Mazda CX-30 vs Volkswagen T-Roc 2021 comparison review | Chasing Cars

[@sandsmarc]

Just purchased the CX-30 In the turbo premium plus trim level and it’s a beast. Luxurious, fast, handles well, decent utility, 12 speaker Bose, every safety feature you would want, super fun to drive. I haven’t liked a car this much since my 1987 Corvette. Which, by the way, the CX-30 beats to 60mph. The CX-30 isn’t the best at any one thing but does everything so very well and feels great to be in.

[@ChadRobertHill]

I purchased a CX-30 G25 Astina AWD & I was cross shopping it with a Golf which was my first choice (and dream car) 😂As soon as I sat in the Mazda I fell in love, it felt so lovely and fit me like a glove. I agree on the seats they are to soft and the bottom cushion isn’t long enough. The suspension feels a bit busy but its sooooo quiet on the highway. A big reason why I bought it was reliability over the VW, it may not be as ‘nice’ but at least (touch wood) I’ll be able to enjoy it longer without the VW reliability issues (touch wood again). Every time I get in it I feel like I got a bargain, it feels like it should’ve cost much more, It feels like a Lexus to me.

[@ChrisplayThrough64]

Come back when your alloys have corroded in about a year

[@karolkrawczyk1]

@@ChrisplayThrough64 by that time this 2.0 TSI will be taking 1l of oil per 1000km :D

[@giucafelician]

@@ChrisplayThrough64 This corrosion at Mazda was... during the period when Mazda was under Ford! Ford had sold all of its shares in Mazda by 2015... Today's Mazda has nothing in common with the old "FORD-MAZDA" By the way the leap in quality from the last years of MAZDA is visible

[@wedgett1]

Absolutely loving my T-Roc. Such an incredible car to drive in every way.

[@jamesheggie1854]

Great review as always Tom, I've always had great experiences and reliability with Mazda. Their quality is always there and they are made very well so for me it would be the Mazda.

[@johnboy99ify]

I went for the CX-30 GT Sport(UK equivalent of Astina?) Discarded the T-Roc fairly early on in the decision cycle, and final choice was between the Skoda Karoq and the Mazda. Decision was made on which would make me smile most often when driving it, based on cabin ambience and drive experience. Very happy with the CX-30 and with the SkyActive X engine, which is quick enough, frugal and very quiet.

[@MinecraftPlayersZ]

This actually correct, my choice was between a t roc and a cx30 went for the cx 30 Gt sport tech due to the ride quality, the smooth manual transmission and the smile it brings to your face, when driving it.

[@downshiftpedal]

CX-30 for me it a no brainer. Considering this are suv that will spend most time in city and for little family run around

[@sidewalk__]

Most "SUVs" aren't even proper SUVs. They're crossovers, which are basically hatchbacks, estates and minivans with off-road styling and higher suspension. However, the high driving position and higher cargo capacity (in the case of compact/medium crossovers in comparison to hatchbacks and estates) make them more desirable.

[@JM-lp9bh]

I think it’s worth test driving both. Online reviews had us concerned that the CX30 wouldn’t have enough grunt for the country roads and hill’s around our house. After a test drive of the CX30, overtaking on the highway, pushing the engine to see what it had & going up a couple of hills etc. we fell in love with the handling & the quietness of the ride. It felt smooth on the road (almost exactly like the Lexus we were replacing) and we loved that it outperformed every car in it’s ancap safety tests which was a big consideration for us. We felt the entry model which we drove was suitable for our needs so got away with spending a lot less than $50K. Moral of the story - don’t go in reviews alone - drive everything & decide afterwards.

[@chasingcars]

Sure - and I’m happy you’re happy with the car. But it doesn’t change the fact the T-Roc 140TSI is actually a better car for the job you’re describing: it does 80-120km/h in about six seconds, versus 11 seconds for 80-120 in the CX-30. Expert reviews aren’t just opinion...

[@JM-lp9bh]

@@chasingcars I didn’t mean for my comment to be offensive, I really enjoy your reviews. I was just stating that the we found the CX30 to be adequate for our needs, something I found surprising given some of the reviews I’d seen - hence why I think test driving is always wise.

[@arthurgadz646]

For me, Mazda looked better outside, Troc looked so simple.. I think CX 30 is more impressive..

[@xalau5270]

Better outside, much better inside

[@JRZ67]

I bought a CX30 premium. The power is more than adequate and the handling is as fun as my previous ‘19 Civic Si. If the TRoc was available in the States, I would have definitely bought it for the looks and turbo.

[@jessiecamf]

Bought T-Roc Style a week ago and I’d say I’m so in love with it! Yeah interior is simpler than the Mazda but it doesn’t bother me at all. Love driving it! Mostly everyone drives Mazda on the road, I prefer a little different but still in style!

[@wolvoman1]

The interior of the mazda inside the t roc would suit the package.

[@donwass5907]

Very happy with your comments parched a cx30 2.5 ltr and took note of your views before purchasing.I noted exactly what you said and found exactly what you said to be spot on .thanks .

[@Parabloop3r]

CX-30 for me

[@justinepaul8979]

Honestly depends on which demographic you classify. We were more into the European design language and style as well as performance. As a millennial buyer, It all came down to the what would look cool on the road and practical at the same time. We eventually decided that the TROC was the way to go after test driving the CX30 vs TROC.

[@indetailcarcaresolutions3770]

Wait for the CX-30 2.5 Turbo

[@topheavy7616]

Hi thanks for the review. Which has the least road noise?

[@chasingcars]

CX-30 I reckon

[@caborama]

I am going for the mazda for ease of repair (watch mechanical reviews of both vehicules) and low repair costs. They also have a better good reliability track record.

[@pukavita]

Actually, I prefer the practicality of a hard dash. I’m tired of sun damaged soft dashboards. I’ve owned cars with soft and hard dashboards and found the hard ones to be more practical. I’ve never had issues with the sun reflecting off the dash affecting the view. I guess it’s a personal choice. In my opinion, the interior of the T-Roc is aesthetically pleasing even without the soft dash.

[@BuellRevolutionRider]

CX 30 is a better car by far,engine,exterior,interior,quality of materials,reliability

[@johnnytampocao7671]

Whenever I see the T-Roc outside it appeals my taste but when you put it side by side with the cx-30 it looks so ugly. Mazda is killing the design in every model. No doubt I will get the cx-30.

[@ashalim79]

Hey Tom, will you be getting the T-Roc Style soonish?

[@vijaykrishnaranjangopal1783]

Can you do a review on VW Troc 110Tsi . Is it worth spending 5K more buying Troc instead of Tcross.

[@stuartkennedy4202]

I have the CX-30 shown and love it I prefer the dial as it’s so easy to use and no fingerprints. I would really love the turbo version from the USA as the U.K. don’t get those versions so I’m stuck at 186 BHP which isn’t too bad but solid build good economy and huge spec is an overall excellent package.

[@danalingus]

I was looking for a review like this over the last 2 months to try to help me split between these two cars. You have summed it up perfectly... we have bought 4 Mazdas over the last 12 years and love the brand and reliability.... however when we test drove the Mazda we thought "yep its another Mazda" but after then hopping into T Roc i was immediately taken to driving dynamics which was more fun. After reconciling myself with the hard dashboard I bought a T-roc X Edition

[@davidm2349]

Hello there, 6 months on do you regret your decision or happy with the troc?

[@markgrondek5311]

The review is a year old but as I am looking at these 2 now, thought I’d add my 2cents worth. Eliminated from the list early were Kona (a combination on minor things), Seltos (dct seemed a little annoying but didnt seem that way in Kona), XV (initially liked it but on second test drive was less appealing). T-Roc was brisker off the mark, & 9/10 for general driving & handing, but the interior just seem a little low rent. Instruments & infotainment are top notch, but the seats & door cards seem a match for a Hyundai Venue. Went for a 2.5 litre CX-30. Seats are softer but actually ok for longer drives, head up display & DAB are things I like, don’t really like touch screens (fan of BMW idrive) & engine / transmission combination is actually pretty could - perhaps reviewers something are a little harsh or looking to hard for weeknesses. Funnily the larger CX-5 doesn’t get as much criticism for the 2.5 motor as does the CX-30 with same motor. Probably would have been happy with either, but the drivers seat is a slightly nicer place to be in the Mazda.

[@karolkrawczyk1]

VW is sure great if you change your car every 2 - 3 years as the leasing contract expires but if you plan a longer ownership i would bet on mazda everyday.

[@vladimir3060]

Just bought Mazda cx 30 2.5( 185 hp) 🇺🇸 definitely not regretting about I wouldn’t switch to tRock, never ( I’m 34 years old ) I spent tons of hours to search what’s the best for me !

[@NZsarge1]

I agree there isn’t a wrong decision, I too like the Mazda’s interior for its price point but for most everything else the VW suits me better.

[@Clove_Parma]

Seems to me like the CX30 having a white headliner makes it feel way roomier than the Mazda 3 hatch. Even if it’s the same size roughly, the hatch feels incredibly claustrophobic while the SUV seems much nicer in that regard, and better for families as a result

[@limpunsing224]

If I were to choose between the two I'd opt for CX 30 Good comparison review

[@naushraza]

I bought T-ROC X few months ago, and I am loving it. The driving is super good, and it's pretty fast. The features i like most in this car is the grip on the road, and it adjusts headlights adaptively from high to low beam when it sees car at front in both directions in night, Park Assist and the exterior quality, specially the body which is very strong and solid unlike all other Japanese or Korean Cars. The TROC X has the Beat's sound and panoramic sun roof which makes it more fantastic.

[@skrotosd]

I bought one yesterday, I’m still incredulous about how good it is on rugged roads.

[@davidm2349]

Hey guys how do you find the troc now after a couple of months?

[@nxtlvlnlkr5312]

T-Roc 100%. You're not touching the materials inside a lot anyways, I'd rather go for the better driving car.

[@joepowell7025]

CX30 by far ... no one mentions service costs and overall reliability ... Dealer follow up with a large network ... The 2.5 turbo is a sweet performer and i tried both of these and the driving dynamics and roadholding not to mention comfort turns me to the Mazda every time, in fact, I'm going out to buy one.

[@michaelgoh5830]

Would go for the VW Troc with an updated (Golf 8?) interior and electric adjustable leather front seats but minus the hard plastics. Great review Tom, as always.

[@kensouza9239]

Very detailed review. Love it.

[@chasingcars]

Thanks, Ken. Glad you enjoyed the comparison.

[@DukeBen316663]

@@chasingcars Hey Tom, will you be keeping your actual website updated with these comparisons as well as KZbin? I was looking on the website, and the last comparison published on there was 9 months ago, but found a number since then on KZbin.

[@ChaCha765-SY]

I've been looking at buying a new car, just general question about VW quality, 4 friends that had a VW have all the same issue which is automatic transmission failure just outside the warrant of the car, has VW fixed this issue across the range or is it still a quality issue?

[@joesky011]

I was really keen to buy either a VW Golf GTi or an Audi A3 but over and over again, people in the auto industry dissuaded me from buying a VW. Transmission issues and overall long-term quality is not there. And any repairs will be expensive. While they're not as exciting as German autos, Japanese cars have better quality overall.

[@tersy9862]

As a driving enthusiast I'm not buying either of these cars. The type of people that are buying these cars the CX30s better interior wins hands down!

[@Istroops]

Mazda for sure!

[@Andy-hb8rz]

I feel the VW would be the pick for fun and comfortable to drive driving dynamics. But I've heard so much online and from colleagues about reliability issues with VW that I just don't know if it's worth the gamble. Mazda would offer better peace of mind and I'd be happy to sacrifice better driving dynamics for reliable motoring. That's not to say the Mazda drives like a Corolla either because I'm sure it's equally a good drive.

[@kensouza9239]

You can see similar unreliable comments being made here as well. More chance that none of them owned a VW and just don’t find anything else to complain about.

[@babatigosho6214]

I dont know about these brand new mazdas,but i've had two older ones and also drove a lot of VWs and i can tell you Mazdas have a lot better driving dynamics than VW....Mazdas are known for its driving dinamycs and fun to drive factor.Everything in the car feels a lot more sporty than other cars at the class.....steering wheel,shifting,clutch...

[@kensouza9239]

@@babatigosho6214 that’s you’re opinion and the reviewer felt otherwise.

[@thatcopenguy]

Honestly the least reliable cars in the modern age are still very reliable, except if you really plan to keep the car long term ( 10+ years or so ) since N/A engines are by design longer lasting than turbo engines.

[@jacekkaminski5698]

@@kensouza9239 there is a ton of reviews stating Mazda's cars drive experience is unique in its class.

[@danielcarlish8265]

Any idea when the turbo charged engine for the CX-30 is coming to Australia?

[@chasingcars]

Not right now, there are problems with converting it to RHD

[@danielcarlish8265]

@@chasingcars oh really ! That’s a bummer. Hope they sort it out and can bring it over here

[@dcptiv]

@@danielcarlish8265 Sounds like the turbo & piping are designed for a LHD & get in the way of RHD components. If thats the case then its very doubtful it will ever be RHD due to the cost of retooling machines & designing new molds etc for a small market.

[@danielcarlish8265]

@@dcptiv thanks for that =] shame really. Looking for a replacement in the future for the 2015 Mazda 3 2.2 turbo diesel. Something a bit higher but hopefully similar size and engine oomph.

[@JimboJones99]

CX-30 for the win 🏁

[@chasingcars]

It’s a good car! For a lot of people it will be the right choice here. For others the T-Roc will make sense.

[@dv2735]

It’s a no brainer! German cars rule. Chinese stuff is poor quality

[@CaravaggioRoma]

The problem with turbos is reliability. And the huge costs associated with a failure. Ask VW who scored very low in consumer reports for year 2020. Mazda was the best in the group.

[@jpch8814]

T-Roc all day, amazing engine, perfect handling, compact and smaller from outside yet more spacious inside. People buy Mazda because they look pretty, nothing else there.

[@portman8909]

I think the t roc looks better. More masculine and land rovery

[@georgeharrow6485]

50k for Skyactive X? Prefer T-Roc with all options for the same money. Got mine on order

[@chasingcars]

When does it arrive?

[@markjohnson1483]

Overall good review, however people looking for this style crossover should remember that the cx30 is almost 10 inches longer overall vs the T Roc which is a good thing for me,plus when you were in the back seat of the VW It looked like your knees were almost the same distance from the back of the front seat ,as when you were in the cx30,at least thats what appeared to me visually..so if there's a difference it cant be much ..I would consider the TRoc a sub compact suv and the cx 30 a straight compact due to the size difference..but that's just my opinion...again good job

[@markvanderwardt3345]

The tested CX30 is one with an automatic gearbox. I read in several reviews that the Mazda auto gearbox robs some power from the engine (maybe subjectively). Anyone has experience with this ? Think I'd go with the manual transmission, more fun too as it's supposed to be one of the best on the market.

[@honestjohn6222]

T-roc for me , only thing worries me is the dsg long term reliability and runnings costs , Great review , thanks

[@nataliemicallef4435]

Excellent review, extremely helpful!

[@dommonte3507]

I believe in car reviews, they should always bring in the service costs of the vehicles, that could also be a deal breaker as most European car service costs aren't s cheap as Japanese cars.

[@vlatkomafija]

I think you nailed it with the comment about compliance of the chassis in the Troc. Thats what sets apart vw from other competitors in my opinion and people who havent driven a vw seem to underestimate. After owning many cars in the past and now owning a golf mk7 estate i can say that the way the car drives over bumps and rough road is something that sets it apart. I know immediately what you meant when you said the comment about compliance. I admit the mazda interior looks 10x more appealing but thats not enough to own the car long term. Great review!!

[@picardbs]

No digital radio on T-Roc in Australia? :-0

[@geniii11]

I don’t understand the obsession motoring journalists have with hard surface dash, never once have I’ve seen someone driving with their arms, hands, feet on the dash, to me it’s much more practical, easy to clean and I would suspect last longer under our hash sun. I have the T Roc special edition and love it, I found the VW much easier to get in and out of as well. The other thing I find annoying is the infotainment screen, I prefer it integrated into the dash rather than sticking up out from the dash but that’s just me.

[@kensouza9239]

Those who actually own a VW always feel positive about it. It’s just the others who don’t own one find it unreliable.

[@chasingcars]

There are multiple objective benefits. The first is that a soft dash generally pulls in light whereas hard plastic surfaces bounce light back at the windscreen. In Australia - where the sky is very bright for much of the year - that's a problem. Hard plastics are also more reflective to sound. Lastly, if you rest your elbow on a hard door top, it's more fatigue and discomfort-inducing. The 'obsession' is simply an understanding about little details that add up to easier ownership in the long-term.

[@kylenewberry2598]

I'd go Mazda. Plus in the states their turbos are trash lol. They don't sell the port injected one here.

[@thornwivans]

Cool.....the more expensive car has cheaper finishes but more engine power!

[@kenallen3303]

I bought the CX30 and love it

[@leonadior8640]

T-roc is more safe to drive, in special in winter time. Greeting from Luxembourg!

[@69memnon69]

I’d hardly call the thunk of a door real quality, they’ve just engineered it that way to make you feel that way. Real quality comes down to which car is going to cost you less money in terms of repairs over its lifespan and in that area VW is sorely lacking (and I have owned a golf 5 & 6 for reference).

[@chasingcars]

Solidity is one measure of quality. Build quality, tight shutlines, absence of rattles are all things that you either get right from the factory or you don't. Long term longevity is also a marker of quality, though car reviewers without the possession of a crystal ball can't predict the future!

[@69memnon69]

@@chasingcars That crystal ball can be one of the many annual reliability surveys where VW tends to always do poorly. If a manufacturer is known to have poor reliability then quality can only be construed as perceived quality.

[@reenachauriya4931]

@@chasingcars didnt mazda say advertise that they imitate soft closing doors with their hydraulics like in more expensive cars doors dont tend to make a loud thunk. the weight of the door rather than thunk is more useful.

[@oliox8685]

I have had 3 x near new VW in a row with manual gearboxes and had a few issues on the first 2 and none on the 3rd. I probably covered 250k miles in total but tbh none of the issues left me stranded and they were not too expensive to fix. I now own a 124 Spyder based on the MX5 and will definitely go back to Mazda for my next car.

[@prakashnarismulu3332]

TRoc for me too 👌

[@tombrysse]

the mazda has the most ergonomic seats. been looking at other brands. price quality wins mazda hands down.

[@rayzor07]

I absolutely love the CX30, and its interior is way better than the VW and would have bought one if it was sold here in Namibia with the 2.5 Litre Turbo engine. However, I opted for the VW T-Roc 2.0 TSi R-Line and I am very happy with my purchase. To be honest, I actually prefer the hard plastics in the VW because it will just last longer in terms of wear and tear I believe. Mine rides on 19 inch rims, which does produce more road noise and rides a bit harder, but I can't complain.

[@sammyt3514]

Every review that I've seen that deems the Mazda CX-30's ride too harsh, including this one, was testing the version with 18" wheels, so I wonder if the 16" wheels that are available on the lower trims would go some way towards negating that issue. At any rate, the Mazda would still be my pick even with the harsher ride; I keep my cars for a long period of time and the peace of mind that the markedly more reliable Mazda gives would outweigh any other consideration for me.

[@kennethbrown5374]

You didn’t mention the costs of servicing, i had a Tiguan and it always cost between $500 & $1000 to get serviced by a dealer. I know dealers are more expensive but they have the training and tools to do the job properly

[@lovingCarz]

Mazda have always struggled when it comes to the rear seat passenger space it was a similar thing in its predecessor such as CX3. It was so cramped I love mazdas but I don't know why they always get it wrong.

[@xXYellie12Xx]

The pick of the engines for the cx30 is definitely the 2.5L with the 6sp gearbox. Yes a bit old school but powerful enough, and super smooth, and that combo has proven to be extremely reliable in other models such as the CX5 (as long as you get the petrol - NEVER buy a diesel Mazda!).

[@gerrycollins2335]

It's time for Mazda to introduce turbos to their small car engine range. Their excellent 2.2 litre diesel in the previous 3 was (of course) turbocharged, so why not boost their petrol engine performance? Being different is not a good enough reason to come second best in the driveability stakes. I think that this battle against the T-Roc would be easily won with the addition of a turbocharger.

[@DonutGuy-2000]

I would go a Skoda Koraq Sportsline. Better interior than the T-Roc but the same chassis and engine

[@isaiahjimeno2329]

That’s what my family initially thought would be better, BUT, my friend who’s a mechanic told me that Skoda are great cars and all but because of the limited Skoda’s in Australia, it makes it hard to acquire parts locally. Thus, they may be good but once it ages it becomes harder to maintain compared to VW. As they’re I guess better known and there’s more of them compared to Skoda’s.

[@cityplanner3063]

I completely forgot about VW when purchasing a new car. Went with the CX 30 but I think it would of been very hard to choose between the two cars if I did go and see the T roc

[@tonywalls6563]

Sir please say DSG ( Direct shift gear box ) automatic seven speed or you could call it dual clutch this is important as consumers do not know this in your review

[@chiushuenpak4296]

Mazda CX-30 seems a bettter choice. How about a comparison between Audi Q2 and VW T-Roc?

[@BomberFletch31]

I don't understand why Mazda only offers electric adjustment on the driver's seat and not the passenger seat. I've been to check out the Ford Escape Vignale and it has the same omission. Surely it's not that hard to make the passenger seat electrically adjustable too? Hopefully a future update will rectify that.

[@chasingcars]

Tall passengers hate this!

[@raymondtsang1635]

Bought the cx 30 turbo no regrets

[@goranmekota7540]

One other thing might be worth comparing is (mild) off road. Of the two cx should be better on specs alone (dsg tends not to be too good in that scenario).

[@ezekielwebb9335]

First finally by the way great review mate

[@chasingcars]

Congrats!

[@peterburdett8131]

Considering the type of person likely to buy this class of car the Mazda has the edge. Very few owners will take that T-Rock for a flog in the hills but will most likely drive down to the shops

[@avuazahc1966]

and here in South frica we just got all new T Roc after months of TV adverts coupled with a postponements of its launch, However it finally available countrywide.

[@unknowntraveller8633]

Love the look of the TRoc gut would go Mazda for the peace of mind if anything goes wrong.

[@jjwoody6532]

In five years time which one will be still the best car. I suspect it will be the Mazda.

[@brianbass2368]

I have this same Mazda and love it, it's very economical, the only thing that lets it down is no turbo and it's noticeable on long hills

[@terryjohnsen1689]

Does the X active engine require 95 RON fuel or will it run on 91 RON like most other Mazdas.

[@brianbass2368]

@@terryjohnsen1689 hi Terry, in the UK it's just regular unleaded Ron 95

[@Bilsoncomm]

In 8 years time the Mazda will still be a solid reliable machine with little or no trouble, the VW probably dead even though it would have had much higher running costs for the owner

[@chasingcars]

You may be right, Bill - but the Skyactiv-X is a brand new engine, so we actually can't predict anything like that with accuracy.

[@avuazahc1966]

Spot on, CX-30 rear bench is damn small with its boot

[@mctend9108]

CX-30 looks more mature. Personally I can confirm that a Mazda is more reliable then a VW. The servicelevel of Mazda is higher (at least here in Europe) than VAG -group.

[@philipc239]

Solid review 👍👍

[@inodesnet]

Thankfully Mazda did change the mapping of the AT on the CX-30 after this review. With regard to engines, I wish we had the Mazda 1.8L Diesel (Skyactiv-D). It's a peach of an engine, and quite a bit more sophisticated than the VW diesel. Mazda of course have used low compression diesel for the past decade (still the only manufacturer to do so). They rev more freely and because of the high rpm, low compression they lose a lot of the agricultural NVH that comes part and parcel of having 16:1 or higher. Park a low compression diesel next to a high compression petrol, and it's like parking next to a tractor. Other benefit of low compression is naturally low emissions (lower than the VW), albeit at the expense of a noisy low warm up (which is required on low compression - Mazda does an exhaust recirc that for first 5 mins thats the only real penalty). Kudos should be given to Mazda as well, who back in 2013 started working furiously on making their diesel pass US EPA legitimately - it took them 6 years, during which time of course VW took their higher emission diesel, had a nice dyno trick to quickly bypass the very strict US EPA emissions. Mazda was scratching their heads.... but we know how history played out with the VW emissions scandal. (Interesting article shows up anything high compression - www.forbes.com/sites/bertelschmitt/2016/03/05/japan-releases-nasty-diesel-test-results-germany-sits-on-them/?sh=6f5f5aff3d56) That said, the VW engine in this test is tried and tested. It's an aging engine now and I think Mazda playing it very conservative with the new compression tech they've used for this engine (as per being the only manufacturer to have low compression diesel, they're the only manufacturer that's managed to compress petrol). They've already started testing more aggressive versions of this engine, but the idea was initially to have such a lean mixture that you could fang the engine and not have too much of a penalty on fuel economy compared to fanging a turbo (i.e. real everyday fuel economy rather than on paper fuel economy). But as VW proves in this test, you don't need to fang a turbo in the same way to do a NA engine. What you're saving in being lean, you're losing in the need to fang in the first place. Fact is, down low the torque of a turbo makes it immediately easier to use on a day to day basis (albeit, potentially at the cost of reliability - because any mechanic will say, the turbo is the first thing you want to have nice easy access to, to repair and replace). Not sure why the Australian suspension tune differs so much in the CX-30 from the US. In comparisons there, they reckon its really firm but a drivers car. But I trust Tom's opinion here. That said, VW buyers would naturally want softer suspensions to drive more relaxed (sans GTI and R drivers). Mazda owners tend to want something to push in the bends.

[@lindonandlisa8114]

An outstanding review Tom it's a real shame instead of building that engine that Mazda just didn't put the CX9 2.5 litre in it we own one and it's a fantastic engine

[@chasingcars]

That'd be lovely. Some markets are receiving a CX-30 2.5-litre turbo, but there's been no announcement for Australia at this stage.

[@bennybpbj]

Tom, would you choose the T-ROC over the SKODA Karoq?

[@chasingcars]

No, I'd go for the Karoq 140TSI Sportline. Same drivetrain, better interior, and more practical.

[@elgoogssie3969]

Since the first minute i knew which will be picked by You... I've tested both cars and You forgot to mention matrix lights, HUD, and lather seats in VW... oh wait! There are none even as option. VW offer partialy softex (not lather ) seats but not in the "basic" trim, only in R-line which is much more expensive as Mazda. Mazda have 430l and VW 445l trunk and if You say the one in VW is more practical because is wider... try to put M-size suitcase in there... good luck. The fuel consuption in skyactive-x is more like 6,5l in avg. In my case even in a city there is no chance to achieve more then 8l... VW's engine is more vulnerable in a matter of load. The fuel consumption is much higher when the car is fully loaded. It's not the case for mazda. The seats are much more confortable in mazda, no question about it and the interior in VW is not "spartan", it's just cheap... They both ride pretty the same and the suspension in mazda is nice and quiet even on rough roads. I'v choosen mazda and i'm pretty happy with it. BTW who with a sain mind compare turbo charged and not turbo charged engines with the same displacement?

[@chasingcars]

Hi - a few things. You can't get matrix LED lights on either car here. The CX-30 also doesn't have a 430L boot in Australia - it has 317L due to the presence of a space-saver spare tyre. Fuel consumption was tested back-to-back on the same roads at the same time in both cars, so the relative differences reported here are accurate. They also don't ride the same - again, tested back to back by the same driver on the same roads, in the same conditions.

[@nataliestephens2536]

Just sold my Mazda cx 30 after only 12 months, hated its under powered performance and unwieldy safety features. Yes nice interior but who cares, my eyes are on the road it’s not my lounge room, just bought a fully spec’d Troc 140 sport..... heaven!!!!

[@spejpo]

What is the difference in comfort above bumps between those two? Major or minor? Thx😉

[@sidjyothi]

Great review! I did consider the Mazda CX-30 for my next car and it’s the clunky low speed gearing and the small boot that’s really stopping me from going ahead.

[@TheDarknessConsumesMe666]

For daily driving - T Roc For reliability - CX 30

[@mazdar100]

Can never understand why the centre top screen doesn’t face directly at the driver. No one else need see it.

[@c.s2001]

Hey Tom, where’s your “Budget Direct” cap and “Budget Direct” embroidered hoodie?

[@chasingcars]

Now now, surely I don't need to force it!

[@guinnessharvey4476]

Great review

[@GlowingTube]

I just ordered a T-Roc City Life, at $36,990 drive away it blows away the Mazda, Seltos, Kona and anything else I looked at clear out of the water for value.

[@justice4g]

I hate that mazda came up short by just a few cm's to have usable rear seating, I'm also 6'0 and my legs were more than touching the seats in front.. also banged my head getting in and out of the front.. the CX5 seems a lot better in that respect but dimensions don't look as good from outside.

[@danielrenault]

For that money, isn't it better to get the new Tucson? How much is the new tucson gonna be?

[@elgoogssie3969]

Don't know about newest one but the last year model interior and fuel consuption was waaaaay behind both of mazda na vw...

[@arturasj4607]

Since when heavy door and sound closing it is actually a quality?.. That's definitely a perceived quality.

[@terryjohnsen1689]

Could you do I similar comparison for the two new light SUV's the Ford Puma and the Toyota Yaris Cross? Yes I know you've done a quick review of each, but a comparison similar to this one is so much more useful for a buyer. Thanks

[@sidewalk__]

What I don't understand is Mazda's logic, producing the CX-30 to be made alongside the CX-3 but instead using it to replace the CX-3.

[@silo_fx3182]

Great review. Loving your work. Thought the CX30 looked nice but struggled to get that brown layer on the dash out of my eye? What is that like in real life? Looks like a giant chocolate bar melted under the windscreen :-)

[@chasingcars]

You don't notice it after a while, but there's no avoiding the dash is very BROWN - and on the base models it is blue.

[@hieronymus6691]

No problem at all! I had the TRoc it is all plastic without any cloth it looks like a caddy inside. Now i have the CX30 it is spectacular! High end all over the place! Drives like crazy not as slumpy as the vw. For me Mazda! And it is nice to have some fresh styling to😝