At that price, the 4.4-metre-long SUV with comparable features, such as series standards like a head-up display and LED headlights, costs some US$1,000 dollars more than the hatchback from the compact class. It's taking the fight to the Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V and Subaru XV, being a model slotted between the the CX-3 and CX-5.
The good news is that the CX-30 will be coming to Malaysia, probably next year, after it goes on sale in Europe in September. The local distributor is coy about whether the CX-30 will be locally assembled.
With a wheelbase measuring 2.66 metres, the CX-30 offers enough room for five passengers and up to 430 litres of luggage. Put the backseats down, and boot space grows exponentially, to 1,406 litres.
Under the bonnet, there's a 2-litre petrol engine with a mild hybrid and cylinder shutoff, or a diesel engine with a 1.8-litre capacity.
The petrol engine gets 122hp, while the diesel reaches 116hp. With those figures, speeds of up to 186kph are possible, according to the Japanese company.
Mazda plans to expand its engine offerings by the end of the year, offering a Skyactiv-X petrol engine with 180hp that promises fuel efficiency and power with a new ignition process.
