Road test: the Mazda CX-30 Urbane is a stylish cruiser for Dh99,000

Mazda has forged a reputation for turning out stylish, crisp-handling sedans and hatchbacks, but the crossover segment is where the action is at now, so the Japanese carmaker has diversified its line-up to the point where it now offers a quartet of these high-riding wagons.

Mazda CX-30 vs CX-3

The latest addition to Mazda’s portfolio is the CX-30, which slots into the micro-niche between the existing CX-3 and CX-5. At first glance, you may not pick up on the differences between the newcomer and the CX-3, as the pair share an obvious family resemblance, and their dimensions don't differ massively. That said, the CX-30 is 120 millimetres longer than its sibling, as well as being 30mm wider, 5mm taller and 85mm longer in wheelbase.

These dimensional stretches are intended to provide the CX-30 with more rear-seat room and luggage space than the CX-3, as its target market is customers with young families. The rear seats are still somewhat claustrophobic for adults, but they're quite adequate for the junior brigade. You can stash up to 430 litres in the luggage bay with all the seats in place, which is reasonably generous for a car of this size.

CX-30 Urbane features

Just one spec level is offered locally – the CX-30 Urbane – and it’s priced at Dh99,000, which reflects its premium positioning. This spend gets you standard features such as a sunroof, 18-inch alloys, two-tone leatherette seats, an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, dual-zone air-conditioning with rear AC vents, an electrically operated tailgate, a reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors.

Standard safety kit includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, which warns you of oncoming traffic when you’re reversing out of a nose-to-kerb parking spot. The 8.8-inch centre screen is set up for navigation, but you need to purchase an SD navigation card as an extra to activate it.

A comfortable cruiser

Propulsion for the CX-30 comes from a 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor with outputs of 153 horsepower and 200Nm, which are healthy enough, but you need to work the engine hard for overtaking manoeuvres and sprightly getaways from traffic lights. A six-speed auto is standard issue, and it does the job well enough, even though the transmission doesn’t always kick down to a lower gear when you want it to.

The Mazda is a relatively comfortable and refined cruiser, as noise levels are well controlled and ride quality is decent. However, if you try to hustle it through corners, you'll encounter body roll and understeer, although this isn't a complete surprise as the CX-30 wasn't conceived to be a hot-hatch.

Stylish design

Where the CX-30 scores strongly is in its styling and presentation – both inside and out. Mazda has been consistently nailing it in the design department, and its new compact crossover continues that trend. Especially resplendent is the model with the aptly named Soul Red paintwork.

Mazda refers to its design language as “Kodo”, which translates to “Soul of Motion”. Perhaps something is lost in translation, but what it means in real terms is that the brand’s products have a visual dynamism and crispness that’s lacking from most cars in the affordable segment.

The design flair carries through to the interior, as the cabin layout is both attractive and functional. The leatherette seats look good, and they’re comfortable and supportive.

As touched on earlier, the rear quarters are best left to the juniors, as anyone over 1.75 metres tall will feel cramped in there. Rearward visibility isn’t great from the driver’s seat, so it’s just as well the car is equipped with a reversing camera and parking sensors.

All in all, the CX-30 is a well-rounded crossover, but its almost Dh100,000 price tag may prompt many buyers to look towards cheaper and more spacious rivals, or perhaps even its less expensive CX-3 stablemate.

However, shoppers who are prepared to spend a little extra for the CX-30’s generous feature quota and premium feel may find it hits the sweet spot for them. They won’t be disappointed, either, as the CX-30 has its strengths and not too many shortcomings.