2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had a design reminiscent of a smaller CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. Built 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 road view, which was distracting.

Inside, the CX-30 offered a comfortable and quiet cabin with a solid feel. 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 usability was compromised by a steep learning curve. The trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury touches, with the Turbo Premium Plus including front-and-rear parking sensors and advanced driver assistance features.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a commanding presence with its huge spindle grille, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and a height of 74.2 inches. The front end looked ready to dominate the road, framed by massive headlights. The GX Black Line Special Edition returned for 2023, limited to 3,000 units with exclusive paint colors. Despite its luxury badge, the GX's dimensions seemed to shrink when viewed from the side, with a short 109.8-inch wheelbase and minimal overhangs, making it look engineered for off-road adventures.

The interior of the GX was a mix of luxury and practicality, though it had a disappointing amount of plastic material. Despite this, it featured heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery. The GX's design budget was long spent, and Lexus focused on easy manufacturing to maintain the model. The GX's overall aesthetic leaned sleeker compared to Toyota's blocky designs, making it easier to place in technical driving scenarios.

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 had the upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, delivering 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, 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 ride was sporty and refined, with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. However, the suspension's sporty nature resulted in a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads, though it handled dirt and gravel roads decently.

The 2023 Lexus GX was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. While not the most powerful on paper, the V8 provided a satisfying linear power delivery and a distinctive sound. The GX had a 6,500-pound towing capacity but lagged behind other SUVs in performance and fuel economy, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined.

The GX's weight contributed to noticeable body roll in corners, but it felt predictable and controllable. The steering was vague off-center, but the brakes were strong and reliable. The GX featured a Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential, distributing power in a 40:60 front:rear split, adjustable based on wheel slip, enhancing its user-friendliness in various driving conditions.

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 included a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when folded, but overall, the console provided ample space for personal items. The front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles, and the rear seats offered solid headroom for short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be tight.

The 2023 Lexus GX had plenty of cubby space, with a deep center console bin, a handy space ahead of the shifter for a phone, and conveniently placed cupholders. However, it lacked USB-C ports, featuring only USB-A ports. The GX retained physical controls, which were a blessing for those who preferred hard buttons over touchscreens, though the abundance of buttons required some getting used to.

The center console lid had sliding mechanisms for adjustable armrests, and the second row was comfortable with captain’s chairs or a three-across bench seat. The third row was too tight for regular use, suitable only for emergencies. The GX's trunk had a side-hinged door, requiring muscle to open, and offered 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both rows folded, less than a Toyota RAV4.

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. 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. Navigating between presets and exiting CarPlay was frustrating, even after spending time learning the system.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a 10.3-inch touchscreen, an improvement over the old system, with integrations like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface (RTI) was still present but unnecessary due to the improved touchscreen. The GX included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo with a CD player. However, the touchscreen lagged, and the graphics were not as crisp as those in competing models. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, stability control, and the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS).

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 the NHTSA and the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included advanced driver assistance systems like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, Lexus equipped the GX with modern safety features.