The battle in the hotly contested crossover segment gets bolstered by a new entrant on a near monthly basis, but how does an established contender such as the Mazda CX-30 compare with the likes of the Kia Seltos and Opel Mokka in the value stakes?
The crossover segment is bustling with tempting propositions from some of the best automakers in the business, making it difficult to choose which model to take home. The CX-30 slots in neatly between its CX-3 and CX-5 siblings, but does its offer better value than the Kia Seltos and Opel Mokka? Today we answer that question.
Practicality
The Kia is the biggest product here and has the biggest boot at 433-litres, with both the Mazda and Opel being similar in terms of dimensions, however, the former has a 295-litre boot and the latter a 310-litre boot.
Performance
While performance is not high on the list of priorities for family crossovers, it is handy to have good overtaking torque, which puts the Kia in top position, however, the Opel’s torque is close to that of the Kia’s, and it is 100kg lighter. The Mazda is the most powerful product here but has the least torque and is somewhere in the middle in terms of its kerb weight. In terms of fuel consumption, all three products are efficient on paper, but it is the Mokka that takes the win with the lowest figure.
| Mazda CX-30 2.0 Dynamic | Kia Seltos 1.4T-GDI GT Line | Opel Mokka 1.2T GS Line | |
| Engine | 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol | 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder turbo petrol | 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder turbo petrol |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | 6-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Power | 121 kW | 103 kW | 96 kW |
| Torque | 213 Nm | 242 Nm | 230 Nm |
| Boot capacity | 295-litres | 433-litres | 310-litres |
| CO2 emissions | 160 g/km | 143 g/km | 139 g/km |
| Fuel consumption | 6.6 L/100km | 6.3 L/100km | 6.1 L/100km |
| Price | R514 100 | R507 995 | R527 900 |
*This table was compiled with information sourced from www.duoporta.co.za as well as the official press releases of each model.
Specification
Our trio all feature good standard specifications with 6 airbags (7 in the Mazda), ABS, stability control, outer rear ISOFIX child seat anchor points, USB ports, front and rear electric windows, climate control, keyless entry/start, cruise control, auto mirrors/wipers/lights, LED headlights, rear PDC and a reverse camera.
The Opel gets some semi-autonomous driver aids in the form of adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor and lane keep assist while other features include a heated electrically operated driver’s seat and leather upholstery.
Safety
In terms of safety, the CX-30 was crash tested by EuroNCAP in 2019, achieving the maximum 5-Stars, including 99% for adult occupant safety, 86% for child occupant safety, 80% for pedestrian safety and 77% for its safety assistance systems. The Mokka was also tested by Euro NCAP in 2021, where it scored 4-Stars with 73% for adult occupant safety, 75% for child occupant safety, 58% for pedestrian safety and 64% for its safety assistance systems. The Seltos was tested by ANCAP in 2019 where it achieved 5-Stars with 85% for adult occupant safety, 83% for child occupant, 61% for pedestrian safety and 70% for its safety assistance systems.
Warranty and maintenance
In the warranty and service plan department, the Kia is the clear winner. The Seltos comes with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty and a 5-year/90 000km service plan while the Opel gets a 3-year/120 000km warranty and a 4-year/60 000km service plan. The Mazda gets a 3-year/unlimited km warranty and service plan.
Verdict
Looking at the data, there can only be one winner and in this case, it is the Kia Seltos, which offers the best service plan and warranty, good specification, the lowest price, the most space and a great powertrain, making it the best value model amongst the trio.
Sean NurseWith a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Mazda CX-30 vs Kia Seltos vs Opel Mokka: Which one is the best value for money?