Skip advert
Advertisement

New Mazda CX-4 gets full Beijing show unveil

Mazda's new coupe-SUV, inspired by the Koeru concept, has been officially revealed

Mazda's sharp new CX-4 coupe-SUV has been revealed at the Beijing Motor Show, but there are no plans yet for the BMW X4-style sleek crossover to come to the UK.

The design is similar to that of the Koeru concept we first saw at the Frankfurt show last year: from most angles it looks like a raised-up Mazda 3, but there's a more shapely profile, sporty shoulderline and rugged lower body cladding. The muscular C-Pillar treatment is also shared with the Koeru.

Mazda says it's designed for functionality and user-friendliness. It's 4.6m long, 1.8m wide and 1.5m high, and is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. Equipment includes smartphone connectivity and a suite of safety kit.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Front-wheel drive models get a 2.0-litre petrol with a six-speed manual gearbox, while all-wheel drive versions use a 2.5-litre petrol and an automatic 'box. The 2.0-litre model returns 44.1mpg, with the larger engine returning 38.7mpg.

• Best suvs and 4x4s to buy now

The CX-4 is designed to be a more style-focused stablemate to the successful CX-5. It sits on that car's chassis and underpinnings, but features a more rakish rear roofline that is likely to compromise the amount of headroom available for back-seat passengers.

Will the CX-4 be sold in Europe?

Speaking to Auto Express at the recent Geneva Motor Show, Kenichiro Saruwatari, vice-president, European research and development, said there were some hurdles to overcome if the CX-4 is to go on sale in Europe. And he suggested that it would be a much sportier SUV than what we have seen from Mazda so far. He said: “Currently we are introducing this vehicle to specific markets, not global. But of course, every market wants to have this vehicle.

"The car looks very sporty. Our products need to match customers’ expectation. The issue is how to meet this, otherwise it is very difficult to introduce the new vehicle. We need to think about it, so the total performance is matched to the expectation.

“Powertrain is one of the issues. People see the image of this vehicle as sporty, so the powertrain needs to generate more. But so far we [Mazda Europe] don’t have any powertrain to generate the big power."

Saruwatari continued: “If we decide to introduce this vehicle globally, I think the requirement from each market is different, even though it is the same vehicle. The requirements in America, Europe and China are different. This takes time and workload to revise.”

What do you think of Mazda's move into the coupe SUV market? Let us know in the commnets section below...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Editor-at-large

John started journalism reporting on motorsport – specifically rallying, which he had followed avidly since he was a boy. After a stint as editor of weekly motorsport bible Autosport, he moved across to testing road cars. He’s now been reviewing cars and writing news stories about them for almost 20 years.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

New Mazda CX-6e gets enormous screens, rear-wheel drive and choice of hybrid or EV power
Mazda CX-6e - front tracking

New Mazda CX-6e gets enormous screens, rear-wheel drive and choice of hybrid or EV power

The all-new electrified mid-size SUV has made its debut at the Shanghai motor show, badged as the EZ-60
News
23 Apr 2025
Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond
Best new cars coming soon - header image

Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond

These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more
Best cars & vans
8 Apr 2025
The best ever Japanese kei cars: lightweight, lovable and back in vogue
Best kei cars - header image

The best ever Japanese kei cars: lightweight, lovable and back in vogue

Car weight has become a big issue with the rise of EVs, but Japanese kei cars have had the problem solved for years. These are the best…
Best cars & vans
30 Jan 2025
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: all the highlights and exciting new cars
Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 header image

Tokyo Auto Salon 2025: all the highlights and exciting new cars

TAS 2025 highlighted the latest in tuning, off-road accessories, and new cars...
News
14 Jan 2025

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025