Updating the Mazda CX-30 brought with it the adoption of a mild-hybrid 24 V system, which promises lower emissions (officially lowered from 141 g/km to 134 g/km). However, the unusual, nowadays, atmospheric gasoline engine remains, which is renamed e-Skyactiv G (gained the prefix “e-”), alluding to its (shy) electrification.
When it comes to powertrains, Mazda continues to set its own pace. While most manufacturers have bet and continue to bet on downsizing and turbo engines, the Japanese brand remains faithful to atmospheric engines with the “rightsizing” capacity.
In the case of this CX-30, that means an atmospheric 2.0 l four-cylinder in-line, here with 150 hp — the same specs as the CX-30 Skyactiv G that Fernando Gomes tested a while ago — combined with the excellent manual gearbox . Did the mild-hybrid system bring added value?
The same
Already our “old acquaintance”, the Mazda CX-30 keeps intact all its recognized qualities. The interior is remarkably robust, materials mostly on par in terms of pleasantness to those of the premium proposals and a critical-proof ergonomics (the rotary control for navigating the infotainment system menus, whose non-touch screen, is a plus. worth).
In the field of habitability, despite not being a benchmark, the CX-30 has arguments to establish itself as the most familiar Mazda proposal in the C-segment. The luggage compartment with 430 liters of capacity responds well to family needs and the space behind is more than That's enough for two adults to travel in comfort.
The interior is characterized by sobriety and general quality.
Criticism-proof dynamics
Like the interior, the Mazda CX-30's dynamic handling continues to deserve praise. Steering is precise and direct, and the CX-30 presents the driver with assumed agility and remarkable levels of control, progressiveness and precision that make driving easy and, above all, very pleasant.
The relationship between comfort and handling is well ensured by a suspension that knows how to benefit both without harming any of them, and the feel of the controls reminds us why Japanese models are often praised in this field: everything is precise, oiled and has a mechanical feel which, in an era of digitization, we are beginning to miss.
The 430 liter trunk is not a benchmark, but it is enough.
As for the engine, I must admit that the addition of the mild-hybrid system will go unnoticed by the vast majority of drivers (unless they start “digging” in the infotainment system menus). Smooth and progressive, this 2.0 e-Skyactiv G reminds us of the reasons why atmospheric engines were, for many years, the “kings”.
The 150 hp appears at 6000 rpm, and the 213 Nm of torque appears at 4000 rpm — much higher than in the more common turbo engines — causing us to end up “stretching” more the (long) ratios of the six manual gearbox speeds that you like to activate (the stroke is short and the touch pleasant). All of this would be, from the outset, a “recipe” for high consumption, but not only is e-Skyactiv G limited in appetite, but the benefits of the mild-hybrid system make it even more evident.
On the road, the long ratios and the cylinder deactivation system allow for averages in the range of 4.9 to 5.2 l/100 km. In cities, the mild-hybrid system is called to intervene more frequently, helping to reduce the work of the engine during accelerations and starts.
Thanks to the system, I registered consumption in cities that did not go beyond 7.5 to 8 l/100 km — approximately half a liter less than in the Mazda CX-30 with the same engine without the mild-hybrid system.
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The mild-hybrid system consists of an electric motor-generator, driven by a belt, in a 24-V lithium-ion battery, capable of recovering energy when the vehicle is in deceleration. It not only assists the heat engine during starts, but also provides an optimized operation of the stop-start system, thereby reducing consumption and emissions.Is it the right car for you?
It's not the mild-hybrid system that will drastically transform the Mazda CX-30 as proposed. What this one does is to reinforce the arguments of a model that did not lack them.
With a greater focus on style than versatility, outstanding quality and an engine that is a reminder that combustion still has its arguments, the Mazda CX-30 continues to stand out as a proposition to consider for anyone looking for an model with a quality on par with so-called premium proposals, it values a distinct and elegant aesthetic (without “screaming”), and does not forgo one of the most interesting driving experiences in the segment.