2021 Mazda CX-30 vs Mazda 3

What's the difference?

While not perfect, there’s no doubting the CX-30 is one hell of a debut small SUV, but the variant chosen is very important.

As we found out, the mostly well-specified G20 Touring FWD is agonisingly close to being the best, with it ultimately falling short due its underpowered engine.

That said, for those that rarely find themselves on freeways and country roads, the G20 Touring FWD can and will get the job done. For everyone else, though, the G25 Touring FWD calls strongly.

Either way, so long as practicality isn’t a priority, it’s hard not to be impressed by the CX-30.

Granted. The Mazda3 X20 Astina is an expensive mainstream-branded hatchback from Japan. This is not your aunt’s BJ 323 Protégé Shades.

Still, as with all the current-series BP 3s, the fundamentals are spot on – evocative design inside and out, obsessive detailing, superb quality, progressive engineering and delightful dynamics – in a safe, practical, reliable and brilliantly efficient package to boot.

We understand that, for some people, the X20 Astina strong but silent-type personality may be too understated. But the fact remains that it is a graceful yet forceful and fast grand touring hatchback when called upon, with all the athleticism and sophistication that implies.

Mazda’s hype around the Skyactiv-X powertrain promised Wonder Woman but the Diana Prince we have instead still makes it a marvel. Maybe you should hold on a little longer and wait for the more powerful model expected imminently. Either way, you’re in for something special. The 3’s controversy rages on.

In a highly competitive segment, the CX-30 is one slick-looking small SUV. In fact, depending on your opinion, it could be the most attractive of all.

Up front, the CX-30 is unmistakably a Mazda, with the lower edge of its large grille trimmed in chrome, which also props up the slim LED headlights that the G20 Touring FWD unfortunately pairs with halogen daytime running lights.

Around the side the G20 Touring FWD rolls on a nice set of 18-inch alloy wheels, which are wrapped in 215/55 tyres. The fastback style of the CX-30 is also most apparent here, with its roofline quickly tailing off.

At the rear, the G20 Touring FWD’s signature LED tail-lights are prominent, positioned up high on the chunky tailgate, while a rear spoiler adds some sportiness, as do its dual exhaust tailpipes.

Of course, we’re yet to acknowledge the elephant in the room: the CX-30’s love for black plastic cladding. It lays it on thick all the way around to make it obvious that it’s a crossover. Call us crazy, but I think it works in this instance, even if I'm in the minority.

Inside, the CX-30’s two-tone look could be just as divisive, depending on your feelings toward brown, which contrasts with the black (or optional white) leather-accented upholstery and soft-touch and hard plastics in the G20 Touring FWD.

If you ask me, the brown isn’t as jarring as the blue in the CX-30’s entry-level Pure and Evolve grades, but it’s the overall high quality of its interior that should be getting all of the attention.

The switchgear feels superb, and the steering wheel’s stalks are beautifully damped. Better yet, the steering wheel and armrests across both rows are generously padded. We could go on and on about how luxurious all of the little things feel.

Anyway, a 7.0-inch multifunction display is also a welcome inclusion, with it positioned between a traditional tachometer and speedometer, although its functionality is rather limited when to compared to most digital instrument clusters.

Then there’s the ‘floating’ 8.8-inch display to the left. It’s powered by Mazda’s latest multimedia system, coming complete with a sharp set of graphics - but it's not a touchscreen.

Yep, Mazda has doubled down on the rotary controller (with shortcut buttons) that it previously exclusively championed. While somewhat controversial, it’s the right move from a safety perspective, so too is the persistence with a row of physical climate controls.

What I'm not so sure about, though, is the widescreen format of the central panel it operates, with it looking particularly skinny when using the G20 Touring FWD’s in-built satellite navigation or smartphone mirroring (wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).

Similarly, the G20 Touring FWD’s windshield-projected head-up display is too small to be completely legible, which is frustrating because it is otherwise well positioned.

Here’s where the Mazda3 really starts making up ground.

Love it or hate it, the BP-series’ design is a statement of huge ambition, melding a svelte coupe-like silhouette with a broad stance, sinewy surfacing and startlingly pared-back detailing.

This is the brand’s boldest-looking small car since the 1993-1998 BA Astina (Lantis/323F/Allegro/Artis elsewhere) – a five-door coupe styled by an ex-Porsche designer involved with the 924, 944 and 928. Disclosure time: your author bought a ’96 1.8 manual recently and is in love with its styling.

Anyway… with hints of those as well as the epochal Alfa Romeo Alfasud, the latest Mazda3 looks like a million dollars – handy for a company wanting to move up in society – and so deserves to go down in history as one of Mazda’s bravest moves.

From a functionality point of view however…

Measuring 4395mm long (with a 2655mm wheelbase), 1795mm wide and 1540mm tall, the CX-30 is on the larger side for a small SUV, but that doesn’t translate across to practicality too well.

For example, cargo capacity isn’t amazing, at 317 litres (VDA), although storage space can be increased to an undisclosed amount by stowing the 60/40 split-fold rear bench, an action that can be performed via the boot with its manual release latches.

The boot itself is quite useful, though, with only a small load lip and floor hump (when the second row is stowed) to contend with, while the aperture is square and four tie-down points but no bag hooks are on hand to secure loose items.

The non-retractable parcel shelf can be removed, but it can’t be stored unfloor, with the space-saver spare wheel and tyre instead occupying that area alongside some related tools.

The G20 Touring FWD is also fairly average in the second row. While two inches of legroom are available behind my 184cm driving position alongside an inch of headroom, it doesn’t tick all of the boxes.

The rear bench isn’t particularly wide, so while three adults can sit on it during shorter journeys, they won’t want to be there on a road trip, particularly with the tall transmission tunnel taking up precious foot space.

Second-row amenities are also lacking, with no connectivity/charging on offer whatsoever and only one map pocket available. Yep, you get directional air vents, a fold-down armrest with two cupholders… and that’s it. Well, the door bins can also each accommodate a regular bottle.

For reference, there are three top-tether and two ISOFIX anchorage points on hand for fitting child seats, but it’s best to test yours before committing, because the fit could prove challenging.

Thankfully, things get a lot better in the front row, where the larger central bin features a USB-A port and a 12V power outlet, while another USB-A port is integrated into the centre stack.

Below it is a small open cubby, in front of which is pair of cupholders concealed by a sliding lid. Then there is the respectably sized glovebox, overhead sunglasses holder and tiny pull-out compartment on the driver’s side. And the door bins can take a large bottle apiece.

Here’s the deal. Mazda3 sales have been steadily declining globally, as with most small cars – because people no longer want low-riding hatchbacks when high-riding crossovers like the Nissan Qashqai cost barely anymore yet allow their drivers to lord it over others.

So, it makes sense that Mazda decided to make the newly-created CX-30 as the practical, jacked-up version of the 3, while the hatch became the sleek and interesting coupe-like alternative that said something about its driver. Mazda hasn’t said actually said as such, but it’s patently clear that this is a painstaking, design-led exercise.

Coupe-like. That means a comparatively low roofline, making entry/egress a stoop-forward affair. Actually, though, the 3’s not too bad, and is still quite painless to move in/out of. 

But not as painless as the smooth, soothing and stylish shapes of the dashboard. Flowing, integrated and minimalist in appearance, it’s as strong a design statement as the exterior. It’s also proudly Japanese in flavour, texture and intricate quality. As we’ve observed in the recent past, luxury European brands cannot achieve this level of aesthetics and craftspersonship at the Mazda’s price point. Just look at a base A3, A200 or 118i and their Les Mis levels of austerity. The Astina continues to close the gap.

Just drilling into some of the 3’s interior details, the driving position is first class.

Thoughtful ergonomics, plenty of adjustability from the steering column and seat, arguably the greatest steering wheel in the business today due to its large, thin rim and classical three-spoke visage that’s just a delight to behold, and perhaps the most beautiful analogue-like digital instrument dials at any price point. Crisp, clear and pared back, you might imagine if Saab was still around this is what you might find in.

As we’ve mentioned in other reviews, the dials and surrounding air vents are reminiscent of the latter 944/968-era Porsche equivalents in their presentation. Gorgeous. So are the head-up’s colour data display, nifty little paddle shifters, stubby little auto gear lever (with the ‘+’ a pull-back action and the ‘–’ downshift a light push forward) and oiled tilt/telescopic column adjustment.

We’re talking about a range that starts from $26K here, folks!

Our $41K Astina’s red faux-stitched vinyl dash covering further provides a classy contrast to the smooth plastics and metal finishes peppering the cabin.

Keeping in mind this is a traditionally proportioned two-box C-segment hatchback, there’s sufficient space for four people, and a fifth at a squeeze. The front seats are well padded in the cushion, supportive in the backrest and fine even after hours behind the wheel. We must mention, too, that having a passenger seat-height adjuster is great. There’s ample space to stretch too. Storage is excellent, as is ventilation and the way everything is put together, and the overall sense and ambience is of premiumnness.

Much the same applies in the back, with a split/fold rear backrest that offers a comfy angle, while the cushion is also well padded. Knee room is fair, but headroom isn’t great if you’re tall, as the falling ceiling line reveals. Most amenities you’d expect are present back there, such as face-level air vents, access to USB charge points (located in the big bin between the front passengers), a folding centre armrest, cupholders and useful door pockets.

However, a few design-related flaws may irritate some people. Like the ultra-thick door pillar that limits the size of the back-door windows, creating elephantine blind spots for some passengers. It’s a bit gloomy back there as a result, and that’s not helped by some of the lower-lying plastic trim that are fine in a $30K hatch but seem a little cheap compared to an A3’s.

And then there’s the multimedia technology, which hasn’t been keeping pace with the latest offerings from other brands. Where is the wireless phone charger, WIFI hotspot and rear-seat USB ports? Passengers must lean forward and fumble with one of the two outlets sited up front, with ungainly cords getting in everybody’s way. And the sunken 8.8-inch widescreen is not big enough nowadays and already looks and feels dated in its operation.

Finally, there is the meagre cargo capacity. At just 295 litres, it might embarrass the Corolla hatchback’s 217L item, but it is roundly beaten by almost every other competitor. The aperture to put stuff in is large enough, with a long and wide flat floor that of course is extended when the 60/40 backrests are dropped, but the rake of the hatch and height of the load area eat away at those precious litres. The spare is a space-saver item underneath.

Overall, then, the interior is an aesthetic success and the limitations are there for everybody to see the moment they first climb inside – poor rear-seat vision, multimedia-related shortcomings, low roof line when exiting the back and that smallish boot.

Yet the Astina’s richness inside is obvious. Nobody will sit here and think they’re in a mid-ranking Corolla competitor. Not until they see the Mazda badge anyway. 

The X20 Astina auto starts from $41,590 before on-road costs.

That’s around $4000 more than the vaunted new Volkswagen Golf R-Line ($37,450), $5000 more than the spirited Hyundai i30 N-Line Premium ($36,220), $7000 more than the frugal Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid ($34,695), $8000 more than the roomy Kia Cerato GT ($33,690) and nearly $10K more than the dynamic Ford Focus ST-Line.

Or, if you like, the Mazda is $6000 under the now-front-drive BMW 118i, $5000 less than the ultra-cool Mini Cooper S Clubman and $3500 cheaper than the slick Mercedes-Benz A180.

It’s in the no-man’s land of beyond mainstream and aspirational, and about three quarters of the way to premium. In fact, a runout (old-shape) MY20 Audi A3 Sportback in mid-range 35TFSI S Sportback spec is nearly a grand cheaper while the X20 Astina is lineball with the geriatric Lexus CT200 Luxury.

So, how does the Mazda respond to such observations?

Firstly, being the flagship grade, the X20 Astina’s features list is extensive.

The full suite of safety gear includes seven airbags, front and rear autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cycle detection, Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-keep Assist, driver monitor, Forward Obstruction Warning, Rear and Front Cross Traffic Alert, Secondary Collision Reduction (that automatically keeps the brakes applied to stop further impacts), auto high beam control for the adaptive headlights, breakaway pedals, adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality and cruising/traffic support, parking sensors front/rear, 360-degree round-view monitor, reverse camera, traffic sign recognition and tyre-pressure monitors.

On the luxury side, there’s leather upholstery or leather-looking material everywhere including over the dashboard, heated front seats, a powered driver’s seat with position memory, heated leather steering wheel, windscreen-reflected full-colour head-up display, satellite navigation, auto tilt/folding/heated/dimming mirrors, sunroof, dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bose premium audio with amplifier and 12 speakers, Bluetooth phone/audio connectivity, digital radio, keyless entry/start and polished 18-inch alloys.

So why is the top Mazda3 so expensive?

Mazda argues that what the X20 offers that the others don’t is its unique SkyActiv X technology. Confusingly branded ‘hybrid’, it is in fact much like a normal 2.0-litre petrol engine with diesel-like compressed ignition that promises significantly reduced consumption; there’s no electric motor, just a belt-driven integrated starter generator (ISG) and a 24-volt lithium-ion battery that captures otherwise spent energy during deceleration to power the ISG; basically it’s a hybrid that’s milder than a gay courting scene modified for viewing on a Middle Eastern airliner.

The thing is, Skyactiv-X is a hefty $3000 option over the conventionally-powered G25 Astina, which uses a 139kW/252Nm 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that is both more powerful and torquier than our X20 Astina’s 132kW/224Nm 2.0-litre SkyActiv X unit. Where you might find a benefit is in the latter’s official 5.5L/100km combined fuel consumption average, against the former’s 6.6L/100km. You’d hope so anyway, as a way of making a return on investment.

Note that its most powerful aforementioned rivals (rorty i30 N-Line and Cerato GT) deliver 150kW while the most frugal one (sluggish Corolla ZR Hybrid) returns just 4.2L/100km.

Except for the pesky (and woefully underrated) Focus and its 132kW output and 6.4L/100km economy, on numbers alone, the X20 Astina’s efficiency promises look… promising.  

The G20 Touring FWD is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine that produces 114kW of power at 6000rpm and 200Nm of torque at 4000rpm.

This unit is mated to a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission with paddle-shifters as standard (there’s no manual option here), with drive sent to the front wheels (2WD).

A G25 Touring FWD is available for $1500 extra, with it upgrading to a 139kW/252Nm 2.5-litre unit, while a G25 Touring AWD with all-wheel drive can be had for a further $2000.

The X20 Astina is powered by a 1998cc 2.0-litre supercharged twin-cam four-cylinder petrol engine, delivering 132kW of power at 6000rpm and 224Nm of torque at 3000rpm.

It drives the front wheels via a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission, with an 8.6 second time to 100km/h, on the way to a 216km/h top speed (in European-spec models). There is also a six-speed manual available, though not the all-wheel drive offered elsewhere.

The combustion process is what’s different to the regular 2.0-litre engine on which the Skyactiv-X is based upon.

Dubbed Spark Controlled Compression Ignition (SPCCI), it means the engine switches between normal spark ignition to diesel-like compression ignition combustion, by using a spark to trigger both types of combustion at different times during the fuel injection process – lean during the intake stroke and atomised fuel around the spark plug during the compression stroke. The Rootes-style supercharger, meanwhile, is there to boost low-speed response, not to reel in Honda Civic Type Rs.

There’s also the integrated starter generator and 24V lithium-ion battery – the latter stores regenerative brake energy to power the former – to help save fuel.

The G20 Touring FWD’s fuel consumption on the combined-cycle test (ADR 81/02) is 6.5L/100km, while its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are 152g/km. Both claims are pretty good for a small SUV.

But in the real world, we averaged 7.5L/100km over 574km of driving, which was heavily skewed towards highways over city roads.

Keeping that mix in mind, that’s an underwhelming result when compared to the aforementioned claim. It just goes to show how hard the G20 Touring FWD has to be worked.

For reference, the G20 Touring FWD’s 51L fuel tank takes more affordable 91RON petrol at minimum.

OK, so far, so good. But does the X20 Astina deliver diesel-like fuel economy?

The answer is… sort of. We drove ours in searing summer heat, air-con on, and always more than one person driving, mostly around the city and suburbs, but also out on the open road, and with some very spirited performance testing.

Mazda’s tests show the X20 averaging an official figure of 5.5 litres per 100km, for a carbon dioxide emissions average of 135g/km, while we managed a pretty good 7.9L/100km at the pump. Past tests with diesels produced similar numbers, when the regular petrol equivalents were in the high 8s and up. We’d consider this a qualified success given the demanding conditions it was subjected to, but not the panacea some of the company’s hype would have us believe.

Note, too that the X20 must drink 95RON premium unleaded, though the cheapest petrol around at the moment – 94 RON E10 ethanol – is fine too.

Fitted with a 51-litre tank, over 925km between refills is possible.

As far as city-focused small SUVs go, the G20 Touring FWD is a winner, but that’s not to say it’s without its faults.

Firstly, the 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine is well suited to the urban jungle, where driving is slower, such is its character. After all, it sprints from a standstill to 100km/h in a claimed 10.2 seconds…

So, find yourself merging onto a freeway or ploughing along a country road and it quickly becomes apparent how lethargic the little unit really is. Without a turbocharger to provide low-end torque, it needs revs and plenty of them.

For much more palatable acceleration, it’s hard to go past the aforementioned G25 Touring FWD for an extra $1500. Previous experience has shown its 22 and 26 per cent increase in maximum power and torque respectively is very much appreciated.

Either way, the six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission on hand does the job well, with it offering up smooth if not quick gear changes, while it is responsive to throttle inputs when needed. The Sport mode’s higher shift points aren’t ever really needed, then.

Where the G20 Touring FWD – or any other CX-30 variant for that matter – really excels is on the ride and handling fronts.

When it comes to the former, the G20 Touring FWD’s suspension puts in a strong effort, which is good news considering it pairs MacPherson struts up front with a less sophisticated torsion beam at the rear.

While not independent, this set-up deals with most road imperfections with confidence, with only continuously broken surfaces managing to unsettle it, but even so, it’s still more than comfortable.

Better yet, the G20 Touring FWD loves to corner more than most crossovers. Naturally, a higher centre of gravity than the CX-30’s Mazda3 sibling does contribute towards more body roll, but overall control is still strong.

Go hard and the G20 Touring FWD’s 1442kg kerb weight will start to push against it, but the ensuing understeer is never prominent. Indeed, twisty roads can be approached with conviction, should you be in the mood.

And part of the reason why the G20 Touring FWD is enjoyable to drive is its electric power steering, which is well-weighted at higher speeds, not to mention nice and direct.

That said, the system is arguably a touch too heavy at low speed, which makes common manoeuvres like U-turns and parking more challenging. But either way, feedback is solid thanks to the communicative chassis.

Any doubts surrounding the latest Mazda3’s ability to compete with upmarket European alternatives should by now be fading, given the Astina’s design, engineering and safety.

For the most part, the good news keeps on coming on the road as well – but a level of expectation management is required if you’re expecting a supercharged hot-hatch performer, because this simply is not that sort of car.

Mazda makes a lot of noise about how much quieter and more refined its vehicles are even compared to the last generation released in the mid-2010s. This is no more obvious than in the Mazda3, with an interior that is as quiet and as isolating as the best of them. We’re talking Golf and Lexus, if you need reminding.

However, this may cause some disappointments in other areas, because the X20 Astina is almost shy about the way it delivers its substantial performance.

The powertrain is surprisingly smooth and hushed for a Mazda engine that thrives on revolutions to perform, with an effortless flow to the way the car sets off and accelerates. In fact, the X20 launches off the mark with quite a bit of urge – and without lag or hesitation from the eager transmission – building up speed quickly.

What is missing is the turbo wallop of, say, a Golf TSI or Focus EcoBoost engine. Instead, there’s a very definite groundswell of performance. Like its non-X siblings, the 3’s 2.0-litre atmo engine relies on revs for power, but in the X20, usefully more torque seems to come on stream at the same time, so once on the move, throttle response is really willing and able. Certainly, stronger than that 0-100km/h time of 8.6s suggests. And you don’t need to visit the red line and endure the regular 2.0-litre’s metallic howl as a result. Get used to squeezing the accelerator in the mid ranges, and you’ll realise just how fast this can be.

Mazda has already released an uprated X20 specification in Japan, raising the power and torque outputs to 140kW and 240Nm. If punchier and more dramatic performance is the upshot, then we’d welcome that. The Skyactiv-X’s charms blossom with familiarity.

If the Astina’s power delivery is nuanced, its handling is delicate, with steering that’s light yet measured and involving, providing accurate and flowing roadholding that remains consistent and controllable even as speeds rise. Bumps don’t faze the suspension, which just sticks gamely to the road. The Mazda walks a fine line between being luxurious and feeling sporty, with an unruffled agility that’s very satisfying for keen drivers to explore.

Earlier, we said the cabin is remarkably quiet – and not just by Mazda standards. That MacPherson-style front/torsion beam rear end might seem simple on paper, but it manages to provide a civilised and sophisticated ride. Some of the bigger bumps reveal a slight firmness to the chassis tune, but the car isn’t crashy or loud around town, simply gliding along with confidence and ease.

Where the Mazda3 loses some of its edge is in its poor rear vision, which can make parking it in tight spots a little harder than it needs to be. There aren’t the clear views out of most urban SUVs, making the latter’s ascension in the sales charts understandable.  

That’s the price of that coupe-like silhouette.

Among the safety systems standard in the Astina are AEB (with a working range of 10km/h to 80km/h) with pedestrian and cycle detection, while the Forward Collision Warning operates from 40km/h to 200km/h.

You’ll also find Blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Departure Warning, Lane-keep Assist, driver monitor, Forward Obstruction Warning, Rear and Front Cross Traffic Alert, Secondary Collision Reduction (that automatically keeps the brakes applied to stop further impacts), auto high beam control for the adaptive headlights, breakaway pedals, adaptive cruise control with full stop/go functionality and cruising/traffic support, parking sensors front/rear, 360-degree round-view monitor, reverse camera, traffic sign recognition and tyre-pressure monitors.

Seven airbags are fitted – front, side, curtain and a driver’s knee item – as are anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Emergency Brake Assist, stability control, traction control, hill-start assist are also fitted, seat-belt pretensioners, and two rear-seat ISOFIX points as well as three top tethers for straps.

Tested in 2019, the current Mazda3 range achieves a five-star ANCAP crash-test rating.

As with all Mazda models, the CX-30 comes with a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years of roadside assistance, both of which are average when compared to Kia’s market-leading seven-year terms with ‘no strings attached’.

The G20 Touring FWD’s service intervals are on the short side when it comes to distance, at every year or 10,000km, whichever comes first. That said, capped-price servicing is available for the first five visits, costing $1836 in total at minimum, which is fairly reasonable.

Mazda offers a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty as well as roadside assistance on all Mazda3s, as well as capped-price servicing, scheduled at every 12-month or 10,000km intervals.

Published online, the prices for the X20 vary between $344 and $374 annually, and are listed for up to 16 years/160,000km. Note, however, that additional scheduled maintenance items that must be replaced or attended to will increase that price as the vehicle ages.