The new Toyota Corolla Cross is set to make a big impact on the fast-growing small SUV market – echoing the success of its RAV4 big brother.
Yet there is no shortage of strong competition from all brands, with one of the best sellers being the Mazda CX-30. This is a hypothetical comparison made to help researchers.
We’ve written traditional reviews on each vehicle before, which you can see here and here.
how much?
The Mazda CX-30 comes in Pure, Evolve, Touring, and Astina specification levels, each with more standard equipment. The Toyota Corolla Cross comes in GX, GXL and Atmos variants.
We have focused on Mazda CX-30 Astina and Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos grades. Both come with multiple engine options, and either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).
Mazda CX-30 List Prices
- G20 Astina FWD: $41,690
- G25 Astina FWD: $43,190, AWD: $45,190
- X20 Astina AWD: $48,190
Toyota Corolla Cross Price List
- Atmos 2WD: $43,550
- Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $46,050, AWD: $49,050
These prices are before on-road costs.
Mazda CX-30 Drive Prices Ad
- G20 Astina FWD: $46,320
- G25 Astina FWD: $47,883, AWD: $49,967
- X20 Astina AWD: $53,713
Toyota Corolla Cross Drive Price Ad
- Atmos 2WD: $48,315
- Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $50,916, AWD: $54,042
These prices use the Melbourne postcode, and may vary by state.
What do you get?
We are looking at the basic features here.
On the outside they share a lot in common, including 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, powered tailgates, rain-sensing wipers, proximity smart keys, and auto-retracting and heated side mirrors.
Both come with a sunroof, but the Corolla Cross is the largest of the pair, and also has roof rails.
| CX-30 Astina | Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| The wheels | 18 inch alloy | 18 inch alloy |
| Headlights | L. e. D | L. e. D |
| Sunroof | Regular size | Panoramic |
| Tailgate | Powered | Powered |
| Vipers | The feeling of rain | The feeling of rain |
| Proximity Smart Key | standard | standard |
| Side mirrors | Automatic recoil, hot | Automatic recoil, hot |
Both get leather seats that are heated up front, a heated leather steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirrors, dual-zone climate control, 360-degree cameras, satellite navigation, digital radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The Mazda gets more speakers for its sound system (12 versus nine) and head-up display. Toyota counters with Nanoe X air filter, large digital cluster and multimedia display, wireless phone charger, and wireless Apple CarPlay.
| CX-30 Astina | Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat trim | Black or white leather | Black leather |
| Front seat functions | Hot, powered by driver | Hot, powered by driver |
| Steering wheel | Warm, leather-wrapped | Warm, leather-wrapped |
| Rear view mirror | Auto dimming | Auto dimming |
| Air conditioning | Dual zone climate control | Dual zone climate control |
| Infotainment display | 8.8 inch screen with dials and buttons | 10.5 inch touch screen |
| Audio system | Bose with 12 speakers | JBL with nine speakers |
| Wireless phone charger | no | standard |
| Camera views. | 360 degrees | 360 degrees |
| Satellite navigation | standard | standard |
| Radio | AM/FM/DAB+ | AM/FM/DAB+ |
| Apple CarPlay | Wired | Wired and wireless |
| Android Auto | Wired | Wired |
| Heads up display | standard | no |
the color
Mazda CX-30
- Snowflake White Pearl
- Sonic Silver Metallic
- Platinum Quartz Metallic – $595
- Polymetallic gray metallic
- Soul Red Crystal Metallic – $595
- Machine Gray Metallic – $595
- Deep crystal blue mica
Toyota Corolla Cross
- Glacier White
- Frosted White Crystal Pearl – $575
- Brilliant Silver Metallic – $575
- Eclipse Black Mica – $575
- Atomic Rush Metallic (Red) – $575
- Lunar Blue Metallic – $575
- Mondust Gray – $575
- Jungle Khaki pearl.
Are they safe?
Mazda is the only one with an ANCAP rating (five stars, 2019) with the Corolla Cross just launched.
Both latest drivers come with supported features, as shown in the table below. There are some minor differences but the basic functions of AEB, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping aids are fitted.
| CX-30 Astina | Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| ANCAP classification | 5 stars, 2019 date stamp | N/A |
| Air bags | Seven | Eight |
| Parking sensors | Forward and backward | Forward and backward |
| Anchor points | 3 Top Tether, 2 ISOFIX | 3 Top Tether, 2 ISOFIX |
| Autonomous emergency brake | Forward and reverse | Forward and reverse |
| Lane Keeping Assist | Standard with steering assist | Standard with steering assist |
| Adaptive cruise control | standard | Standard, curve with speed reduction |
| Blind spot monitoring | standard | standard |
| Safe Exit Assist | no | standard |
| Cross traffic alert | Forward and reverse | behind |
| Automatic high beam | standard | standard |
| Traffic sign recognition | standard | standard |
| Park help | no | standard |
Dimensions
The Corolla Cross is slightly larger, and has a larger boot regardless of drivetrain. Yet the Mazda is longer between the wheels and offers more ground clearance.
| CX-30 Astina | Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| length | 4395 mm | 4460 mm |
| width | 1795 mm | 1825 mm |
| Height | 1540 mm | 1620 mm |
| Wheel base | 2655 mm | 2640 mm |
| boot | 317L | 380L (Hybrid AWD) to 436L (2WD Petrol) |
| Ground clearance | 180 mm | 160 mm |
internal
The Mazda’s interior offers a truly premium feel, with excellent material quality (beautiful leather highlights), a car-like driving position, and a sporty steering wheel.
The center screen is operated by a rotary dial and buttons on the center tunnel instead of touch, which requires some adjustment, but it has a better sound system.
The Corolla Cross offers a larger boot and an airier interior thanks to the large sunroof, and its center display is operated via a touchscreen, and while it lacks the Mazda’s head-up display, it’s a slicker one. Presents the new digital cluster.
It’s not as high-end as the Mazda, but has generally excellent fit and finish and offers a better balance for those looking for a second family car, with more cabin space for its height despite lower ground clearance. There is evidence.
What’s under the bonnet?
Both cars are petrol-only, with automatic transmissions standard, and both front- or all-wheel drive.
The Mazda CX-30 Astina comes with three engine options:
- G 20
- 2.0 liter petrol
- 114kW and 200Nm
- Front wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic
- G 25
- 2.5 liters of petrol
- 139kW and 252Nm
- Front or all-wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic
- X20
- 2.0 liter petrol mild hybrid
- 132kW and 224Nm
- All wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic
A $1500 step up from the G20 to the G25 takes you from a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine to a 2.5-litre petrol with an extra 25kW and 52Nm. Both use a six-speed automatic and FWD. The G25 can be ordered with on-demand mechanical AWD for an additional $2000.
The flagship $3000 more expensive re-X20 is billed as a mild hybrid, though it’s not really comparable to the Toyota hybrid system, and uses AWD.
The 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘Skyactiv-X’ petrol engine features a spark-guided compression ignition system like an efficient diesel, regenerative braking to power various electric functions, and a 24V integrated starter-generator to smooth stop/start. Is.
The Toyota Corolla Cross comes with three drivetrain options:
- Petrol
- 2.0 litres
- 126kW and 202Nm
- Front wheel drive
- CVT automatic
- Hybrid FWD
- 2.0 liter petrol hybrid
- 146 kW combined output
- Front wheel drive
- e-CVT Auto
- Hybrid AWD
- 2.0 liter petrol hybrid
- 146 kW combined output
- All-wheel drive (separate 30 kW rear motor)
- e-CVT Auto
The entry-level 2.0-litre petrol engine powering the CX-30 sits between the G20 and G25 variants, and comes standard with front-wheel drive and a CVT.
The hybrid option combines a 112kW engine running a lean Atkinson cycle, mated to a 4.08Ah lithium-ion drive battery, an 83kW and 206Nm motor, and an e-CVT. System power is 146kW, peak torque is variable.
Toyota’s electrified offering can also be had in AWD form with the addition of a 30kW rear-axle drive motor, but either way is more fuel efficient as it uses electricity more often.
| Mazda CX-30 Astina | Toyota Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | ‘G20’ 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol | 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol |
| Power and torque | 114kW and 200Nm | 126kW and 202Nm |
| Running wheels | The front one | The front one |
| Transfer | Six speed auto | CVT |
| Claimed fuel economy | 6.5L/100km 91 RON | 6.0L/100km 91 RON |
| Tensile capacity | 1200 kg | 750 kg |
| Description | ‘X20’ 2.0-litre 4-cyl mild hybrid | 2.0-liter 4-cyl parallel hybrid |
| Power and torque | 132kW and 224Nm | 146kW, no peak torque. |
| Running wheels | All Wheel Drive (AWD) | Front or AWD |
| Transfer | Six speed auto | ECVT |
| Claimed fuel economy | 6.0L/100km 95 RON | 4.3 or 4.4L/100km 91 RON |
| Tensile capacity | 1200 kg | 750 kg |
| Description | ‘G25’ 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol | |
| Power and torque | 139kW and 252Nm | |
| Running wheels | Front or AWD | |
| Transfer | Six speed auto | |
| Claimed fuel economy | 6.8L/100km 91 RON | |
| Tensile capacity | 1200 kg |
Cost of ownership
Both manufacturers provide a five-year unlimited kilometer warranty. Toyota extends the driveline warranty to seven years if you keep up with the service schedule.
Both also have 12-month service intervals, but the Mazda is shorter at 15,000km compared to 10,000km for the Toyota. Basic limited service costs are listed below, and some consumables are excluded.
Mazda
- 12 months or 10,000 km: $328 (G20), $334 (G25), $359 (X20)
- 24 months or 20,000 km $374 (G20), $380 (G25), $389 (X20)
- 36 months or 30,000 km: $328 (G20), $334 (G25), $359 (X20)
- 48 months or 40,000 km: $374 (G20), $380 (G25), $389 (X20)
- 60 months or 50,000 km: $328 (G20), $334 (G25), $359 (X20)
Toyota
- 12 months or 15,000 km: $230
- 24 months or 30,000 km: $230
- 36 months or 45,000 km: $230
- 48 months or 60,000 km: $230
- 60 months or 75,000 km: $230
Decision
From a practical standpoint, the Corolla Cross seems like a more flexible choice.
It doesn’t stack up when comparing prices and specs, but when it comes to expected running costs (servicing and fuel economy) and interior technologies, the Corolla Cross fares better.
However, the Mazda CX-30 offers a more premium-feeling interior and a punchier petrol option, as well as a car-like road feel and design language.