2020 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 had a polarizing exterior design, primarily due to the thick gray plastic cladding covering its lower perimeter. This design choice made the 18-inch wheels appear undersized and gave the vehicle a lifted look, as if it were perpetually on a hydraulic lift. Despite this, the CX-30's overall styling was commendable, especially its luxurious interior, which featured soft-touch materials above the cabin's midpoint. However, hard plastics were prevalent below this line, which was expected given the vehicle's price range. The CX-30's pricing started at $21,900, with the Select trim offering additional features for $2,000 more. The Preferred and Premium trims were priced at $26,200 and $28,200, respectively, with AWD available for an extra $1,400. Our test vehicle, a CX-30 Premium AWD with additional features, totaled $32,120, including the destination charge.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse, in contrast, relied on styling details to differentiate its trim levels, reminiscent of how Chevy once used different wheels or extra chrome to distinguish between models like the Impala and Caprice. The Traverse's exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Traverse's restrained styling allowed for cosmetic elements to stand out, such as the blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome accents on the High Country model. The Traverse shared its platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6 but aimed for a more blue-collar feel. Inside, the Traverse featured an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof and materials that, while good, didn't quite justify the vehicle's roughly $50,000 MSRP.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 was powered by a smooth and refined 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering 186 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 186 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm. Despite its competitive figures, the CX-30's weight of 3,408 pounds made it feel relatively heavy. The 6-speed sport automatic transmission, which included paddle shifters in the Premium trim, made the most of the available power. The CX-30 offered 8 inches of ground clearance, less than some competitors but more than most small crossover SUVs. The driving dynamics of the CX-30 were impressive compared to other small SUVs, though it felt slower and less agile than the Mazda3 on which it was based. The CX-30's steering, braking, and driver communication remained sharp, ensuring a satisfying driving experience. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 23.9 mpg in testing, with a smaller gas tank reducing its real-world driving range to just over 300 miles.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was equipped with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 powertrain didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and didn't fully utilize its torque vectoring capabilities. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, average for the segment, but less than some competitors like the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 offered ease of entry and exit due to its higher ground clearance. Inside, the CX-30 featured an upscale and elegant interior with soft padding on the center console, door armrests, and front upper door panels. The driving position was excellent, and the vehicle provided large, simple analog gauges. Cloth seating was standard, with simulated leather in Select and Preferred trims, and genuine leather in the Premium trim. The rear seat was cramped, with limited legroom, making it suitable for younger children and shorter adults. Cargo space was also limited, with 20.2 cubic feet behind the back seat and 45.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, less than many competitors.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, depending on the second-row configuration. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were above average. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. However, the Traverse was stingy on interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 featured an 8.8-inch static display for its infotainment system, which avoided a touchscreen to improve driver focus. However, the controls were not always intuitive. Standard equipment included Bluetooth, HD Radio, a Pandora internet radio app, and Mazda Connected Services with a free 3-year trial. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available starting with the Select trim, while satellite radio and a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system were standard on Preferred and Premium trims. The Premium trim also included a head-up display.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio volume and climate control, which were user-friendly. The vehicle also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Chevy provided 2 USB ports for each row as standard, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2020 Mazda CX-30 boasted a generous list of standard safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The CX-30 received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS with Premium trim. The Select trim added blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning, while the Premium trim included adaptive front lights.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with many features only available as optional extras.