2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design, adding character while maintaining recognizable Volvo features. Unlike Lexus, which opted for a radical styling revamp, Volvo retained its traditional boxy profile and blunt front end with a rectangular grille. The details made the difference, with softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more basic looks, respectively. The XC90 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a cohesive design language across the brand.

Inside, the XC90 embraced “Swedish minimalism” with thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim and optional wool upholstery provided a natural and unique touch. The Orrefors crystal shifter added a high-end element, though it seemed out of place in the otherwise restrained interior. The XC90’s interior design focused on simplicity and elegance, avoiding overwhelming flashiness while still offering a luxurious feel.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. Built on the same platform as the Mazda3, the CX-30 was essentially a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. Its incredibly raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing a tan on longer drives. Taller drivers might have found the slight curve at eye level distracting due to the distorted road view.

The cabin of the CX-30 was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. It boasted one of the best interior designs among affordable cars, with an artful blend of conventional and digital displays in the instrument cluster. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its functionality took a backseat to form. The attractive infotainment system had a steep learning curve, making it less user-friendly despite its elegant appearance.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, achieving a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8.

Despite the impressive 400 hp, the XC90’s small engine struggled to provide flexible power, especially when relying on electric assist. The gasoline engine often had to kick in at low speeds, making the all-electric Pure mode challenging to use effectively. The XC90 excelled in luxury, with excellent ride quality and minimal body roll, even with the optional air-suspension system. The cabin was impressively quiet, and most models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, though the base FWD T5 was rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Our test model had the upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, rated at 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, with a Sport button altering throttle response and shift mapping for a livelier drive.

The CX-30’s conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and manual tap-shift mode added to its sporty feel. The well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in contributed to its refined ride, though the suspension struggled with potholes and rough roads. Despite this, the suspension performed decently on dirt and gravel roads, making the CX-30 a versatile performer.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and lacked support. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, enhancing the spacious feel. Standard four-zone climate control could be upgraded with a filtration system to trap fine particulate matter.

Up front, the Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, though a power-adjustable steering wheel was not available. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console. Cargo space for the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

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, average for the subcompact SUV segment. Our Turbo Premium Plus model had a power rear liftgate, a helpful feature. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. Despite this design flaw, the center console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles.

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, making longer drives less comfortable.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports were standard, with a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display (HUD) available.

The portrait-oriented touchscreen was user-friendly, allowing for easy swiping across menus. The lack of analog backup controls was not an issue, as the touchscreen worked well and complemented the minimalist interior design. However, the amount of text and typeface used made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad added for 2021 was too small for most phones, and the lack of front USB-C ports could be inconvenient for drivers with newer phones.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design, with the infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen had no touch functionality and was controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the center console and toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive, but it suffered from poor usability.

Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was challenging, as the “Home” button took users to the CarPlay home screen instead of the Mazda home screen. Operating CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was frustrating, though getting into CarPlay from the Mazda home screen was straightforward. Even after setting up presets, the system remained cumbersome, making it difficult for new users to navigate.

The 2021 XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for non-hybrid models. It earned top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle testing, with an “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-pedestrian testing. Headlights and LATCH child-seat anchors received “Acceptable” ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave all 2021 XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover testing.

The XC90 offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, providing smooth and quick reactions to other vehicles, though it struggled with gentle highway curves.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came 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. Our Turbo Premium Plus test 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 adaptive front headlights turned with the steering wheel, and the 360-degree parking camera was helpful, especially when parking. The head-up display provided clear graphics, readable even with polarized lenses. The CX-30 also had a system that kept the electronic parking brake engaged until the driver fastened their seatbelt, which could be inconvenient for low-speed maneuvers.

The CX-30 earned five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and received the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top marks in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for driver-assistance technology.