2023 Mazda CX-30 vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a distinctive design that set it apart from its siblings in the Genesis lineup. It featured the brand's signature quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, along with a prominent shield-shaped grille. The GV70's sloping roofline and ribbed detailing added a touch of athleticism to its SUV bulk, creating a blend of ruggedness and sleekness. The Sport Prestige model further enhanced its character with unique styling elements, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. Inside, the GV70's interior was inspired by the cross-section of an airplane's wing, with an elliptical theme that extended to the controls and door handles. The design was minimalistic, with a perched touchscreen and hidden air vents, while a rotary gear selector added a touch of sophistication. The interior offered a range of color options and luxurious materials, such as Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 presented a more artful design, albeit with some drawbacks. Its long hood, dramatic flanks, and stubby rear end gave it a nose-heavy appearance, accentuated by excessive gray body cladding. The 2.5 Turbo's black wheels blended into the lower-body darkness, making them nearly invisible. However, the interior of the CX-30 was a different story, offering an upscale and elegant cabin with quality materials. While the base trim had cloth seats, higher trims featured artificial or genuine leather upholstery, complemented by gloss black trim and polished metal accents. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus model showcased a tasteful combination of off-white leather, chocolate brown, and black, creating an entry-level luxury SUV ambiance.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two powerful engine options. The base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine delivered 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generated an impressive 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD), a feature not commonly found in competitors like the BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, which typically offered rear-wheel drive. The GV70 also included a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, features more suited to a sporty coupe than a compact SUV. The Sport+ drive mode added to the GV70's sporty character, holding high revs and sharpening throttle response. However, the chassis felt heavy, lacking the sharpness of rivals like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. The steering, while adequate at most speeds, lacked precision for spirited driving. The GV70 excelled on highways and in town, but its firm ride and lack of solidity detracted from its luxury appeal.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 offered two engine options as well. The 2.5 S models gained five additional horsepower, totaling 191 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, with improved fuel economy at 29 mpg combined. The 2.5 Turbo, when fueled with premium gas, produced 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, while regular gas yielded 227 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both engines were mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a Sport mode, and AWD was standard. The CX-30's eight inches of ground clearance and Off-Road traction assist function added versatility. The 2.5 Turbo provided robust acceleration and a pleasing engine sound, but the powertrain could be caught flat-footed in traffic. The CX-30's small 12.7-gallon fuel tank limited its range, requiring frequent refueling. Despite its soft suspension, the CX-30 excelled on twisty roads, thanks to its G-Vectoring Control Plus, trustworthy brakes, and excellent steering. On highways, it was quiet and refined, but the brake pedal required more effort than expected, and the suspension struggled with speed bumps.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment. Despite its car-like roofline, it provided front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Legroom in both rows was adequate, and rear-seat visibility was good due to thin rear pillars. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with them folded, placing the GV70 in the middle ground between competitors. The daring interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. However, a covered storage cubby with USB ports was included, and rear-seat passengers had their own climate controls. The Sport Prestige model featured heavily bolstered front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 offered standard dual-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and a power sunroof on most models. Turbos added a heated steering wheel. While the driver's seat was comfortable, the front passenger seat had only four-way manual adjustment. Rear air conditioning vents were standard on all but the base trim, but legroom was tight. Storage space was reasonable, with a storage bin under the center armrest, a glove compartment with dividers, and helpful bins in the lower door panels. The rear offered a center armrest with cupholders and storage options in the lower door panels and a single seatback pocket. The CX-30's power liftgate revealed 20.2 cubic feet of cargo space, accommodating two full-size suitcases. Folding the 60/40-split rear seats increased cargo space to 45.2 cubic feet, though these measurements were not impressive for the segment.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 impressed with its tech offerings. The standard infotainment system featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Its tile-based layout and crisp graphics were user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality with pinch-and-zoom capabilities. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 also included a digital-key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services provided remote camera activation, driver profiles, last-mile guidance navigation, and a valet mode, all included free for three years.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-30's Mazda Connect infotainment system had notable flaws. It lacked a touchscreen display, requiring drivers to use center console controls that demanded quick glances away from the road. The silver steering-wheel controls were hard to read, and the voice-recognition system was not conversational, leading to a 50 percent success rate in executing commands. The absence of a tuning knob further complicated radio station navigation. Despite these issues, the 8.8-inch display was well-integrated into the dashboard, offering pleasing graphics and a logical menu structure. All CX-30s included Bluetooth, HD Radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and connected services. Turbos added SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, and a 14-speaker Bose premium sound system. Wireless smartphone charging was available as an accessory.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver-attention monitor. It also featured Highway Driving Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control. The GV70 included eight standard airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional driver-assist features included Highway Driving Assist 2, which added lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available, the GV70's safety features were impressive.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 excelled in safety, earning a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS. It featured standard rear side airbags, outboard rear seatbelt tensioners, and other updates. Standard safety equipment included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. The CX-30 also had a driver monitoring system, automatic high-beam headlights, and an E911 emergency notification system. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, an adaptive front lighting system, traffic sign recognition, and a head-up display. The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus model included a surround-view camera, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The driving assistance systems worked well, though a forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking event on a Los Angeles freeway seemed excessive.