2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially acting as 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 solid-feeling buttons and doors. The interior design was one of the best among affordable cars, blending conventional and digital displays artfully. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its steep learning curve was a downside. The trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury elements as you moved up the range.

The 2023 Dodge Durango, entering its 12th model year without a redesign, maintained an attractive, clean, almost car-like styling. It avoided the trend of oversized grilles, opting for slim styling with forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake. The rear featured Dodge’s signature “racetrack” taillights, giving it a distinctive look. The muscular SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had unique styling features like a Viper-like hood and functional air inlets, but these were subtle.

The interior of the Durango was less distinctive but still pleasant. Lower trim levels had materials suited to their price points, while higher trims like the Citadel offered luxurious features such as Nappa leather upholstery and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery, adding a touch of flair. The Durango also offered various appearance packages, including the Blacktop and Hemi Orange packages, allowing for customization.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine 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, making the CX-30 lively.

The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. There was minimal body roll in cornering, but the downside was a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads. The suspension handled dirt and gravel roads decently, but craggy paved roads were a challenge.

The 2023 Durango offered a variety of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, producing 293 hp (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 featured a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 with 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds.

The Durango SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. Our Hellcat test car felt incredibly quick, with minimal wind and tire noise at highway speeds. The adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero performance tires, and Brembo brakes made managing the power easier.

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, which was 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 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 might be tight for longer drives.

The 2023 Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations. The SXT, GT, and R/T models had a three-seat second-row bench, while the Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs. Interior space was comparable to other three-row midsize SUVs, with headroom and legroom within a fraction of an inch of competitors. The Durango had 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place, 43.3 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row.

Small-item storage was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. Models with second-row captain's chairs had a large center console for that row. However, there was no power-folding third row, which was a drawback for higher trims. The Durango had a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for V6 models and up to 8,700 pounds for V8 models.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. The lack of touch functionality made it challenging to use, especially for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive but lacked usability. Navigating between presets and getting out of Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, making it frustrating for users.

The 2023 Durango's SXT and GT models had an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity. The Citadel and SRT models had a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, using the Uconnect 5 system. The larger touchscreen and Uconnect 5 were responsive and easy to use. The SRT models had added personality with burnout-themed animations and a Performance Pages app, providing performance information on the main touchscreen. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available with the Premium Package on the SRT Hellcat model.

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. The Turbo Premium Plus 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 earned five stars from the NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with top "Good" marks in some tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave the Durango a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash test. RWD versions received four stars in the rollover test, while AWD models got three stars. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on all trims, but forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking were only standard on the Citadel and optional on other models.