Mazda CX-30 review - MPG, CO2 and running costs
Advanced engine technology helps boost the CX-30’s fuel economy and lower its emissions
The front-wheel drive Skyactiv-X are the best CX-30s to go for when it comes to low emissions and high fuel economy. The engine uses advanced combustion technology to make it highly efficient, as well as mild-hybrid technology to boost fuel economy even further. On a combined cycle, Mazda claims this particular CX-30 is capable of up to 50.4mpg, while emitting 127g/km of CO2. Adding an automatic gearbox worsens these figures to 46.3mpg and 137g/km of CO2.
Incidentally, the economy numbers for the Skyactiv-X FWD auto model are identical to the all-wheel drive version with a manual gearbox. Change that for an auto and fuel economy drops to 42.8mpg and CO2 increases to 149g/km.
As for the lesser-powered Skyactiv-G variants (which does also use mild-hybrid tech), manual models are claimed to return 47.9mpg and emit 134g/km. Again, automatic models don’t perform as well – they only manage a combined fuel consumption of 44.8mpg and produce 143g/km of CO2.
We’ve tested the CX-30 with a Skyactiv-X engine a couple of times and achieved averages of between 40 and 41mpg. While below that of official numbers (which is normal), it compares favourably to a SEAT Ateca 1.5 TSI petrol and a Skoda Karoq 1.5 TSI petrol. The latter recorded an economy figure of 38.9mpg during a twin test with the CX-30. Diesel rivals promise better economy than the Mazda, but black-pump fuel is generally more expensive, offsetting the difference.
Insurance groups
Entry-level Mazda CX-30s should cost the least to insure, sitting in group 12. That said, the highest group any of the core models can sit in is 19. Limited edition 100th Anniversary versions (no longer available) are slightly worse and qualify for group 21. Interestingly, automatic gearboxes in some specs (for example SE-L Skyactiv-G) sit one group lower than the same trim with a manual transmission.
How these groups compare to rivals varies. Premium models such as the Audi Q2 can sit in much higher insurance groups – as do some less upmarket rivals, such as the Peugeot 3008. At the same time, alternatives such as the Skoda Karoq can both undercut and exceed the CX-30’s insurance groups depending on trim. Even so, excluding performance SUVs, such as the Audi SQ2, most model ranges are roughly comparable with the Mazda on insurance costs.
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Depreciation
Our experts predict that the Mazda CX-30 will have strong residual values. After a typical three-year/36,000-mile ownership period the CX-30 should hold onto around 52 per cent of its original value, with the mild-hybrid Skyactiv-X version in Exclusive-Line trim performing the best.
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