The new Toyota Corolla Cross is set to make a big impact on the booming small SUV market – echoing the success of its RAV4 big brother.
Yet there is no shortage of strong competition from across the brands, with one of the top-sellers being the Mazda CX-30. This is a spec-based comparison designed to help those researching.
We’ve written traditional reviews on each vehicle previously, which you can find 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 guise.
We’ve focused on the 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 list prices
- Atmos 2WD: $43,550
- Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $46,050, AWD: $49,050
These prices are before on-road costs
Advertised Mazda CX-30 drive-away prices
- G20 Astina FWD: $46,320
- G25 Astina FWD: $47,883, AWD: $49,967
- X20 Astina AWD: $53,713
Advertised Toyota Corolla Cross drive-away prices
- Atmos 2WD: $48,315
- Atmos Hybrid 2WD: $50,916, AWD: $54,042
These prices use a Melbourne postcode, and may vary by State.
What do you get
We’re honing in on what we’d consider core features here.
On the outside they have much 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 sunroofs, but the Corolla Cross’s is the bigger of the pair, and it also has roof rails.
| CX-30 Astina | Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 18-inch alloy | 18-inch alloy |
| Headlights | LED | LED |
| Sunroof | Regular size | Panoramic (fixed) |
| Tailgate | Powered | Powered |
| Wipers | Rain-sensing | Rain-sensing |
| Proximity smart key | Standard | Standard |
| Side mirrors | Auto-retracting, heated | Auto-retracting, heated |
Inside both have leather seats that are heated up front, heated leather steering wheels, auto-dimming rear-view 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 a head-up display. The Toyota counters with a Nanoe X air filter, bigger 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 | Heated, driver’s side powered | Heated, driver’s side powered |
| Steering wheel | Heated, leather-wrapped | Heated, 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 dial and buttons | 10.5-inch touchscreen |
| Audio system | Bose with 12 speakers | JBL with nine speakers |
| Wireless phone charger | No | Standard |
| Camera views | 360-degree | 360-degree |
| Satellite-navigation | Standard | Standard |
| Radio | AM/FM/DAB+ | AM/FM/DAB+ |
| Apple CarPlay | Wired | Wired and wireless |
| Android Auto | Wired | Wired |
| Head-up display | Standard | No |
Colours
Mazda CX-30
- Snowflake White Pearl
- Sonic Silver Metallic
- Platinum Quartz Metallic – $595
- Polymetal Grey Metallic
- Soul Red Crystal Metallic – $595
- Machine Grey Metallic – $595
- Deep Crystal Blue Mica
- Jet Black Mica
Toyota Corolla Cross
- Glacier White
- Frosted White Crystal Pearl – $575
- Stunning Silver Metallic – $575
- Eclipse Black Mica – $575
- Atomic Rush Metallic (red) – $575
- Lunar Blue Metallic – $575
- Moondust Grey – $575
- Jungle Khaki Pearl
Are they safe?
Only the Mazda carries an ANCAP rating (five stars, 2019), with the Corolla Cross having just been launched.
Both come with most of the latest driver-assist features, as the table below shows. There are some small differences but the core functions of AEB, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping aids are fitted.
| CX-30 Astina | Corolla Cross Atmos | |
|---|---|---|
| ANCAP rating | 5 stars, 2019 date stamp | NA |
| Airbags | Seven | Eight |
| Parking sensors | Front and rear | Front and rear |
| Anchor points | 3 top tether, 2 ISOFIX | 3 top tether, 2 ISOFIX |
| Autonomous emergency braking | Forward and reverse | Forward and reverse |
| Lane-keeping assist | Standard with steering assist | Standard with steering assist |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard, with curve-speed reduction |
| Blind-spot monitoring | Standard | Standard |
| Safe Exit Assist | No | Standard |
| Cross-traffic alert | Forward and reverse | Rear |
| Automated high-beam | Standard | Standard |
| Traffic sign recognition | Standard | Standard |
| Park assist | No | Standard |
Dimensions
The Corolla Cross is slightly bigger, 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 | 4395mm | 4460mm |
| Width | 1795mm | 1825mm |
| Height | 1540mm | 1620mm |
| Wheelbase | 2655mm | 2640mm |
| Boot | 317L | 380L (hybrid AWD) to 436L (2WD petrol) |
| Ground clearance | 180mm | 160mm |
Interiors
The Mazda’s interior offers a genuinely premium feel, with excellent material quality (lovely leather being the highlight), a more car-like driving position, and a sporty steering wheel.
The centre screen only works via the rotary dial and buttons on the centre tunnel rather than by touch, which takes some adjustment, but it has the better sound system.
The Corolla Cross offers a bigger boot and an airier interior thanks to the bigger sunroof, and its centre display works by touchscreen, and while it lacks the Mazda’s head-up display offers a slicker new digital cluster.
It’s not as upmarket in feel as the Mazda, but has typically excellent fit-and-finish and for those after a second family car looks to offer a better balance, with more cabin space as evidenced by its greater body height despite less clearance.
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:
- G20
- 2.0-litre petrol
- 114kW and 200Nm
- Front-wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic
- G25
- 2.5-litre petrol
- 139kW and 252Nm
- Front or all-wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic
- X20
- 2.0-litre petrol mild hybrid
- 132kW and 224Nm
- All-wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic
The $1500 step up from G20 to G25 takes you from a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine to a 2.5-litre petrol with an additional 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 again 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 has a spark-guided compression ignition system like an efficient diesel, regenerative braking to power various electrical functions, and a 24V integrated starter-generator to smooth out the stop/start.
The Toyota Corolla Cross comes with three drivetrain options:
- Petrol
- 2.0-litre
- 126kW and 202Nm
- Front-wheel drive
- CVT automatic
- Hybrid FWD
- 2.0-litre petrol hybrid
- 146kW combined output
- Front-wheel drive
- e-CVT auto
- Hybrid AWD
- 2.0-litre petrol hybrid
- 146kW combined output
- All-wheel drive (separate 30kW rear motor)
- e-CVT auto
The entry 2.0-litre petrol engine’s power sits between the CX-30 G20 and G25 variants, and comes standard with front-wheel drive and a CVT.
The hybrid option pairs a 112kW engine running the lean Atkinson cycle, paired to a 4.08Ah lithium-ion drive battery, an 83kW and 206Nm motor, and an e-CVT. The system power is 146kW, the 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 in either case remains more fuel efficient because it uses electric power 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 |
| Driven wheels | Front | Front |
| Transmission | Six-speed auto | CVT |
| Fuel economy claim | 6.5L/100km 91 RON | 6.0L/100km 91 RON |
| Towing capacity | 1200kg | 750kg |
| Description | ‘X20’ 2.0-litre 4-cyl mild hybrid | 2.0-litre 4-cyl parallel hybrid |
| Power and torque | 132kW and 224Nm | 146kW, no peak torque |
| Driven wheels | All-wheel drive (AWD) | Front or AWD |
| Transmission | Six-speed auto | e-CVT |
| Fuel economy claim | 6.0L/100km 95 RON | 4.3 or 4.4L/100km 91 RON |
| Towing capacity | 1200kg | 750kg |
| Description | ‘G25’ 2.5-litre 4-cyl petrol | |
| Power and torque | 139kW and 252Nm | |
| Driven wheels | Front or AWD | |
| Transmission | Six-speed auto | |
| Fuel economy claim | 6.8L/100km 91 RON | |
| Towing capacity | 1200kg |
Cost of ownership
Both manufacturers provide a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty. Toyota extends the driveline warranty to seven years if you keep up the service schedule.
Both also have 12-month service intervals, but the Mazda’s are shorter at 10,000km versus 15,000km for the Toyota. Basic capped service costs are listed below, and exclude some consumables.
Mazda
- 12 months or 10,000km: $328 (G20), $334 (G25), $359 (X20)
- 24 months or 20,000km $374 (G20), $380 (G25), $389 (X20)
- 36 months or 30,000km: $328 (G20), $334 (G25), $359 (X20)
- 48 months or 40,000km: $374 (G20), $380 (G25), $389 (X20)
- 60 months or 50,000km: $328 (G20), $334 (G25), $359 (X20)
Toyota
- 12 months or 15,000km: $230
- 24 months or 30,000km: $230
- 36 months or 45,000km: $230
- 48 months or 60,000km: $230
- 60 months or 75,000km: $230
Verdict
From a practical viewpoint, the Corolla Cross looks the more flexible choice.
There’s not a heap in it when comparing pricing and specs, but when it comes to expected running costs (servicing and fuel economy) and interior technologies the Corolla Cross stacks up better.
However the Mazda CX-30 offers a more premium-feeling interior and a punchier petrol option, plus a more car-like road feel and design language.
