The design of the Mazda CX-30’s cabin is based on Mazda’s human-centred design philosophy, and traditional Japanese architecture with its use of Ma, or empty space. The basic layout combines a snug and condensed cockpit area for the driver, and a clean, airy open space around the front passenger.

The cockpit is symmetrical and firmly centred on the driver, with all three dials in the instrument cluster and the centre display correctly angled towards the driving position for optimum visibility and ease of operation with minimum distraction. The upper area of the dashboard features a secondary, wing-shaped hood. Running horizontally from the top of the dials into the door trim on the passenger side and finished with high quality stitching and metallic accents, it gives the cockpit a more expansive feel.

A wide floor console groups the gear lever, cup holders and Multimedia Commander controller forward in a ‘control area’ close to the driver for convenient, ergonomically easy operation, while the gently curved knee rests and arm rest behind create a warm, contrasting atmosphere.

The gear shift panel features an evolved version of Mazda’s ‘two-layer moulding’ technology. Light striking the upper layer’s deep smoke-grey panel reveals a metallic pattern engraved in the base layer below. Its appearance changing with the play of light on its surface, the panel accentuates the fine detailing and avant-garde character of the Mazda CX-30's interior.

Complementing this high-class cabin design and the driver focused ergonomics, the Mazda CX-30 is offered in three interior colour schemes depending on model grade. Premium dark grey cloth with black interior accents is standard on Prime-Line, Centre-Line and Exclusive-Line cars. Step up to the Homura model and you’ll find premium black cloth with red stitching, while the range-topping Takumi model grade features black leather with rich brown interior accents.  

For the driver, the CX-30 delivers on the ‘Jinba Ittai’ car and driver as one ethos you’d expect from Mazda, with a cabin design that provides an ideal driving position for occupants of all sizes. The steering wheel’s 45mm tilt and 70mm telescopic range enables precise adjustment of the driving position. In addition, front seat cushion tilt adjustment is fitted as standard to help prevent the occupant’s thighs floating above the cushion (seat angle too low) or placing undue pressure on the thighs (seat angle too high). From Centre-Line onwards the front seats are heated, while Takumi models feature power adjustment with memory linked to the head-up display and driver side mirror, which delivers a premium driver’s seat experience.

Across all models, the high, forward positioning of the gear lever makes the moving of the driver's hand from the steering wheel to the shift lever easier and faster. The combination of supportive and comfortable seats matched to well weighted and ergonomically laid out controls, plus intelligently placed switches and controls make for a fully engaging driving experience.

Mazda’s engineers also focused on the importance of visibility and people’s subconscious awareness of spatial axes, and their ability to determine distance and speed when moving through a given space. For example, the belt line along the upper section of the door trim and lines of the floor console come close to tracing the path of the lane markers that can be seen through the window. Also, the lines of the dial hood extend forward toward the point at which the lane markers converge, enhancing drivers’ spatial awareness.

The thickness and shape of the A-pillars have been optimised to reduce blind spots; the C-pillar is shaped to provide optimal visibility out of the rear quarter window, while the rear door and quarter windows allow drivers to easily see vehicles positioned diagonally behind the car. Additionally rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard across the range. Takumi cars also feature a 360° View Monitor and door mirror tilt down function when reversing.

Other examples of this attention to detail include windscreen wipers that constantly adjust their operating angle in fine increments, allowing them to clean right up to the A-pillar and secure visibility near the driver’s side A-pillar. They are also housed beneath the hood to help provide a clear downward view out of the screen, while the washer nozzles are attached to the wiper arms so their spray can be wiped away immediately after application and not interfere with visibility.

The driver was also centre of mind with the design of the interfaces in the CX-30. The standard Colour Active Driving Display (Head-Up Display) system, driving dials and central display screen have all been designed to present information in a clear, simple fashion, while the fonts used have been unified to create a pleasing and consistent look. The Mazda CX-30 adopts a 10.25-inch wide-screen centre display, which offers simple, straightforward operation via the intuitive Multimedia Commander controller.

Mazda's human research also extends to the field of ‘Kansei’ engineering, finely crafting all switches to deliver a consistent feel, regardless of whether they are pushed, pulled, flipped or turned, providing drivers with a satisfaction that can be felt even in the physical operation of switches and controls. The steering wheel switch layout combines the use of both toggle- and push-type switches. The switches can be located by feel and the linking of operating direction and function for each toggle makes their use entirely intuitive.

Adopting the recently enhanced Mazda Connect system, drivers of the Mazda CX-30 will benefit from its significantly improved safety and user-friendliness. For instance, greater hardware processing ability and optimised software reduce the boot-up time for the infotainment screen by half. Features such as the navigation system are ready for use almost instantaneously after the ignition is turned on. Image and sound quality have also been greatly improved by digitalising signal transmissions from the camera and audio system. Wireless Apple CarPlay^® and Android Auto™ are standard across the range and are now supported in the head-up display.

In addition, the Mazda CX-30 features enhanced connectivity with Connected Services. Accessed via the MyMazda app, numerous convenience and peace of mind functions include the following: vehicle finder, remote door locking and vehicle door open alert, Navigation destination search and send to vehicle, Vehicle Health Report, Roadside Assistance and Security Alert. The app also shows the vehicle's service history, and when the next service is due. Customers can directly schedule the next service and send a service request to the chosen Mazda dealership.

Mazda also believes in the importance of car audio and the CX-30 is available with a choice of two audio systems: with Prime-Line, Centre-Line and Homura cars featuring the standard 3-way, 8-speaker Mazda Harmonic Acoustics system, while Exclusive-Line and Takumi have a 12-speaker Bose system custom-tuned to provide more powerful bass and the enhanced audio quality expected of the Bose brand.

When developing the standard audio system, Mazda carried out comprehensive studies into how sounds are transmitted through a car’s cabin. This led to locating the 3L bass speakers in the front cowl sides where low-frequency sound is better reproduced, resulting in a more clearly audible lower register, while 2.5cm tweeters and 8cm midrange units have been positioned on the left and right side garnish, and on the upper section of the front and rear door trim respectively, where the sound is transmitted directly towards the occupant’s ears. This more powerfully and naturally locates the sound’s origin, enhancing both depth and clarity.

The 12-speaker Bose premium sound system is hallmarked by deeper, more impactful low-frequency reproduction along with clearer audio performance throughout the cabin. The Bose system is based on a recently developed speaker layout concept from Mazda, which places audio components in unconventional locations inside the vehicle. Through cooperation with Mazda's engineers, Bose has achieved a higher level of audio performance through its BassMatch system configuration.

The BassMatch configuration combines two 115mm high-excursion woofers, each housed in a 3 litre low-frequency enclosure placed in the front cowl-sides near the kick panels in the driver and passenger footwells, with a third bass source, a 130mm Richbass woofer in an 8 litre custom-engineered enclosure in the spare-tyre well at the rear of the car.

Placing the front enclosures near the kick panels instead of typical integration into the doors minimises speaker buzz and vibration – even when playing music at high volume. In addition, this configuration generates more acoustic energy because the BassMatch enclosures are positioned near the forward cabin corners, producing a similar effect to placing home speakers in the corners of a room to create more powerful bass response through sound reflection off the walls and back toward the listener.

The cowl-side and spare-tyre-well bass enclosures are precisely tuned together to provide balanced and synchronised or ‘matched’ bass performance with impact and depth throughout the cabin and for each seating position. The Bose system further includes two 25mm neodymium tweeters, one in each mirror patch; one 80mm Bose Twiddler speaker in the centre of the instrument panel; four 80mm neodymium mid/high-range units - one in each door; and two 65-mm surround speakers mounted in the C-pillars. In conjunction with the BassMatch units, these speakers deliver a clear, smooth and balanced sound to all cabin occupants. System power is provided by a Bose digital amplifier mounted beneath the front passenger seat. It features 9 channels of customised equalisation, Bose Centerpoint surround signal processing, and Bose AudioPilot noise-compensation technology.

And finally, to enable a higher degree of adjusting the listening experience to individual preferences, the system offers several new listening modes and functions.

For all the delivery of quality materials, generous standard equipment, refinement and driver comfort, Mazda’s engineers did not forget how important practicality is to SUV buyers. This focus on space and comfort resulted in a notably well packaged and versatile interior. Slotting into the range between the previous CX-3, MX-30 and CX-5, the CX-30 entered a new market segment for Mazda. With the design goal for overall length set at 4,400mm or less, it fulfils all the requirements of customers who wish to combine the compact, urban-friendly dimensions of the former with the space and practicality of the latter.

A generous distance of 740mm between the front seats is 50mm greater than in the previous Mazda CX-3, and on par with that of the Mazda CX-5. The spacing of the front seats allows for a wide floor console with a refined layout and a large centre armrest. Equally spacious rear seat separation facilitates big rear centre armrest and door armrests, allowing rear seat occupants to enjoy a comfortable, relaxed seating posture.

The space between front and rear seat hip points and a low rear seat hip-point height create ample knee and headroom, enabling taller passengers to occupy the rear seats in comfort. Moreover, the wide spacing of the seats, both fore-aft and laterally, makes it easier for people in the front to turn and face people in the rear.

Despite an SUV-appropriate ground clearance, low seat hip-point heights of 601mm for the front seats and 619mm for those at the rear combine with generous door opening heights to allow for easy entry and exit from the Mazda CX-30. In addition to the generous distance between the front and rear seats and the low rear floor height, the shapes of seat cushions and B-pillars have been optimised to accommodate the movement of passengers during entry and exit. Moreover, side seals have been added to the bottom of the rear doors, preventing occupants from dirtying their clothing when exiting a muddy vehicle.

Luggage capacity is a generous 430 litres, enough to simultaneously accommodate a large, global-standard baby buggy and a carry-on bag. The boot opening width is 1,030mm, while the height of the loading lip is just 731mm, for easy loading and unloading of heavy or bulky cargo. Standard from Exclusive-Line onwards the power-operated tailgate features one-touch opening and closing, while the gears and housing of its damper unit are made of resin for quieter operation.

With its combination of quality, premium materials, smart design and practicality the Mazda CX-30 sets new standards for a Mazda SUV cabin.