Mazda CX-30 gains power and safety in Japan

Mazda has put some polish on its CX-30 SUV for domestic market, landing it with minor improvements across the board.

The Skyactiv-X 2.0 remains naturally aspirated, but rises from 180 PS (178 hp / 132 kW) to 190 PS (187 hp / 140 kW). The torque simultaneously goes up from 224 to 240 Nm (165 – 177 lb-ft). When idle, the engine causes the gas to self-ignite; spark plugs only begin functioning when the gas pedal is pressed. The compression ratio is 15:1, and the main engine receives help from a mild-hybrid system consisting of an AC motor and a 24V li-ion battery. For the buyers to notice the hybrid badge, the company now marks the powertrain as “e-Skyactiv-X”.

The 1.8-liter Skyactiv-D turbo diesel now churns out 130 PS (128 hp / 96 kW) instead of 116 PS (114 hp / 85 kW). The torque stays at 270 Nm (200 lb-ft), but becomes available across a broader range of RPM counts.
Cruising & Traffic Support (CTS), the system that enables the car to follow the next one in the lane and keep to a single lane in traffic jams, now supports speeds up to 55 km/h (34 mph).

In its most basic spec, the crossover SUV packs automatic transmission and front-wheel drive and starts at 2,392,500 Japanese Yen ($23,122 USD at current conversion rates). The diesel Skyactiv-D begins from 2,887,500 JPY ($27,906), and the electrified e-Skyactiv-X from 3,294,500 JPY ($31,839).