PUTRAYAJA: The Mazda CX-30 has been officially launched in Malaysia, after bookings for the vehicle were opened in November, and its appearance in showrooms last month.
The sporty crossover is in CBU (fully-imported) form and is offered in three variants – 2.0L 2WD, 2.0L High 2WD and 1.8L Diesel High, priced at RM143,059.00, RM164,059.00, and RM172,943.60 respectively.
The prices are a slight reduction from what was announced last month.
For those unfamiliar with the SUV, the Mazda CX-30 is based on the Mazda 3 sedan, uses the brand’s latest-generation platform and technology, and sits between the CX-3 and the CX-5.
There are prominent Mazda 3 design cues that can be seen with the Mazda CX-30, especially the Liftback (hatchback) version.
According to Mazda, the CX-30 combines engineering and art, with the efficient, clean engine married with the exterior design.
The exterior features the latest Kodo design language, with a gaping front grille flanked by a pair of slender LED headlights.
There is also a strong character line along the side that manipulates light play on the surface, which can be quite effective, especially under sunlight.
As a crossover or SUV, the CX-30 features black plastic cladding that runs around the entire lower portion of the car, including the wheel arches, for a more rugged look.
Other exterior features are LED headlights with LED daytime running lights; LED fog lights; LED tail lights; and 18-inch wheels for the High variant (the base 2.0L gets 16-inch wheels).
For the interior, the similarities between the CX-30 and the Mazda 3 are even more obvious, with a dashboard that looks like it was taken straight from the hatchback.
However, there is a subtle dual-tone hue for the dashboard’s materials.
The cabin of the CX-30 is decently-equipped, featuring an 8.8-inch multimedia unit with reversing camera, an Apple Carplay and Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, voice command, as well as eight speakers.
The High and Diesel variants will have more bells and whistles, including keyless entry, powered tailgate, powered driver seats with memory function, leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, paddle-shifters and parking sensors.
As the variant list indicates, the CX-30 can be had with two different propulsions, depending on the variant.
Firstly, a 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G petrol engine has 163hp and 213Nm of torque for the base and High variants; while a 1.8-litre SkyActiv-D diesel unit has 114hp and 270Nm of torque.
Front-wheel drive and six-speed SkyAcitv-Drive automatic transmission combination is standard across the board.
Additionally, the CX-30 comes with the brand’s G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC Plus) and i-Stop Idling Technology for an improved fuel efficiency.
As for the safety department, all CX-30 variants are fitted with seven airbags as standard.
The higher High and Diesel trims get added kits, including Adaptive Front Lighting System, High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring System, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Smart Brake Support and Mazda Radar Cruise Control.