Mazda CX-30 2024 review: G25 GT SP long-term | Part 2

Is the CX-30 the best-looking car in its class? 

As I write this, Toyota is in the process of launching its second-gen C-HR small SUV and it’s been designed with European style in mind, but I think the Mazda has it beat for suave vibes.

The new Kona looks fresh - it’ll be interesting to see how it ages over the years, while the Subaru Crosstrek looks the part and Honda’s current HR-V is handsome without being too flashy.

When Mazda’s current design language first came to the masses in the current Mazda3, it was a revelation. Then, it was a little pricey, but everything else caught up over the thing that happened from 2020 onwards.

Now, the CX-30 looks like perhaps the most stylish small SUV you can get for the money.

This one, the GT SP, looks particularly swish in my eye thanks to black 18-inch alloys and the black grille, which contrasts nicely with the chromey brightwork that spans the front of the car - something I don’t normally love on a modern car. Chrome styling feels very ‘of a time’ to me.

I mentioned it in the first instalment of this long term review, but the GT SP also comes with some stuff you’d need to pay a fair bit for to option in a Euro.

The heated steering wheel and front seats – the seats themselves finished in Burgundy leather – the sunroof, wireless phone charging, all not necessarily guaranteed in a base model from, say, Germany.

In fact, I’ve been disappointed by more than a few base-spec European models that seemed to be priced for the badge on the grille.

It’s also the little things - all the buttons and dials (like the temperature knobs for the climate controls) have a solid, satisfying feeling that seems to be low on the priority list for some car brands. I’m absolutely here for the nice ‘click’ sound as I’m trying to cool the car (and maybe that leather) down on a hot day.

It’s not just the looks, either, the CX-30 could hold its own against a fair few small SUVs in terms of its drive, too.

I’m not talking about a track day or anything like that, but the CX-30 GT SP is smooth.

The suave looks in and out of the CX-30 actually match up really nicely with the way this car drives. You can actually judge this book by its cover!

The steering is light, predictable and communicative. It’s comfy in the city and engaging at high speeds, but not tiring on the highway.

Its suspension is probably on the slightly stiffer side, but it’s not uncomfortable. It makes you feel connected with what’s going on and gives you a really good sense of control. It’s welcome in a world where some cars are feeling a little dulled dynamically.

And, as much as I could berate the engine for being a bit dated on paper, Mazda’s probably keeping it around because of how smoothly it works with the six-speed auto.

Find a winding country road, even a rough and bumpy one, and you’ll have a good time. Actually, good luck finding a country road that’s not rough.

Oh, and it’s got Sport Mode… for if you wanna hear it sound a little overworked, to be honest.

I’ve always thought it was funny that Sport Mode is so common in Mazdas, where the fun chassis dynamics outshine the drivetrain’s eagerness. Here, the paddles behind the wheel are enough to keep the revs where you need them and make power available when you need it.

Yes, the 2.5-litre unit in the GT SP (plus its all-wheel drive) is welcome over the 2.0-litre found in lower-spec front-driver CX-30s, and it works really well with the six-speed auto - smooth like I said - but it could certainly be more efficient.

Since summer holidays ended and the CX-30 has been relegated back to the real world of driving to work and running about in the inner-city (as has its custodian… that’s me, I miss going to the beach), fuel use has, uh, increased somewhat.

While 8.2L/100km during the holidays felt like a relatively reasonable increase over the 6.8L/100km claimed figure provided by Mazda - we don’t always drive in controlled conditions after all - the jump to 11.0L/100km is a bit of a surprise, especially given I’ve been relatively gentle on the ol’ right pedal.

Granted, I did pick this car up when it had just been run in to the near-1000km mark by Mazda Australia, so there’s still some settling into its peak performance to go, but 4.2L over the claim (about a 62 per cent increase) isn’t ideal.

I’ll keep that in mind for the next, and final, update to see if I can lower that without driving unrealistically.

Acquired: December, 2023

Distance travelled this month: 658km

Odometer: 2629km

Average fuel consumption this month: 11.0L/100km (measured at the pump)