Mazda has caught everyone by surprise on the first media day of the Geneva motor show, pulling the wraps off a new SUV to be known as the Mazda CX-30, rather than the CX-4 label originally anticipated for the vehicle.
The Mazda CX-30 will sit in the product range between the CX-3 small SUV and the CX-5 mid-size SUV. Mazda Australia expects that despite being built on the new Mazda3 small-car platform, the CX-30 will compete with rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai in the official VFACTS small SUV segment when it arrives in Australia.
At this stage, Mazda Australia has said very little else about the car's specification for our market, but local MD Vinesh Bhindi has indicated the Aussie-spec CX-30 won't lob in the local market before 2020 at the earliest.
The vehicle unveiled in Geneva is a production model though, not a concept car, Bhindi has told carsales.com.au. But Mazda Australia is yet to be informed which of the company's plants will be building the CX-30 for Australian consumers.
Furthermore, the delay for Australia is not due solely to the wait for production to commence, but also for the new SUV to reach European markets first, indicating Mazda's regional aspirations for the CX-30.
“It will be made at key global plants so we can deliver Mazda’s renowned driving pleasure and matured Kodo design to customers all over the world,” said Akira Marumoto, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO.
“Moving forward, our new products and technologies will ensure customers continue to see the value in owning a Mazda car. We aim to be recognised as a brand that forms the strongest of bonds with each customer,” Marumoto was quoted as saying in a Mazda press release.
Embracing the latest iteration of the Kodo styling theme, the Mazda CX-30 is claimed by the manufacturer to “comfortably” seat four adults, which distinguishes it from the smaller CX-3 and places it on a similar footing to the Mazda CX-5.
At just under 4.4 metres in length, the Mazda CX-30 is 120mm longer than the CX-3, but 150mm shorter than the CX-5. When it comes to wheelbase measurements, the CX-30 (2655mm) is 85mm more generous than the CX-3, but 45mm short of the CX-5's figure.
As with those two dimensions, the CX-30 also sits between CX-3 and CX-5 for width (1795mm), but the new SUV is the same height as the CX-3. Luggage capacity for the Mazda CX-30 is claimed to be 430 litres, which is just 12 litres less than the current CX-5's boot space.
The projected specification for Australia is a closely guarded secret at present, but Mazda advises that the CX-30 for different global markets will be available with the SKYACTIV-X (HCCI) engine, plus SKYACTIV-D (diesel) and SKYACTIV-G (petrol) engines.
Mazda advises that the CX-30 will offer mild-hybrid powertrains with either the 2.0-litre SKYACTIV-G or SKYACTIV-X engines at their core.
The diesel engine in the CX-30 is the 1.8-litre unit from the CX-3 rather than the 2.2-litre engine offered with the CX-5. That might rule out a diesel CX-30 in the local market.
The same may be true for the 2.0-litre petrol model with mild-hybrid technology. There's no mention of 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated or turbocharged engines for the CX-30.
Front-wheel drive models run a torsion beam rear suspension, but all-wheel drive will be available also. The CX-30 will also feature G-Vectoring Control Plus, and primary safety will be updated with an expanded raft of i-Activesense features, including a Driver Monitoring system, Front Cross Traffic Alert (FCTA) and Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS) system. In all markets the CX-30 will be equipped with a knee airbag for the driver.