SUV may be worth another look

• Published date: 15 September 2022
• Publication title: Southland Express

Launched three years ago to slot between the small CX-3 and the company’s top seller, the larger CX-5, the CX-30 has largely flown under the radar of buyers in this country. All things being equal, this stylish, high-quality SUV should have flown out of the showrooms, but sales have failed to really get off the ground in a busy, overcrowded market segment

The fact Mazda also has a full roster of SUVs on its book has seen the CX-30 struggle for both recognition and sales.

However, the recent arrival of the Mild Hybrid SP20 Blackout Edition could signal a brighter future for this unheralded model.

With attention-grabbing black accentuated exterior and red stitching in the interior, it adds a racy looker to the CX-30 range that has been missing until now.

The SP20 Blackout Edition is powered by the e-Skyactiv G 2.0L engine with an M Hybrid system storing electricity in the 24V lithium-ion battery, allowing the system to recover and store deceleration energy.

The Mazda M Hybrid is a mild-hybrid system that makes effective use of energy to support both fuel efficiency and driving performance.

In addition to recycling energy usually lost during deceleration, it enhances driving performance and fuel efficiency. Its built-in computer is always — and with a high degree of accuracy — monitoring energy input and output to ensure the lowest fuel consumption.

All CX-30s, including the MHEV Blackout, are packed with features including active driving display, GPS, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, and reversing camera, as well as privacy glass.

Owners get a five-year warranty and five years’ worth of on-call roadside assistance.

The cherry on Mazda’s after-sales care cake is five years or 100,000km (whichever comes first) of free servicing.

Prices for the CX-30 range start at $42,390, with the $44,390 SP20 MHEV Blackout Edition we road tested offering good value for money.

The Mazda Mild-Hybrid system teams the efficient Skyactiv engine with a hybrid system for greater fuel economy without the extra weight of an EV or the need for external charging.

The 24V battery harvests energy generated while braking to power the car’s electrical equipment or supply additional torque to support the engine.

This combo is a satisfying rather than exhilarating drive, with a modest 114kW of maximum power and 200Nm of torque sealing its fate on that score.

On the open road there’s no shortage of acceleration for overtaking slower-moving traffic. Around town driving is refined...