2021 Mazda CX-30 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo was a striking vehicle, especially for those who appreciated black wheels. It featured exclusive shiny black 18-inch rollers, a shiny black grille, shiny black side mirror housings, and thick matte black body cladding. This combination gave the impression that a black Sharpie 44 Magnum had been used liberally on the car before a more restrained design approach took over. Mazda claimed that the lower body cladding gave the CX-30 Turbo a light and agile appearance, as if the body was floating over the wheels. This effect made the CX-30 look distinct from the Mazda3 hatchback on which it was based, with a higher ground clearance both perceptually and in reality.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin closely resembled that of the Mazda3, which was a positive aspect. Quality materials, complementary tones and textures, and stitched chocolate brown surfaces gave the CX-30 Turbo 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 available in Premium and Premium Plus trims. Prices for the 2021 CX-30 Turbo ranged from about $31,000 to around $35,000, with our test vehicle priced at $35,745.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that we often recommended to families due to its practicality. It featured sliding side doors that made loading toddlers into rear-facing child safety seats much easier, especially in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey also had a comfortable third-row seat, making it ideal for accommodating additional family members or carpooling. The deep well behind the third-row seat provided ample space for gear, and the third-row seat was not wedged against the liftgate, which was a significant advantage.

The Odyssey's design adhered to the classic minivan style, but it had a sense of style with kinked sliding doors and dramatic hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim level we tested featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. Prices for the Odyssey ranged from $33,040 to $48,770, with our Elite trim test vehicle priced at $49,995. The interior of the Odyssey reflected a classic open-concept minivan design with a low console between the front seats and plenty of storage space. The center stack had switchgear that was easy to use, and the view out through the massive windshield was expansive.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that produced between 227 and 250 horsepower, depending on the octane rating of the fuel. It delivered 310 pound-feet of torque at 2,000 rpm or 320 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. The CX-30 Turbo had a six-speed automatic transmission, standard i-Activ all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, and front suspension tuning. The EPA fuel economy rating was 25 mpg in combined driving, and we averaged 24.1 mpg. The maximum driving range was just over 305 miles with a 12.7-gallon fuel tank.

Mazda focused on delivering a satisfying driving experience by tuning the CX-30 Turbo to provide more power and response than most people would need. The SUV offered effortless acceleration and managed torque steer effectively. The i-Activ AWD system actively distributed power to the rear wheels, and the Off-Road mode ensured maximum power transfer when needed. The CX-30 Turbo's added height and weight made it less pleasurable to drive compared to the Mazda3, but it compensated with 2.5 inches of extra ground clearance and an Off-Road mode for dirt driving.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It had a front-wheel-drive (FWD) system and a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive (AWD) or an electrified powertrain. The EPA fuel economy estimate was 22 mpg in combined driving, and we averaged 22.6 mpg during our test drive.

The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads. However, repeated use of the brakes when driving down hills caused pedal vibration and an audible grumble. The Odyssey's brakes needed to be more resistant to heating up on mountain grades. Overall, the Odyssey provided a pleasant driving experience, but it required better brakes for its mission to safely carry lots of people.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo was easy to get into and out of, and it offered exceptional comfort for the driver. The driver's seat had 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. However, ventilated seats were not available, and the front passenger seat lacked a wide range of adjustment.

The CX-30 Turbo's cabin had an intimate setting with organic shapes and minimalism, contributing to a sense of spaciousness. The rear seat was cramped for adults, but it had rear-seat air conditioning vents. Storage space was generous, but the location of the optional wireless smartphone charger in 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, which expanded to 45.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was easy to step into, with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Odyssey Elite featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The interior had numerous storage spaces, including shelving in the front door panels and a handy floor tray. The center console also served as a tray for small items.

The second-row seats were comfortable, with plenty of legroom and a fold-down center section with cupholders. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, which expanded to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded down. Removing the second-row seats provided a maximum cargo volume of 144.9 cubic feet.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo featured an 8.8-inch infotainment system display that was not a touchscreen. The system was operated using physical controls on the center console and steering wheel, or specific voice commands. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided access to digital assistants. The CX-30 Turbo included three free years of Mazda Connected Services, with a separate trial period for the 4G LTE WiFi hotspot service.

Premium and Premium Plus trims added SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. The CX-30 Turbo also had an Active Driving Display (head-up display) that projected useful data onto the windshield. This feature was particularly helpful for monitoring blind spots without looking away from the road.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were increasingly outclassed by rivals. Starting with the EX trim level, the Odyssey had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access.

The Odyssey Touring and Elite featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, allowing the driver to monitor and communicate with rear-seat passengers. The rear-seat entertainment system had a single 10.2-inch display screen and included wireless headphones. The Elite trim added an 11-speaker premium audio system and a wireless charging pad.

The Odyssey's infotainment system had large menu tiles and virtual Home and Back buttons, but a larger screen and a tuning knob for the stereo would have been improvements. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands and was less user-friendly than smartphone-based navigation.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in every assessment except for rollover resistance. The CX-30 Turbo was equipped with a full collection of i-ActiveSense advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive front lighting, front and rear parking sensors, rear automatic braking, a surround-view camera system, and Traffic Jam Assist (TJA). The SUV also had a mobile 9-1-1 automatic emergency notification system.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.

Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with safety features responding too sharply or abruptly to changing driving situations. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was located on the windshield pillar, which was not ideal. The Odyssey earned an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.