2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. This similarity was evident in its design, making it easy to mistake the Passport for a Pilot Sport. Inside, the Passport's dashboard layout was visually identical to that of the Pilot, including Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout.

Trim levels for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The entry-level Sport featured 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and a power rear liftgate. The Touring trim included front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, and a 10-speaker stereo system. The top-tier Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, with an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially making it a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30 featured a raked windshield that acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, and its slight curve could distort the view for taller drivers.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a solid feel to all its components. The instrument cluster blended conventional and digital displays, and the infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard. However, the infotainment system had a steep learning curve. Trim levels ranged from 2.5 S to Turbo Premium Plus, with features like 16-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and an eight-speaker stereo system in the base model. Higher trims added amenities such as leather upholstery, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well. The Passport's ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

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 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 turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, especially in Sport mode, which altered throttle response and shift mapping. The CX-30 featured a conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a manual tap-shift mode. Its sporty, refined ride had well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, though it could be rough over potholes.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim featured a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims included a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and the center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, and they both reclined and slid for added comfort.

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. These figures were average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Turbo Premium Plus model featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The center console offered plenty of space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. The rear seats provided solid headroom and were suitable for adults on short-to-medium trips, though they lacked the headroom of the larger CX-5.

For 2021, Honda made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard on the Passport, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. This was a distinct advantage over the three-row Pilot, which required moving up to at least the EX trim to get these features. However, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive, but it lacked touch functionality, making it difficult to use. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, and operating it with a rotary dial was frustrating. However, getting into CarPlay from the Mazda home screen was straightforward.

The 2021 Honda Passport came well equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport scored an overall rating of five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and received top "Good" scores in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came loaded with standard driver-assistance features such as 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 included additional features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking. The CX-30 earned five out of five stars from the NHTSA and received the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.