2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2022 Mazda CX-30

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse was essentially a glorified minivan, trading the practicality of sliding doors for conventional rear doors. It was an ideal choice for those who needed an SUV but didn't want to splurge on a larger, more expensive, and less fuel-efficient vehicle. Starting at $33,700, the Traverse offered a range of trims, with the High Country model costing $53,400. All-wheel drive was available across the lineup, although its 7.5-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities.

For 2022, the Traverse received a light restyle, featuring new headlights, taillights, and updated grille designs. The RS trim, which we tested, included blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The interior of the RS trim was equipped with black leather upholstery, red and light gray contrast stitching, and gloss black trim. However, the use of hard plastic on the upper door panels was a downside. The interior layout was simple and logical, with easy-to-use controls for the stereo and climate systems.

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 blend of conventional and digital displays. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its usability was compromised by a steep learning curve. The CX-30 offered a range of trims, from the base 2.5 S to the range-topping Turbo Premium Plus. Our test model, the Turbo Premium Plus, came with a power rear liftgate, leather upholstery, and a head-up display, among other features.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power, and the official EPA fuel economy rating for the AWD model was 20 mpg in combined driving. Our test vehicle returned 20.9 mpg.

The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, absorbing smaller road imperfections well. However, it required careful handling over speed humps and drainage dips to avoid scraping the front air dam. On the highway, the Traverse excelled, though it had more road and wind noise than desirable. In mountainous terrain, the Traverse felt athletic, with good performance from the V6 drivetrain, steering, and brakes. However, the RS trim's all-season tires and the vehicle's tendency to feel disconnected from the road at higher speeds were drawbacks.

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. Our test model featured the upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque 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, and the Sport mode enhanced throttle response and shift mapping.

The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. It exhibited little-to-no body roll in cornering but had a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads. The suspension performed decently on dirt and gravel roads, but craggy paved roads were a challenge.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse's RS, Premier, and High Country trims featured captain's chairs in the second row, reducing seating capacity to seven. Our RS test model had power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors made third-row access easier. The all-black cabin and lack of ventilated front seats were not issues in moderate temperatures.

The Traverse offered generous legroom, headroom, and foot room in the second row, though the captain's chairs lacked leg support. The third-row seat was suitable for adults if the second-row passengers cooperated by sliding forward. Storage space was abundant, with hidden compartments behind the infotainment screen and under the cargo floor. Cargo space measured 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet.

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. Our Turbo Premium Plus model had a power rear liftgate, which was convenient. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The center console provided ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats offered solid headroom but lacked the rear-seat headroom of the larger CX-5, making them less suitable for longer drives.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse LS and LT Cloth models came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. Higher trims also featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. Both infotainment systems supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. Teen Driver technology was standard, allowing parents to monitor their child's driving.

The 8-inch touchscreen system offered integrated navigation, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and expanded connected services with more in-vehicle apps. A Bose premium sound system was standard starting with the RS trim but was not particularly impressive. The voice recognition system was excellent, responding quickly and accurately to commands. The Traverse's available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were useful features.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design with an 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 suffered from poor usability. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was particularly frustrating, though getting into CarPlay was straightforward.

The Mazda infotainment system remained confusing even after setting up presets, and it could be maddening for new users. The system's design prioritized form over function, making it less user-friendly than competitors.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. A new Safety Package was optional for the Traverse LS, adding rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. These features were standard on higher trims.

The Traverse RS, Premier, and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Premier and High Country trims also featured Chevy's vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests but was rated "Acceptable" in a new side-impact test. NHTSA had not published 2022 Traverse crash-test ratings at the time of writing.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with 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. 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 CX-30's adaptive front headlights turned with the steering wheel, and the 360-degree parking camera was helpful. The head-up display provided crisp graphics and was readable 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 in certain situations. The CX-30 earned five stars from NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS.