2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle, showcasing a distinctive look that set it apart from Volkswagen's gasoline models. It featured a streamlined profile with wheels pushed out to the corners, eschewing the fake toughness of the Tiguan and Atlas crossovers. The ID.4's interior design blended Volkswagen’s trademark minimalism with a tech-forward aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic finishes. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while higher trims offered leatherette upholstery.

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 serving as a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a solid feel to all its components. The interior design was one of the best in its class, featuring an artful blend of conventional and digital displays. However, the infotainment system had a steep learning curve, prioritizing form over function.

At launch, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was available with a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. This made it the first rear-wheel-drive Volkswagen passenger car sold in the United States since the Beetle. An all-wheel-drive version arrived later in 2021, boosting power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling, with a smooth ride over bumps but noticeable body roll in corners. Unlike many electric cars, it did not offer aggressive regenerative braking for one-pedal driving.

The base engine in the 2022 Mazda CX-30 was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in our test model delivered 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet on 93 octane fuel. Power was routed to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The CX-30 offered a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. However, this performance came at the cost of a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than many competitor EVs, although legroom was average for the segment. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. The ID.4 lacked a front trunk, but the interior felt spacious from the driver’s seat. Forward visibility was good, but rearward visibility was hindered by thick rear pillars and a small back window. The ID.4 featured a unique twist-grip gear selector on the dashboard, freeing up space on the center console, although the console itself was narrow and close to the floor.

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 seats in use, which was average for the subcompact SUV segment. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the rear seats when folded. The center console offered plenty of space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats provided solid headroom for short-to-medium trips but lacked the rear-seat headroom of the larger CX-5, making them less suitable for longer drives.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 came with a standard 10-inch touchscreen (a 12-inch screen was optional) featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5.3-inch display screen served as the instrument cluster, and haptic touchpads replaced nearly all switchgear. While the setup looked cool, it was difficult to use due to the lack of tactile feedback. The ID.4 also featured a natural-language voice-control system and ID.Light, a light strip at the base of the windshield that communicated information to the driver. Despite some gimmicky features, the touchscreen was well-positioned with smart-looking graphics and easy-to-navigate menus.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the center console and a series of toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive but lacked touch functionality, making it difficult to use. Operating Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was particularly frustrating. Despite the elegant design, the system was confusing and cumbersome, even after spending time learning it.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the RWD model. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were new standard features for 2021, enhancing highway driving and driver incapacitation safety.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including 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. The CX-30 earned five out of five stars from the NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.