2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a design that echoed Ford's family resemblance strategy, reminiscent of the 1950s. It shared visual cues with other Ford SUVs, making it hard to distinguish from the Edge at a quick glance. The Explorer's exterior varied by trim, featuring different grille designs and chrome accents. Inside, it offered three rows of seating as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model. The dash was clean, featuring an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space. The XLT trim, the most popular, added a power front passenger seat and nicer finishes, while leather upholstery was available from the mid-tier Limited trim upwards.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30, on the other hand, had the look of a downsized CX-5, with an upright grille and smooth fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a blend of conventional and digital displays. The infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard but had a steep learning curve. Trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, with each level adding more features like leather upholstery, adaptive headlights, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds. Its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented Explorer ST offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer was more about towing power, capable of towing between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, making 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine produced 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel. Power was routed to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick turn-in. However, it had a rough ride over potholes and imperfections on the road.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, with captain’s chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing seating capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed. With the rear seats folded, it provided 81 cubic feet of cargo room, which was less impressive compared to some competitors.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The rear seats provided solid headroom but lacked the space of larger models like the CX-5.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim offered an 8-inch touchscreen with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and a six-speaker audio system. Higher trims added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen controlled by a rotary dial/joystick. The system was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems but lacked touch functionality, making it difficult to use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were supported, but navigating them with the rotary dial was frustrating. The system was confusing even after setting up presets, and switching between them was cumbersome.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. It came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims added features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with standard driver-assistance features like forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The Turbo Premium Plus model added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking. It earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.