Mazda CX-30 to be sold alongside CX-3, not replace it
Sized to slot in between the existing CX-3 and CX-5, the new CX-30 will be a 'pure addition to the portfolio' and 'makes perfect sense'.
Mazda Australia says the recently-unveiled CX-30 compact SUV will complement the existing CX-3 instead of replacing it, with both models to sell side-by-side for the foreseeable future.
The new Mazda CX-30 sits between the CX-3 and CX-5 dimensionally, and Mazda believes that gives it an edge in the highly-popular SUV segment as buyers look for models that suit their particular needs.
“The idea of adding another SUV makes perfect sense,” Mazda Australia’s head of marketing told, Alistair Doak, today told us at the Geneva motor show.
“We are incredibly happy that it has happened because as demand continues to grow for SUVs, rather than look at it at that traditional industry segments, we always say that as demand increases, people will start demanding different submarkets within the larger markets.”
Above: Mazda CX-3. Top: Mazda CX-30.
Mazda’s current compact SUV, the CX-3, has been successful in its segment. It's currently the second-best seller and a more popular choice with private buyers. Doak says there's been negative media coverage on the CX-3 being too small, but consumer demand and the model’s success would suggest otherwise.
“But having said that there are also some people we know that said CX-5 is a bit too big, something in between would be even better. On a global scale, that conversation has happened elsewhere, so that got Mazda thinking, is there a big enough gap to fill, and enough customer demand to have a business case?," he asked.
"The answer to that was yes there was. So, for us we now have two entries into the small [SUV] segment. We already have two in the large [SUV] segment, so we have a small, small SUV and a larger small SUV.
“That to us is a great opportunity that makes perfect sense, you see the dimension [differences] between the cars and there is a clear differentiator between a CX-3, CX-30, and CX-5, which is ideal because it’s a natural story we can tell customers and we can show them the options and we are all about choices and having options.”
Above: Mazda CX-5.
If you happen to be wondering why the new car isn't branded as the CX-4, given it fits neatly between the CX-3 and CX-5, the answer is that Mazda sells a separate model in China with that name. We would argue Australian buyers are unlikely to confuse the two...
According to Mazda Australia boss, Vinesh Bhindi, the CX-30 is "a pure addition to the portfolio". Even so, at this early stage there is no confirmation of pricing or specification.
What we do know, however, is that it won't arrive in local showrooms until at least 2020.
Above: Mazda CX-4.
“From Australia’s point of view it’s a perfect addition,” Bhindi told CarAdvice.
“It meets the objective that we have as a brand in Australia, to give the private customer as many choices as we can from the portfolio that Mazda corporation builds.
"With the addition of CX-30, we are broadening the nameplates that we offer, but as you saw with what we do with Mazda 3, we are actually increasing the options as well, within each nameplate we will bring as many choices for the consumer that makes sense.”
The Mazda CX-30 is likely to use the new range of SkyActiv-X engines, which further optimise the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and bring the benefits of a diesel engine - such as a higher compression ratio and better fuel economy - to a petrol powertrain.
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