• Shares interior layout with Mazda 3 hatchback
• Plush materials and upmarket feel
• Infotainment simple and easy to use

How is the quality and layout?

We’re pleased to report that unlike Ford with its recent facelift of the Puma, Mazda has left the interior of the CX-30 untouched. You’re treated to robust and premium-feeling materials, a neat dashboard layout and a very crisp 10.25-inch central infotainment screen.

The interior is refreshingly uncluttered with all the controls clustered together in a logical fashion. Some of the climate control buttons could do with clearer markings, as they can be initially confused with blank switches, but the cabin is easy to get to grips with overall.

Depending on spec it comes with leather or fabric inside, with a large piece of soft-touch material across most of the dashboard. That’s a welcome departure from the large slabs of cheap, hard plastic you’ll find in the Volkswagen T-Roc, for instance. It’s not what you’d expect to find in most cars, and we’re glad Mazda likes to do things a little differently.

Lighter trims and optional stone leather seats help liven up the dark interior somewhat, but the absence of black headlining makes the biggest difference. Higher spec SkyActiv-X models go one further with a standard-fit sunroof as well.

Infotainment and tech

The central screen uses a rotary controller as its only method of interaction – rare, now, as more manufacturers just rely on touchscreens – and it’s simple to operate. It seems that Mazda has taken a leaf out of BMW’s book in terms of infotainment operation, and we approve. Some might find having to scroll through the icons with the rotary controller a bit of a chore, it’s a far safer solution to using it on the go than stabbing at an unresponsive touchscreen – and familiarity soon builds confidence.

The only fly in the ointment is with the screen itself – it’s not that tall, and feels noticeably smaller than in competitors with its letterbox-style view. It’s not the end of the world, but when you jump into another car with a larger screen, it’s noticeable. To counter this, the screen itself is crisp, and directions clear when you need them.

Contemporary technologies such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard, and since 2024, it’s also come with integrated Alexa Voice Assistant and cloud-based points of interest and database updates. There’s also a Qi Wireless Charging pad and USB Type-C charging ports.

Comfort

• Comfortable seats offer good range of adjustment
• Excellent support on longer journeys
• Not such a good deal in the rear

There’s height and reach adjustment for the steering wheel, while the front seats offer a wide range of adjustment as well – even manual seats on lower-spec cars enable you to tilt the seat base to support your legs a little more – giving plenty of support. We’d say the cloth items on Sport Lux models are some of the best in terms of comfort.

A 10-speaker Bose set-up is available on high-spec cars, that includes a subwoofer in the boot, and this has little trouble drowning out any noise on the motorway.