Used Mazda CX-30 for sale: everything you need to know

Mazda has carved out a niche for itself in the new car market. Smaller than most car companies, it hasn’t made the same investments in electric power as some, instead concentrating on perfecting petrol and diesel technology, and developing attractive cars that drive well and feel far more upscale than most of their rivals inside.

The CX-30 is all this, in the shape of a surprisingly sleek crossover, aimed at models like the Toyota C-HR - it’s a little more low-slung than most, but what you lose in a commanding driving position, you gain in the way the CX-30 feels on the road. Its engine choice is a little limited, but it’s still a pleasure to drive.

Other crossovers blurring the line between conventional family hatchbacks and SUVs include the Volkswagen T-Roc and Kia XCeed, as well as premium-badged models like the Audi Q2, BMW X2 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. It might not have their image, but the cabin is up there with any of them.

Should you buy a Mazda CX-30?

The Mazda CX-30 is something of a left-field choice, but there are plenty of reasons you might want to buy one. Perhaps its strongest facets are the way it looks and, with a few qualifiers, the way it drives - areas which apply almost throughout the current Mazda range.

While it’s nominally an SUV, the CX-30 is part of a breed that sit a little lower than some others - it’s around 10cm lower than Mazda’s own CX-5, for instance. While this means it’s not as easy to peer over other cars, or hedges, it does make the CX-30 feel sportier to drive, without other vehicles completely towering over you.

It certainly benefits the styling, which we reckon is more attractive than almost all its rivals, while Mazda has nailed the interior too. While not the most spacious in its class, the cabin is very classy indeed, with a simple, driver-focused layout, quality materials, and a solid feel to everything. Unlike so many other cars, the dashboard isn’t dominated by enormous screens either.

The CX-30 is great to drive, with fluid handling and a compliant ride, while Mazda is a master at getting controls right: the steering and gearshift both feel great. The one let-down is the limited engine range: neither the regular Skyactiv G petrol nor the fancier Skyactiv X petrol quite have the urge of their turbocharged equivalents in other cars. They often get closer to their mpg figures than rivals, however.

Closest in spirit to the CX-30 is probably the Toyota C-HR - another sporty-looking crossover that puts style ahead of outright space, and has a limited but frugal range of engines. But the Mazda’s premium-feeling interior also means it’s a worthy rival for cars like the Audi Q2, BMW X2 and Mercedes GLA. These German models do offer much more choice with engines, though.

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What’s the best used Mazda CX-30 model to buy?

The Skyactiv X petrol engine promises a bit more than it delivers, so while the Skyactiv G isn’t as powerful and not quite as economical on paper, it’s the one we’d go for - it’s willing and refined, and should prove reliable over time. The only real sacrifice you make is that it’s not available with all-wheel drive.

As we detail further down, Mazda’s trim levels confusingly changed a few years ago, but of the trim lines available before this change we’d suggest finding an SE-L Lux, which shouldn’t be much more expensive than the SE-L but adds a reversing camera, power tailgate and heated front seats, each of which should make your life easier. The later cars are better equipped to start with, but again we’d go one grade above the basic model to the Centre Line, which again gets heated seats, parking sensors, and keyless entry.

Used Mazda CX-30 fuel economy and performance

• Mazda CX-30 2.0 Skyactiv G: Mazda has resisted turbocharging in its models so the basic version gets a 2-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol, making a modest 122PS and available with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic gearbox, and front-wheel drive only. The manual gets from 0-62mph in 10.6 seconds and the automatic in 11.2, with combined economy of 47.9mpg and 44.8mpg respectively.
• Mazda CX-30 2.0 Skyactiv X: The Skyactiv X is a clever engine that supposedly combines the benefits of petrol and diesel power. It produces 186PS, and comes in manual and automatic forms, with either front-wheel drive or AWD. Quickest is the front wheel drive manual at 8.3 seconds from 0-62mph, and slowest is the AWD automatic, at 9.0 seconds. The front-drive manual is also most frugal, at 50.4mpg to the AWD auto’s 42.8mpg.

What used Mazda CX-30 trim levels are available?

Mazda has recently changed its trim line structure for the CX-30, which makes direct comparison of the different lines quite tricky. The current trim lines are listed below, and they are at least more memorable than the previous grades, which went through SE-L, SE-L Lux, Sport Lux, GT Sport, and GT Sport Tech. Breaking each down completely would be far too confusing, so we’ll just say that the entry-level SE-L was already decently well equipped, with features such as LED headlights, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, and air conditioning, while subsequent grades added kit like reversing cameras (SE-L Lux), a power tailgate (Sport Lux), 12-speaker Bose audio (GT Sport) and a 360-degree parking camera (GT Sport Tech).

• The Mazda CX-30 Prime Line is the current entry point to the range, with standard kit including 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a reversing camera, a 10.25-inch infotainment display with CarPlay and Android Auto, air conditioning, radar cruise control, and a head-up display.
• The Mazda CX-30 Centre Line adds front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, driving modes in automatic versions, dual-zone climate control, radar cruise control, and keyless entry.
• The Mazda CX-30 Homura is based on Prime Line trim and upgrades to 18-inch alloys, a power tailgate, privacy glass, rain-sensing wipers, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, driving modes on automatic models, and keyless entry, plus red stitching for the black trim.
• The Mazda CX-30 Exclusive Line builds on Centre Line trim, with 18-inch alloys, adaptive LED headlights, a power tailgate, paddle shift for the automatic models, and 12-speaker Bose audio.
• The Mazda CX-30 Takumi gets a 360-degree parking camera, leather trim, a heated steering wheel, power adjustment for the driver’s seat, and extra driver safety and assistance features.

Used Mazda CX-30 dimensions and boot size

The Mazda CX-30’s dimensions are:

• Length: 4395mm
• Width: 1795mm (without mirrors), 2040mm (with mirrors)
• Height: 1540mm

The Mazda CX-30’s boot size is:

• 430 litres (422 litres with Bose audio)
• 1406 litres with the rear seats folded (to roof, 1398 litres with Bose audio)

Used Mazda CX-30 road tax

The Mazda CX-30 debuted in 2019, which means that after the first year of VED or ‘road tax’ based on CO2 emissions, all are charged at a flat rate of tax. This figure currently stands at £180 per year, though is subject to change at the government Budget. All CX-30s cost well under the £40,000 mark at which a surcharge is applied.

How much is it to insure a Mazda CX-30?

No CX-30 should be too dear to insure, with basic 2-litre Skyactiv G versions starting in group 12, and even top-spec Skyactiv X models not rising above group 19. The previous-generation Toyota C-HR started in group 14 for a 1.8-litre hybrid and rose to around group 22 for a GR Sport with the 2-litre hybrid setup, so the CX-30 is right in the same ballpark.

Read our full Mazda CX-30 review