2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Mazda CX-30

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo featured a distinctive design with shiny black 18-inch wheels, a shiny black grille, and side mirror housings, along with thick matte black body cladding. This gave the vehicle a unique, almost floating appearance, as if it were cresting a hill at speed. The CX-30's design set it apart from the Mazda3 hatchback, on which it was based, with a higher ground clearance and a more rugged look.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin mirrored the Mazda3's, offering quality materials, complementary tones, and stitched chocolate brown surfaces that provided 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 ranged from about $31,000 to $35,745, including destination charges.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler required buyers to choose between a classic two-door or a more practical four-door model, followed by selecting from a variety of powertrains, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions available. Prices ranged from about $30,000 to $80,000, not including the destination charge.

Our test vehicle was the High Tide special edition, based on the four-door Sport S trim. It featured LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, a Gorilla Glass windshield, sand-and-slush floor mats, and High Tide or Beach hood decals. The Xtreme Recon package added a 1.5-inch suspension lift, revised shock tuning, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires, and a 4.56 rear axle ratio. The High Tide model also included a gasoline V6 engine with eTorque mild hybrid electrification, an automatic transmission, Selec-Trac full-time 4WD, and various option groups, bringing the MSRP to $58,845, including the $1,595 destination charge.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing between 227 and 250 horsepower depending on the fuel's octane rating. Torque measured 310 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm or 320 lb-ft at 2,500 rpm. The CX-30 Turbo's six-speed automatic transmission, standard i-Activ all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, front suspension tuning, and G-Vectoring Control Plus (GVC-Plus) technology contributed to its performance. The EPA rated the CX-30 Turbo at 25 mpg in combined driving, with an average of 24.1 mpg during testing.

Mazda engineers focused on delivering a satisfying driving experience rather than the fastest acceleration times. The CX-30 Turbo provided effortless acceleration, with hints of torque steer managed by the revised GVC-Plus technology and i-Activ AWD. The SUV's added height, weight, and tire sidewall section width made it less pleasurable to drive than the Mazda3, but its 2.5 inches of extra ground clearance and Off-Road mode compensated for any reduction in on-pavement performance.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide had a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option, and the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system was also included. The EPA rated the Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6 at 21 mpg in combined driving, but the Xtreme Recon Package modifications resulted in an average of 16.8 mpg during testing.

Driving a Jeep Wrangler was a unique and immersive experience, with a rough-and-tumble driving feel and a seemingly unquenchable thirst for fuel. The Wrangler's character and capabilities heightened awareness and encouraged exploration, making it a vehicle that sparked a wide range of human responses, from joy and delight to irritation and aggravation.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo was easy to get into and out of, with an exceptionally comfortable driver's seat featuring eight-way power adjustment. Both front seats were heated, and a heated steering wheel was standard with Premium and Premium Plus trims. The cabin's organic shapes and overall minimalism contributed to a sense of spaciousness, though the rear seat was cramped for adults. The CX-30 Turbo offered 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 45.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide's raised suspension made entry and exit difficult, especially for shorter or less-limber individuals. The driver's seat had a manual height adjuster, but the lever's location required regular re-adjustment. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery and some soft, padded spots for arms and elbows. Visibility was a mixed bag, with excellent views in some areas and compromised views in others. Rear-seat passengers faced the same entry and exit difficulties but found agreeable accommodations once aboard. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

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. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto provided access to digital assistants, while Premium and Premium Plus trims included SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system. The CX-30 also had an Active Driving Display (head-up display) showing useful data projected onto the windshield.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on Sport S trim, had a 7-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The larger Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system offered upgrades such as satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, but our test vehicle did not have this option. The Wrangler High Tide included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats and steering wheel.

The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Turbo earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star ratings in most National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) assessments. Mazda equipped the CX-30 Turbo 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 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, adding blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the Wrangler received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and Marginal ratings in IIHS testing for protection and side-impact performance. Safety features were optional rather than standard, and the Wrangler's ratings suggested it required extra care when driving.