2020 Mazda CX-30 Review | Philkotse Philippines

As cliché as it may sound, life is indeed a high octane journey. One day you’re barely trying to survive college, then just a snap you’re now in your late 20s and nearing the time where your age is no longer included in the calendar. Ouch.

That thought is exactly what we felt when Mazda Philippines gave us the keys of the 2020 CX-30 FWD Sport.

We sort of came up with that random thought because the Mazda CX-30 is like a vehicle that’s stuck between living a carefree lifestyle to a being a responsible adult. To find out why, here’s Philkotse’s Mazda CX-30 2020 review.

2020 Mazda CX-30 FWD Sport exterior comes with a sharp design that’s similar to its other Mazda sibling. It features a sporty appeal along with a premium-looking exterior, which is like an individual that’s dressed like a millennial but has to be prim and proper.

The sporty and premium-looking demeanor of this vehicle can easily be seen at the sweptback headlights, distinctive black grille, and sleek front bumper.

It also comes with chrome accents that further adds to the vehicle’s premium-looking front end. Now, we’re not a fan of chrome-trimmed grilles but the CX-30’s grille design is an exception since it is not exaggerated.

It is subtle and it is not much of an attention seeker, which further adds to the CX-30’s premium finish.

2020 Mazda CX-30 FWD Sport

When viewed full front, you may mistakenly think that the CX-30 is a sedan. However, once you go to the side, you’ll realize that it’s actually a crossover. To put things in perspective, the Mazda CX-30 sits between the CX-3 and the CX-5.

This is one of the things that made us think that the CX-30 is like a vehicle that’s caught between living a carefree lifestyle to being a responsible adult. As such, the CX-30 is an ideal vehicle if you’re just starting out to have a family while keeping a bit of your young self with you.

The white and black exterior of the CX-30 looks good

Moving on to the side of the vehicle, the CX-30 is integrated with smooth character lines that run from the front and all the way to the back. You can also see that this vehicle comes with black plastic claddings, which we find appealing since it’s a perfect complement to the CX-30’s white exterior color.

Moreover, the black claddings give the CX-30 a subtle rugged look that suggests that this crossover can take on tough terrain too.

However, we think that the black claddings would not go well with other exterior color options of the CX-30. Also, the black claddings could appear too thick if the CX-30 comes with a different color. You just can’t go wrong with the white and black combo. But that’s just us.

Look at that taillights

The sharp and sleek styling continues to be seen at the rear. Similar to the front end, the CX-30’s rear has a sporty appeal with a touch of elegance.

This design trait is commonly associated with Mazda vehicles. The CX-30’s taillights, roof spoiler, and rear bumper complement each other to achieve a sporty yet premium design.

Overall, the Mazda CX-30 is a good looking car and we can’t find anything we don’t like about it. Well, except for the black claddings that we talked about. But as a whole, we give a thumbs up for the 2020 Mazda CX-30 exterior.

Inside, the Mazda CX-30 FWD Sport comes with a two-tone (black and blue), dark theme that makes the cabin look elegant and sporty at the same time. This can be seen with its driver-oriented dashboard that comes with seamless integration of essential in-car functions, elements, and buttons.

The design of the dash looks clean and it’s clutter-free, which is a welcome sight and a break from the fancy interiors of other cars we have recently driven. When you sit on the driver’s seat, you’ll see how Mazda seamlessly designed the CX-30’s dashboard.

The CX-30's interior comes with seamless integration of in-car functions

It only comes with two circular knobs for aircon temp controls as well as essential buttons for climate controls, and hazard lights.

Moreover, the design of the aircon vents is well thought as it blends well into the whole layout. We think that the 2020 Mazda CX-30 interior will give Marie Kondo a spark of joy since it comes with a clutter-free, seamless, and organized design.

The two-tone theme makes the CX-30's cabin premium-looking

The leather steering wheel of the Mazda CX-30 model is integrated with audio and cruise control functions, which is already a common feature in modern cars. It also comes with paddle shifters that will come in handy whenever you want to take over the shifting duties while you drive.

Rear passengers get enough legroom

In terms of seating capacity, the CX-30 can fit up to five individuals. However, in order to maximize the CX-30’s rear passenger area, it’s recommended to sit only two fully grown individuals at the back. The leg-, elbow-, and head-room at the rear passenger area are generous and it’s more than enough to make two 5’8” persons have a comfortable ride.

This vehicle also comes with rear aircon vents, which is perfect for people who can’t stand the tropical heat. Cargo space is also good as it can take on a week’s supply of groceries, two medium-size luggage, and even a baby stroller without a problem.

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The CX-30 comes with an 8.8-inch multimedia screen that can be controlled using the Mazda rotary control knob found at the center console, just before the center armrest. This knob lets you control and tweak necessary vehicle functions that can be accessed via the 8.8-inch screen that’s placed on top of the dashboard. The rotary control knob is placed between the electronic parking brake switch and the volume controls.

Controlling the screen through the knob may be challenging for some but we don’t see that as a problem since it’s easy to get used to it. This CX-30 also comes with Mazda’s i-Stop tech, which could help you get better fuel mileage. In case you’re wondering, this car comes with eight non-Bose speakers. The 12-Bose speaker system is fitted to the higher variants of the CX-30.

You'll appreciate the organized interior layout of the CX-30

In terms of safety, the 2020 Mazda CX-30 FWD Sport is loaded with features that will make you feel safe and confident while you’re on the road. It comes with seven airbags as well as the standard anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution. This vehicle is also equipped with stability control and a review camera.

On the other hand, the all-wheel-drive variants of the CX-30 are better equipped when it comes to safety features as it comes with Mazda’s i-Activesense tech. It includes features such as radar cruise control, front-cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, among others.

Under the hood, this 2020 Mazda CX-30 is equipped with a 2.0-liter SkyActiv gasoline engine that delivers 152 hp and 200 Nm of torque. It is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

The CX-30 comes with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine

The CX-30 inherits the driving dynamics of other Mazda vehicles. It drives and rides well, giving you a fun driving experience. The engine is well-capable and provides enough power to push the CX-30. The six-speed automatic transmission is as smooth as your pick up lines during your heyday.

It has minimum to no shift shock at all when you’re in lower gears or even when you start accelerating from a standstill. The paddle shifters are also responsive in case you want to take over the shifting duties to have more organic control of the CX-30. In addition, this vehicle comes with a sport mode.

The CX-30 will give you a fun driving experience

Driving this Mazda around the city is not a problem due to its light steering feel. This makes it easy to drive the CX-30 on tight city streets or whenever you want to change lanes on stop-and-go traffic. It also helps you park the vehicle easier and more convenient.

You’ll also appreciate the leather-wrapped steering wheel of the CX-30 since it gives you a better grip and it makes your drive more comfortable. The CX-30 also has a stable ride and it comes with minimum body roll. And yes, it can absorb the dilapidated roads of Metro Manila within reason.

Cargo space of the CX-30

Moreover, the forward visibility of the CX-30 is nice since the driver’s seat comes with a height adjustment that can help you get your most preferred driving position. However, we wish that the CX-30 FWD Sport already comes with an electronically adjustable driver’s seat that’s equipped in the higher-spec variants.

The sound insulation of the cabin is also worth noting as it reduces outside noise to a minimum. In terms of fuel economy, we got 10.7 km/l while driving at an average speed of 45 km/h, which is not bad at all. Of note, we got the said fuel efficiency rating with only the driver on board and no cargo inside the vehicle.

Overall, the CX-30 is a well-capable crossover that comes with a sporty sedan-like exterior. This vehicle should be on your list when you’re looking for a car that has a youthful vibe and a spacious cargo space. However, one of the drawbacks that come with the CX-30 is its price tag. The CX-30 featured in this review is the mid-spec FWD Sport variant that’s priced at Php 1,790,000.

With that price point, you can already get a top-of-the-line Toyota Innova that’s priced Php 1,679,000 or a top-spec Honda BR-V that retails at Php 1,155,000. Furthermore, add an extra Php 5,000 on your budget and you can already drive home the 3.0L 4x2 AT variant of the Isuzu mu-X, priced at Php 1,795,000. So yeah, you can deny it all you want but adulting hits hard, and that is what the Mazda CX-30 taught us.

The CX-30 has a sporty and sleek rear design

Mazda CX-30 Philippines price - 2020

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