2023 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Mazda CX-30

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. Riding on the same platform as the Mazda3, it was essentially a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing a tan on longer drives. However, the slight curve at eye level for taller drivers could distort the view of the road, which was distracting.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a solid feel to all components. The interior design was one of the best among affordable cars, blending conventional and digital displays artfully. The infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard, but its steep learning curve was a downside. The trim levels ranged from the base 2.5 S to the top-tier Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury elements.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer, instead of adopting a rugged look, had styling cues more akin to road cars, including a low roofline and a big grille framed by stacked headlights. Despite its sleek profile, it maintained the visual weight of an SUV due to its tall ride height and body sides. The Blazer RS test vehicle, with blackout trim, Red Hot paint, and 21-inch wheels, was striking for a mainstream crossover.

For 2023, the Blazer received minor styling updates, including new taillights with twisted, filament-like elements, tweaked grille designs, and new LED headlights. The interior had a sportier aesthetic, reminiscent of the Camaro muscle car, with large round air vents and an upright dashboard. Higher trim levels offered leather upholstery and dual-zone automatic climate control, with the RS model featuring blue trim and a two-tone upholstery scheme.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Our test model had 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, especially in Sport mode, which altered throttle response and shift mapping for a livelier drive.

The CX-30 featured a conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a manual tap-shift mode. The manual mode pattern was similar to race cars, enhancing its performance credibility. The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, though it struggled over potholes and rough roads.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer carried over its powertrain options from the previous year. Most models had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Blazer RS and optional 3LT and Premier trims featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine rated at 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive.

Our V6-powered Blazer RS test car felt impressively quick, with a sporty exhaust note. However, its considerable weight and top-heavy design impacted handling. The Blazer's AWD system required manual engagement, unlike some rivals that automatically switched from FWD to AWD. The Blazer's suspension and Active Noise Cancellation made it a pleasant highway cruiser, though the 21-inch wheels detracted from ride quality.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the seats in use, average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Turbo Premium Plus model featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when 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 for short-to-medium trips but lacked the headroom of the larger CX-5.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer was a two-row, five-seat vehicle, offering 30.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. This was less than most rivals, such as the Honda Passport and Nissan Murano. Despite the numbers, the Blazer felt spacious from behind the wheel, with short overhangs making it easy to maneuver. The interior featured functional details like USB port placement and temperature control via air vent rings.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. This setup, inspired by luxury-car systems like BMW’s iDrive, lacked touch functionality, making it cumbersome to use, especially with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's usability issues persisted even after setting up presets, making it frustrating for new users.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer received tech upgrades, including a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen and available wireless device charging. The RS and Premier trims featured an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display, built-in navigation, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was intuitive, with a user-friendly menu sequence. However, the optional 360-degree camera system lacked a dedicated button for camera view.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with standard driver-assistance features like 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 stars from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS.

The 2023 Chevrolet Blazer's standard Chevy Safety Assist Package included automatic emergency braking, pedestrian-braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Adaptive cruise control was newly available on the 2LT and 3LT trims. Optional features included blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, a 360-degree camera system, and GM’s Teen Driver monitoring system. The Blazer received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and high ratings from IIHS.