Mazda CX-30

Mazda CX-30: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Mazda CX-30 has one generation, in production since 2019, with an SUV 5-doors body and 16 modifications in the full generation record; the supplied catalogue shows 12 of them.

The Mazda CX-30 has one generation, in production since 2019, with an SUV 5-doors body and 16 modifications in the full generation record; the supplied catalogue shows 12 of them. Among these versions, the main choice is between the turbo Diesel 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT, both producing 116 hp and 270 Nm, and the naturally aspirated Gasoline 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT, offered with either 122 hp and 213 Nm or 180 hp and 224 Nm. Every listed engine is a front-transverse Inline 4, every transmission has 6 gears, and both FWD and AWD are represented. For minimum measured combined consumption, choose the 180 hp 2.0 MT FWD at 4.6 l/100 km. For the strongest low-speed torque, choose a 116 hp 1.8 version with 270 Nm. For the quickest acceleration, the 180 hp 2.0 MT FWD reaches 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds.

Mazda CX-30 generations and versions

The 1 generation began in 2019 and has no stop date in the supplied data. It uses the SUV 5-doors body and contains 16 modifications, of which 12 are shown here. No separate restyling is identified, so there is no second generation to compare and no data-backed claim can be made about what changed between generations.

The 12 displayed entries comprise four 116 hp Diesel configurations, four 122 hp Gasoline configurations, and four 180 hp Gasoline configurations. Because several entries share the same database name, they are distinguished below by power, transmission and drive. This is essential when comparing the 2.0 MT and 2.0 AT choices.

Mazda CX-30 engine options and specs

The 116 hp Diesel develops about 66.0 hp per litre, the 122 hp Gasoline engine about 61.1 hp per litre, and the 180 hp Gasoline engine about 90.1 hp per litre. The Diesel’s defining advantage is torque: its 270 Nm output is 57 Nm above the 122 hp Gasoline engine and 46 Nm above the 180 hp Gasoline engine. It also produces that torque at 1600–2600 rpm, while the 122 hp Gasoline reaches 213 Nm at 4000 rpm and the 180 hp Gasoline reaches 224 Nm at 3000 rpm.

The 180 hp 2.0 has 58 hp more than the 122 hp 2.0 despite sharing the same 1998 cc displacement. Both Gasoline specifications use direct injection and no boost. The supplied data contains no hybrid version. A turbo is listed only for the Diesel 1.8 versions; no Gasoline turbo version appears in the supplied selection.

Mazda CX-30 performance and mpg

The clearest performance choice is the 180 hp 2.0. Its four configurations reach 100 km/h in 8.5–9.2 seconds, whereas the 122 hp 2.0 versions require 10.6–11.7 seconds and the 116 hp 1.8 versions require 10.8–13.5 seconds. All 180 hp versions have a measured top speed of 204 km/h, 18–22 km/h above the corresponding range for the 122 hp versions and 21–25 km/h above the Diesel range.

The 2.0 MT (180 hp, FWD) combines the quickest 8.5-second acceleration with the lowest measured combined consumption, 4.6 l/100 km, among the Gasoline choices. Its 105 g/km CO₂ figure is also the lowest in the displayed data. The 1.8 MT (116 hp, FWD) consumes even less on the highway at 4.1 l/100 km and records 4.4 l/100 km combined, but its city figure of 5.1 l/100 km is only 0.1 l/100 km below that of the 180 hp Manual FWD.

Choosing Automatic generally raises measured combined consumption relative to the Manual with the same engine output and drive. The increase is 0.6 l/100 km for both FWD Diesel versions and FWD 180 hp Gasoline versions, 0.5 l/100 km for the AWD Diesel and AWD 180 hp Gasoline versions, and 0.4 l/100 km for the 122 hp Gasoline versions with either drive.

US mpg figures are not measured. UK mpg figures are not measured. Only consumption in l/100 km is supplied.

Mazda CX-30 dimensions, weight and wheels

External length, width and height are not measured in the supplied data, so Mazda CX-30 dimensions in centimetres or inches cannot be stated here. Every displayed version has 175 mm of ground clearance, a 51-litre tank, and wheel choices of 215/65 R16 or 215/55 R18.

The 2.0 MT (122 hp, FWD) is the lightest at 1320 kg, while the 2.0 AT (180 hp, AWD) is the heaviest at 1471 kg, a difference of 151 kg. Within otherwise comparable configurations, AWD adds 51 kg to the 122 hp Manual, 80 kg to the 122 hp Automatic, 85 kg to the 180 hp Manual and 80 kg to the 180 hp Automatic. For the Diesel, AWD adds 83 kg to the Manual but only 43 kg to the Automatic.

The 180 hp versions have a decisive power-to-weight advantage. At 7.60–8.17 kg/hp, they carry much less weight per horsepower than the 122 hp versions at 10.82–11.67 kg/hp or the Diesel versions at 11.61–12.47 kg/hp.

Which Mazda CX-30 version should you buy?

Choose the 2.0 MT (180 hp, FWD) if acceleration, efficiency and low weight per horsepower matter most. It is the quickest at 8.5 seconds to 100 km/h, matches the highest listed top speed of 204 km/h, has the lowest combined Gasoline consumption at 4.6 l/100 km and the lowest CO₂ figure at 105 g/km. At 1368 kg, it achieves the best weight-to-power result of 7.60 kg/hp.

Choose the 1.8 MT (116 hp, FWD) if low measured fuel use and strong low-rpm torque take priority over acceleration. Its 4.4 l/100 km combined figure is the lowest in the table, its 4.1 l/100 km highway result is also the lowest, and its 270 Nm arrives at 1600–2600 rpm. The trade-off is a 10.8-second 0–100 km/h time and 183 km/h top speed.

Choose the 2.0 MT (122 hp, FWD) if you want the lightest listed CX-30. Its 1320 kg kerb weight is 27 kg below the lightest Diesel and 48 kg below the 180 hp Manual FWD. It reaches 100 km/h in 10.6 seconds and returns 5.1 l/100 km combined.

Choose AWD only when AWD itself is the required specification: within each directly comparable engine and transmission pairing, it adds weight, reduces top speed or leaves it unchanged, and increases combined consumption. The smallest combined-consumption penalty is 0.3 l/100 km for the Manual Diesel, both 122 hp Manual and both 180 hp Manual choices. The largest is 0.5 l/100 km for the 122 hp Automatic.

Choose Automatic for transmission preference rather than for better measured performance. In every matching comparison, the Automatic is slower to 100 km/h and consumes more fuel combined than the Manual. The smallest acceleration penalty is 0.3 seconds for the 180 hp engine with either drive; the largest is 1.9 seconds between the AWD Diesel versions.

Price, vehicles for sale, used-car reliability, years to avoid, engine-malfunction history, oil specifications, air-filter location and replacement procedures are not measured in the supplied data. Consequently, there is no factual basis here for saying that one version costs less, is more reliable or is cheaper to maintain. Based strictly on the available specifications, the 2.0 MT (180 hp, FWD) is the strongest all-round numerical choice, while the 1.8 MT (116 hp, FWD) is the consumption-and-torque alternative.