Following the hype and fanfare generated with the introduction of the Mazda3 Turbo back in July this year, Mazda is now reportedly working on a turbocharged version of its latest crossover, the 2020 Mazda CX-30.
Citing an early order guide, CarsDirect reports that the turbocharged CX-30 will feature the same powertrain seen in the Mazda CX-9 and CX-5 2.5T, both of which are readily available in Malaysia, as well as the aforementioned Mazda3 Turbo.
The 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder mill makes 228 hp and 420 Nm of torque, and will be paired to a six-speed automatic gearbox. According to CarsDirect, the turbocharged CX-30 will also only be available with all-wheel drive, which is a new addition to the CX-30 line-up in Malaysia.
The new forced-induction engine is a significant jump over the 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated models available in Malaysia, which makes 162 hp and 213 Nm of torque. Even when compared to the top-of-the-range 2.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine (187 hp, 252 Nm) available in other regions, the new turbocharged mill still represents a sizeable improvement.
The increase in performance will of course come with a premium in price. CarsDirect says that the turbocharged model will be priced near the USD31,000 (~RM129K) mark, which makes it USD6,600 (~RM28K) more expensive to the base AWD 2.0-litre variant over in the States.
Compared to the more similarly-specced CX-30 Select variant which costs USD26,400 (~RM110K), the price premium drops to an easier-to-stomach USD4,600 (~RM19K). In addition to the base trim, the source also claims that the turbocharged CX-30 will be available in Premium and Premium Plus variants, which brings the price pretty close to the top-of-the-range CX-5 Turbo models.
In terms of equipment, blacked-out 18-inch wheels and outer mirror caps, a larger tailpipe, and an engine “harmonic enhancer” are standard-fit items on the turbocharged CX-30. Premium variant adds a head-up display, leather seats, 12-speaker Bose audio, power liftgate, while the Plus further adds additional parking sensors, surround view monitor, rear emergency braking, and several other variant-specific features.
If given the chance, will you opt for the CX-30 or the larger CX-5 Turbo? For us, the better handling on the CX-30 might be enough to sway us over to the compact crossover. The better power-to-weight ratio might also actually result in a breezier performance. Plus, have you seen the interior of the CX-30?
