By Malusi Msomi

Sitting in between the Mazda CX-3 and Mazda CX-5, the CX-30 is based on the fourth-generation Mazda 3, which explains its stunning appearance. Not as big as the CX-5 but seems to fill the gap for which buyers want more space and style than the CX-3.

Design

On the outside, the CX-30 Carbon Edition can be distinguished by a set of new black 18-inch wheels and gloss black exterior mirrors. Overall it looks great with the exception of the plastic cladding around the wheel archers which seems to be a bit overkill. Might not be a deal breaker for some as it gives the car that off-road look which some buyers will like.

Interior

Inside, you’ll find a head-up display and an 8.8-inch infotainment display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The red stitched seats are comfy and supportive. The infotainment is controlled with a rotary wheel, which is surprisingly a joy to use. The cabin overall feels premium with plenty of soft touch surfaces. In terms of practicality, rear leg room is not the greatest depending on how tall the driver is, headroom on the other hand is quite decent.

Driving the Carbon Edition

Powering the CX-30 Carbon Edition is a fairly eager 2.0-litre engine that produces 121kW/213Nm. While most of its competitors have turbocharged engines, Mazda has stuck to its guns with naturally-aspirated engines, in this case, it’s not out of place working well with the six-speed transmission. Overall, the CX-30 rides comfortably on most road surfaces. Fuel consumption-wise, we averaged a reasonable 7.5 l/100km during our time with it.

Safety

In terms of safety, it comes with Driver, passenger, knee (driver), side &curtain airbags. Also, on the list of safety features is Anti-lock braking system (ABS), Electronic brake-force distribution (END), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and ISOFIX point at the rear seats.

Summary

The CX-30 is more about style than practicality. For a little more money you can get yourself a bigger Mazda CX-5. Overall it’s a great offering from Mazda. Pricing for the Mazda CX-30 Carbon Edition starts from R516,600.