How the Mazda CX-30 is ready for winter
September 23 2020,
The all-new Mazda CX-30 is without a doubt the most stylish small SUV currently available in Canada. The CX-30 is not, however, just a pretty face. Mazda engineers have designed the compact SUV to handle anything Canadians can throw at it, including our famously harsh climate.
A critical key to actually enjoying our winters with our vehicles is all-wheel-drive. This explains why Mazda makes its sophisticate AWD system available as an option on the base CX-30 GX and mid-trim GS, and as a standard feature on the GT. Mazda’s iActiv AWD was designed to predict driver intent and road conditions through a series of 27 sensors that monitor driving conditions up to 200 times per second.
These sensors determine the driver’s intentions based on steering input, throttle and brake pedal pressure. With this data, the iActiv technology sets itself up for the next manoeuvre. The same goes for road conditions. Through these sensors which measure exterior temperature, wiper operation, and engine load, the system determines if there’s rain or snow to cope with and acts accordingly.
One of the goals is to prevent wheel slip by sending a sufficient amount of torque to rear wheels for ideally optimized traction at all times. The torque is provided by the extremely fuel efficient and standard-with-AWD 186-horsepower 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine. The latter, and the 6-speed automatic transmission, provides plenty of power in all driving circumstances. Furthermore, the CX-30 features G-Vectoring Control Plus which shifts the vehicle’s weight in turns thus improving traction, handling and in the process, increases driver confidence.
Creature comforts abound in the new Mazda CX-30. Heated seats, a welcomed feature on a cold morning, are standard in the GX trim, as is keyless entry which means there’s no need to manually unlock the doors. Safety features such as Emergency Brake Assist and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) are also included – an important tool when ambient temperatures fall below zero. From the second model up, the GS, the CX-30 will keep your hands warm thank to an included heated steering wheel.
With a good set of winter tires and the SUV’s increased ground clearance over the Mazda3, the CX-30 will make short work of wintery driving conditions.
