Photo: Mazda
While it may share underpinnings with the Mazda3, the CX-30 shouldn’t be confused with the CX-4 that’s made exclusively in China by a joint venture with the FAW group. Aimed at the rest of the world as a larger alternative to the CX-3 and smaller brother to the CX-5, the all-new model is tipped to be produced in Salamanca, Mexico.
Automotive News’ local branch understands that the official announcement will be made in September 2019. Salamanca is also where the Mazda3 four-door sedan is built while the five-door hatchback is made in Japan to free up production capacity for the CX-30 crossover in the Estados Unidos Mexicanos.
In an interview with Automotive News Mexico, the local head of Mazda made it clear why the automaker chose this country. “Strategic” is the name of the game because Mexico has commercial agreements with no fewer than 45 countries. In the words of Miguel Barbeyto, “it’s a suitable location to send vehicles to Central and South America, Europe, the United States, and Canada.”
Pricing, engine options, and equipment will be announced at a later date according to Barbeyto, but nevertheless, you shouldn’t be surprised by the similarities with the Mazda3 hatchback. The SkyActiv-G 2.5 should be the entry-level engine option in the United States of America as Mazda gears up to introduce the SkyActiv-X 2.0 in this part of the world in 2020 or 2021 at the latest.
Other markets will get the SkyActiv-G 2.0 and SkyActiv-D 1.8, along with the six-speed manual and automatic transmissions that Mazda utilizes in pretty much every model with the exception of Japan-only kei cars. Front-wheel drive by nature but also available with i-Activ all-wheel drive, the CX-30 shares the MacPherson struts up front and torsion beam at the rear with the Mazda3.
Mild hybridization will come in the guise of the 24-volt system of the SkyActiv-X engine, but going forward, a plug-in hybrid based on this platform is expected on the road in 2021. Given that the Mazda3 hatchback costs $23,600 and the CX-5 is $24,350 in the United States, it will be interesting to find out if the CX-30 will steal sales away from the former.
In an interview with Automotive News Mexico, the local head of Mazda made it clear why the automaker chose this country. “Strategic” is the name of the game because Mexico has commercial agreements with no fewer than 45 countries. In the words of Miguel Barbeyto, “it’s a suitable location to send vehicles to Central and South America, Europe, the United States, and Canada.”
Pricing, engine options, and equipment will be announced at a later date according to Barbeyto, but nevertheless, you shouldn’t be surprised by the similarities with the Mazda3 hatchback. The SkyActiv-G 2.5 should be the entry-level engine option in the United States of America as Mazda gears up to introduce the SkyActiv-X 2.0 in this part of the world in 2020 or 2021 at the latest.
Other markets will get the SkyActiv-G 2.0 and SkyActiv-D 1.8, along with the six-speed manual and automatic transmissions that Mazda utilizes in pretty much every model with the exception of Japan-only kei cars. Front-wheel drive by nature but also available with i-Activ all-wheel drive, the CX-30 shares the MacPherson struts up front and torsion beam at the rear with the Mazda3.
Mild hybridization will come in the guise of the 24-volt system of the SkyActiv-X engine, but going forward, a plug-in hybrid based on this platform is expected on the road in 2021. Given that the Mazda3 hatchback costs $23,600 and the CX-5 is $24,350 in the United States, it will be interesting to find out if the CX-30 will steal sales away from the former.
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