-30 over a Mazda 3
Finally, after years of enthusiasts begging for one, we finally got a Forester hybrid. Is it worth the hype? Here's what I think after driving one. This Graham Hill-driven, ultra-rare Ferrari will be shown for viewing this month before it hits the auction block in January 2026. The Mazda CX-30 is a compact, sporty, utilitarian, and economically minded crossover SUV — and oddly enough, it's only marginally more expensive than an equivalent Mazda 3. That surprised me. The CX-30 is a great deal in its base trim, especially since it includes standard all-wheel drive (AWD) — something you have to pay extra for on most Mazda 3 models. When comparing them side by side, the CX-30 often offers more bang for your buck. That's not to say the Mazda 3 is lacking — far from it. It's one of the best compact cars on the market. However, its platform mate, the CX-30, offers nearly the same experience with added utility and easier day-to-day livability. Source: ND Adlen A few trade-offs come with that. The CX-30 is slightly less efficient, a bit pricier, and not quite as sharp to drive. And while I'm focusing on the hatchback version of the Mazda 3 (not the sedan, which is about $1,000 less), it's still curious that Mazda has priced the two so closely, especially given how consumer demand continues to lean toward crossovers. Mazda 3 2.5 Hatchback (Starting at $25,150) Although it starts at a slightly higher price than some of its rivals, the Mazda 3 offers a premium feel inside and out. Top trims, like the 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus hatchback, can climb above $38,000, but you're paying for one of the nicest interiors in the compact class, paired with refined driving dynamics that punch well above their weight. Source: Kyle Edward Powertrains mirror those in the CX-30. The standard engine is a 2.5L naturally aspirated four-cylinder making 191 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. It's paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, which — despite sounding outdated on paper — performs beautifully. If you want a manual, it's only available on the 2.5 S Premium hatchback with front-wheel drive. The available turbocharged 2.5L engine produces 250 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque (on premium fuel) and is paired with AWD. Fuel economy for the base front-drive model is 26 mpg city / 36 mpg highway. Opting for AWD, turbocharging, or the manual will lower those numbers slightly. I like the external shape and proportions of the Mazda 3, but it may be getting a bit dated for some. The rear pillar is a bit thick on the hatchback, which can be polarizing to some. Internally, the upscale-looking interior is driver-focused, with excellent use of higher-end materials throughout. Mazda 3's infotainment screen size varies depending on the trim level. Base models feature an 8.8-inch display, while some higher trims, like the Turbo models, have a larger 10.3-inch screen. Source: Mazda Driving the Mazda 3 Hatchback Right out of the gate, the standard 2.5L engine impresses. 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The major difference is that AWD is standard on all CX-30 trims, and there's no manual transmission available. The base engine's fuel economy is rated at 26 mpg city / 33 mpg highway. The turbo model returns 22 mpg in the city / 30 mpg on the highway. These numbers are slightly lower than the Mazda 3, but surprisingly close given the CX-30's extra weight and taller stance. Speaking of its taller stance, I find the CX-30 to be a handsome little package externally, with the exception of the black fender extensions. They almost look like they were added as an afterthought. Inside, the interior is nice, but not as driver-centric as the Mazda 3. Entry-level and mid-tier trims feature an 8.8-inch display, while higher trims, including those with the turbo engine, are equipped with a 10.25-inch screen, which has some touch-screen capability. Driving the Mazda CX-30 I've driven everything from the base CX-30 to the loaded $37K Turbo Premium Plus — and across the board, it's an enjoyable drive. The base engine is plenty capable for most drivers, and the turbo adds serious punch. While it doesn't feel quite as nimble as the Mazda 3, the CX-30 compensates with a smoother ride over rough roads. Thanks to its 8 inches of ground clearance, it's much easier to get in and out of, and the elevated driving position provides better visibility. Despite having similar cargo space to the Mazda 3 hatchback, the CX-30 feels more spacious overall. Mazda's AWD system is intelligent — it primarily operates in front-wheel drive mode to conserve fuel, but instantly activates the rear wheels when needed. It's one of the better systems in this class. Final Thoughts To be honest, I don't fully understand why Mazda priced the CX-30 so close to the Mazda 3. The CX-30 offers more versatility, standard AWD, and easier usability — all for just a tiny premium. Unless you strongly prefer a lower ride and sportier feel, the CX-30 is likely the better all-around value. That said, both vehicles remain excellent choices in their respective categories, especially for drivers who value quality, driving engagement, and style without breaking the bank.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
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