2020 Acura MDX vs 2021 Mazda CX-30

The 2020 Acura MDX was a good-looking crossover SUV, though its styling was not groundbreaking or breathtaking. It didn't attract much attention in parking lots or from valets at country clubs, but it didn't shame its driver either. It simply fit in, which was sometimes good enough. Acura was an early adopter of LED headlights, and its signature Jewel Eye headlights added both function and a rich look to the front of the vehicle. These headlights featured five LED elements per side, arranged horizontally in a housing with the turn signals and running lamps, flanking a trapezoidal grille with a big Acura logo at the center.

For a three-row SUV, the MDX was pleasantly sleek and low-slung, with chiseled details and a fast roofline. The paint and chrome were flawless, a consistent Acura strength. Inside, the look was modern and simple, without excessive padding and stitching. The center stack was a highlight, featuring twin infotainment screens—a high-mounted 8.0-inch LED screen for the navigation system over an On Demand Multi-Use Display (ODMD) touchscreen and three rows of buttons with a big command wheel at the center. The MDX felt particularly solid and well-built, thanks to high-quality materials and superior fit and finish. Knobs and switches actuated with authority, and materials had a rewarding feel.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo, with its black wheels, grille, side mirror housings, and thick matte black body cladding, had a distinctive look. Mazda's official explanation for the lower body cladding was that it gave the CX-30 Turbo a light and agile appearance, as though the body was floating over the wheels. This effect made the CX-30 look like it was cresting a sharp hill at speed, with the suspension fully extended. The CX-30 was higher off the ground both perceptually and in reality compared to the Mazda3 hatchback on which it was based.

Opening the door to the CX-30 revealed a cabin that looked just like the Mazda3’s, with quality materials, complementary tones and textures, and stitched chocolate brown surfaces giving it an upscale vibe. Changes to the cabin included a chrome accent around the engine start button and a standard frameless rearview mirror. The SUV offered a choice between black and Griege leatherette upholstery, with black or white leather standard with Premium and Premium Plus trim. Prices for the new 2021 CX-30 Turbo ranged from about $31,000 to around $35,000, with our Snowflake White Pearl Mica test vehicle priced at $35,745 including a destination charge of $1,175.

The 2020 Acura MDX came with a choice of two powertrains: a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive options. Alternatively, the MDX Sport Hybrid used a 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engine and three electric motors, producing a combined system power of 321 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT) and all-wheel drive. The gasoline-only model with Acura’s Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive system (SH-AWD) displayed good straight-line performance, with enthusiastic takeoff and acceleration. The transmission was well-behaved, delivering shifts right where needed in Comfort or Sport mode.

The MDX was surprisingly nimble in corners and curves, especially with SH-AWD, which incorporated torque-vectoring technology. This directed power to the outside wheel during cornering, sharpening turn-in and improving handling. The MDX’s four-wheel independent suspension soaked up road bumps, making it a comfortable companion for long drives.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine making between 227 and 250 horsepower, depending on the octane rating of the fuel. Torque measured 310 pound-feet at 2,000 rpm or 320 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. The CX-30 Turbo’s official EPA rating was 25 mpg in combined driving, with an average of 24.1 mpg. The SUV’s 12.7-gallon fuel tank provided a maximum driving range of just over 305 miles.

Mazda’s approach to tuning the CX-30 Turbo focused on delivering more power and response than most people would need most of the time, leading to greater driving satisfaction. The CX-30 Turbo offered effortless acceleration regardless of the situation, with hints of torque steer when stepping hard on the accelerator from a stop or when exiting a corner. The revised GVC-Plus technology and i-Activ AWD system actively distributed power to the rear wheels, enhancing traction and response. The CX-30 Turbo’s added height, weight, and tire sidewall section width made it less pleasurable to drive compared to the Mazda3, but its 2.5 inches of extra ground clearance and Off-Road mode compensated for any reduction in on-pavement performance.

The 2020 Acura MDX, a three-row SUV, featured sliding and reclining second-row seats, making it easier to access the third row and share legroom between rows. Headroom was good in all three rows. The MDX offered 15.8 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, which folded flat in a 50/50 split to open 43.4 cubic feet of cargo space. The second row also folded flat in a 60/40 split, providing a 90.9-cubic-foot cargo hold with a reasonably flat load floor. Additional storage included a recessed cubby hole in the rear cargo wall and a covered underfloor storage space.

Up front, the MDX had a big glove box, a drop-down sunglass pocket, and a flexible center console with two big cupholders and a sliding armrest. Second-row passengers had cupholders on the back of the center console and front-seat back pouches, while third-row passengers had an outboard armrest with a storage bin and cup holder. The MDX featured tri-zone climate control, allowing separate heating/cooling options for the driver, front-seat passenger, and rear cabin positions.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo was exceptionally comfortable for the driver, with eight-way power adjustment and impressive long-distance support. Both front seats were heated, and a heated steering wheel was standard with Premium and Premium Plus trim. The front passenger’s seat, while comfortable, lacked the range of adjustment available to the driver. The cabin’s organic shapes and overall minimalism contributed to a sense of spaciousness, making the CX-30 Turbo feel like a larger SUV from the driver’s seat.

However, the CX-30 Turbo’s small size was evident when loading adults into the back seat, which offered cramped accommodations. Storage space was generous for a vehicle of this size, but the location of the optional wireless smartphone charger at the bottom of the center console storage bin forced a choice between storage and phone charging. The CX-30 Turbo offered 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 45.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2020 Acura MDX came with standard tech features, including Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, hands-free Bluetooth, SMS/MMS text message and email capability, a CD/MP3 and WMA-compatible compact disc player, five USB ports, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an eight-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added rain-sensing windshield wipers, LED puddle lights, front and rear parking sensors, navigation with Acura Real-Time Traffic and Traffic Rerouting, GPS-linked climate control, remote engine start, and Acura/ELS Studio Premium Audio with 10 speakers. The Advance Package included the tech features in the Technology Package, plus the Active Damper System suspension, LED fog lights, heated and ventilated front seats, power front lumbar support, heated rear outboard seats, a surround-view camera system, Head-Up Warning, and two third-row USB charge ports. The Entertainment Package added a DVD rear entertainment system with a 110-volt power outlet, two pairs of wireless headphones, and either a 16.2-inch Ultra-Wide Full VGA screen or a 9.0-inch Full VGA screen, depending on the package.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo featured an 8.8-inch infotainment-system display, operated using physical controls on the center console and steering wheel, or specific voice commands. The Mazda Connect infotainment system required acclimation, and a natural voice recognition system would have reduced distraction. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided access to digital assistants, but the process of changing between favorite radio stations was aggravating. All CX-30 Turbos included three free years of Mazda Connected Services, with a separate trial period for the 4G LTE WiFi hotspot service. Premium and Premium Plus trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. The CX-30 Turbo also featured an Active Driving Display (head-up display) with useful data projected onto the windshield.

The 2020 Acura MDX came with standard AcuraWatch, a suite of passive and active safety features, and advanced driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and the Advance Package added Head-Up Warning. Additional safety equipment included a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines (upgraded to the surround-view camera on the Advance Package), front airbags, front-side airbags, side curtain airbags with rollover sensor, driver’s knee airbag, stability control with traction control and motion-adaptive steering, Trailer Stability Assist on all-wheel-drive models, tire pressure monitoring with location and pressure indicators, LATCH child-seat mounts, and a theft-deterrent system with electronic immobilizer. The MDX’s Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure was designed to absorb impact in a crash, transferring energy through the frame and away from occupants. The MDX received a “good” rating from the IIHS in all crash-test categories, “acceptable” for headlights, “superior” for front crash prevention, and “acceptable” for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave the MDX a five-star overall safety rating.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for the 2020 calendar year, with the highest rating in every testing parameter. The NHTSA gave the CX-30 Turbo five-star ratings in every assessment except for rollover resistance, where it received a four-star rating. The CX-30 Turbo came with a full collection of i-ActiveSense advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including an adaptive front lighting system, front and rear parking sensors, a rear automatic braking system, a surround-view camera system, and Traffic Jam Assist (TJA). TJA provided lane-centering assistance at speeds below 40 mph, complementing the adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The CX-30 Turbo also featured a mobile 9-1-1 automatic emergency notification system.