Mazda CX-30 makes your destination an adventure
When you find yourself, sandboard in hand, at the base of the magnificent Lancelin sand dunes near Perth, driving isn’t a chore — it’s fun. You need a Mazda CX-30 to take you there.
It’s an uncomfortable thought, considering their education level and bank balances, but it’s likely that, when they are still tiny, your children will choose your car for you – or at least dictate its size.
Eventually, though, a magical day dawns when you realise you’ve said farewell to the frustration of car seats and you’re able to start looking for a family car that’s less of a bus and more of a pleasure. A time when you can begin to consider road trips that are more than simply ferrying kids to school, and exotic destinations that aren’t just far-flung sports events.
This would be the perfect time to invest in a stylish little number like the Mazda CX-30 Astina. It’s a compact SUV, which means space without bulk and, thanks to its zesty 2.5-litre turbo engine (114kW/200Nm), you’re not compromising on power - it’s just as suited to the open road as it is to the stop-start of the city.
It’s the kind of car that reminds you that driving can be fun, that a destination can be an adventure. Thus awakened, I felt compelled to do something out of character and thus my daughters and I found ourselves — sandboards in hand — at the base of the magnificent Lancelin sand dunes, just a 90-minute drive north of Perth.
This also gave me the chance to try out the all-wheel-drive Mazda CX-30 on sand and dirt, where I found it sure-footed and confidence-inspiring. The view from the towering tips of the dunes? Slightly less so.
While you’re not going to fit the senior basketball team in the rear seats, it’s definitely big enough for a family of five, and the 317-litre boot has room for sandboards, bassoons and most things in between. Underfloor storage lets you expand that to 430 litres and if you fold down the rear seats, opening up 1406 litres of space, a shopping spree at Ikea wouldn’t be out of the question.
The front seats are spacious (and heated), and the dual phone charging ports in the centre console are a convenient way to keep kids quiet if they’re not playing DJ with Apple CarPlay.
But while kids (and adults) may salivate over how good their music sounds on the exceptional Bose speakers (standard on the Astina model, yours for $45,310), what drivers should really be getting excited about is the Mazda’s safety features.
Yes, it seems I have reached that age when I get excited about safety features, and the Active Driving Display in particular. Is it life-changing? Quite possibly.
Life is a distraction. Kids are a distraction. With so much going on around us, anything that simplifies driving can only be a good thing. The Mazda Head Up Display puts all the information you need directly in front of you, floating magically out beyond the windscreen, including speed limits and school zones, warnings that a car is in your blind spot or that you’re drifting out of your lane.
If you’re using the satellite-navigation system, it also includes next-turn directions. The Active Driving Display is so comprehensive, you will never even need to move your head the few degrees to the left to check out the 8.8-inch ultra-widescreen display in the centre dash.
It’s a pity this display isn’t touchscreen, and scrolling with the dial can be painful, but overall, the entire sat-nav and infotainment systems are instinctual and easy to use.
Another safety feature that had me swooning was the Radar Cruise Control (RCC), which automatically adjusts your speed to match the vehicle ahead. This means you’re not going to run up the rear end of someone if they slow unexpectedly, nor constantly have to reset the cruise.
It’s a brilliant piece of technology but you can tell that the CX-30 wants to be let loose on the open road. The car strains with pent-up energy when it’s in cruise control, particularly when forced by the traffic in front to go slower than the speed you’ve set.
It’s a familiar sensation for anyone with small kids, or – as it turns out – for anyone stuck on a sandboard at the top of a dune because they haven’t used enough wax. Once you get it right, however, sandboarding is a hoot, and surprisingly addictive.
Other safety features include seven airbags, a five-star ANCAP safety rating and Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), which can detect pedestrians and cyclists.
None of this means you can be complacent at the wheel – this Mazda is not autonomous – but it’s reassuring to know you and your passengers are protected by layers and layers of technology, and if you’re at that stage when you have learner drivers in your life, mum and dad can be confident the car will slow down or give a warning before you’ve even clenched your teeth (or buttocks) in the passenger seat.
The CX-30 sees all, and at a time when car bays are getting smaller and smaller, the 360-degree cameras, and front and rear parking sensors make light work of even the tightest reverse or parallel parking. Yet another boon for those with L plates.
I loved the look of the CX-30, but its beauty is more than skin deep; it doesn’t just look good, it feels good, too. The cabin seems to have been designed with your hands in mind – the seats are quality leather, the steering wheel smooth and luxurious. Even the buttons have a deeply satisfying “clicking” sensation.
The CX-30 is a compact SUV that punches above its weight, taking on a lot of the heavy lifting of driving for you and allowing you to focus on the journey, and your sense of adventure.