Mazda MX-30 GT Sport Tech – long-term review

I’ve had the MX-30 for over four months now, but I can still count on one hand the number of times I’ve adjusted the climate control using its dedicated touchscreen. 

That’s because said touchscreen is flanked by actual buttons for changing the temperature, fan-speed and switching on and off the heated screens. And buttons are just better. The only thing the screen does, for which there are no buttons, is turn on the heated seats/steering wheel and control the air distribution. It’s a bit of a missed opportunity. 

Would it not have been easier and cheaper, Mazda, to either integrate everything into the screen and do away with those buttons altogether, or simply nick the ready-made climate control panel from the CX-30?

Pity, because otherwise the MX-30’s dashboard is excellent. Feels very well made (though a small bit of trim has now come slightly adrift, but it’s not visible unless you go hunting), and the infotainment is among the easiest to use in all of cars. 

With a proper iDrive-style clickwheel and shortcut buttons, a hi-res 8.8in widescreen perched atop the dashboard in the driver’s eyeline and a thoughtful, no-frills user-interface, I struggle to think of an easier to use (and therefore safer) infotainment system in any car. I'm also loving the Bose hi-fi, to which said infotainment system is attached. 

Our car is equipped with the optional “Dark Grey Cloth with Brown Leatherette” upholstery. Save your £200 and stick with the standard interior (pictured below, versus our car up top) because it really brightens up the cabin. Whichever one you go for you get lashings of cork – yes, cork. It’s a nod to Mazda’s past – it started out over 100 years ago producing cork – and works rather well. No idea how it’ll stand-up over time, though. 

Mazda does good steering wheels. The MX-30’s is comparatively thin-rimmed, round and possessing of well laid-out buttons and switches. 

Good storage in here too. The centre console floats – behind there’s USBs and even a three-pin plug (at least in our high-spec car), and plenty of space to keep your phone. There’s more room under the centre armrest, which slides fore and aft. Those little cork flaps that cover the cupholders are entirely useless, though.