This Is Such A Mazda Thing To Do: 2023 Mazda CX-30 Makes More Power While Consuming Less Fuel
October 19 2022, Centennial Mazda
What's one of the key components of Mazda's modern philosophy? Focus on continuous improvement.
In other words, don't wait four or five years for a vehicle to go through a generational changeover – if there's an improvement that can be made today, do it today. This hasn't just paid dividends in making Mazda's products more fun to drive, more technologically advanced, more spacious, and safer, it's also made Mazda the industry leader in reliability.
For 2023, one of the clearest signs of Mazda's philosophy being put into practice comes in the form of the improved Mazda CX-30. Mazda tinkered with the Skyactiv-G 2.5-liter (standard in the GS and GT) to create more horsepower while, at the same time, reducing fuel consumption.
More power? Less fuel? Aren't those two results mutually exclusive?
This is by no means the first time Mazda's made a small change that makes a big difference. For example, in 2018, Mazda made the second row of seats slide farther forward in the CX-9 to create better third-row access and space only one year after launching an all-new CX-9. In 2019, two years after releasing a new version of the CX-5, Mazda added the CX-9's engine to the top of the CX-5 lineup to offer a high-performance turbo option. Mazda makes changes like these all year, every year.
Right now, it's the CX-30's turn for Mazda's continuous improvement, so Mazda tuned the 2.5-liter engine for an additional five horsepower. That means the 2.5 now produces 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque.
| CX-30 Skyactiv-G 2.5 | City Fuel Efficiency | Highway Fuel Efficiency | Combined Fuel Efficiency |
| 2022 CX-30 | 9.9 L/100km | 7.7 L/100km | 8.9 L/100km |
| 2023 CX-30 | 9.0 L/100km | 7.1 L/100km | 8.2 L/100km |
| 9.1% Improvement | 7.8% Improvement | 7.9% Improvement |
Typically, more power comes at a cost, and that cost is generally more fuel. Mazda's intelligent changes, however, run in the opposite direction, so the more powerful 2023 CX-30 GS and GT now consume fuel at a 9.0 L/100km rate in the city and 7.1 L/100km on the highway for an 8.2 L/100km combined rating. That's down from 9.9 L/100km in the city and 7.7 L/100km on the highway in the 2022 CX-30, which featured an already thrifty 8.9 L/100km overall rating.
An 8% reduction in fuel costs with a side order of more horsepower? We'll take it.
