2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Mazda CX-5

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 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 ladder.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5, despite its age, remained an excellent choice in the compact crossover SUV segment. It was stylish and assembled with high-quality materials, giving it the look and feel of a small luxury SUV. The available turbocharged engine provided impressive power, and the CX-5 boasted a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The model was eventually redesigned and renamed as the CX-50, but the 2023 CX-5 continued to offer quality, refinement, and sophistication across all its versions.

The CX-5's engine options included a standard 187-horsepower four-cylinder and an available 256-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. The lineup spanned from the 2.5 S at $26,700 to the 2.5 Turbo Signature at $39,650. The 2.5 Turbo Signature test vehicle featured Rhodium White metallic paint, Caturra Brown premium Nappa leather upholstery, and an accessory rear bumper guard, bringing the MSRP to $41,655. Despite its high price, the CX-5 2.5 Turbo Signature seemed worthy of it, unlike many of its rivals.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The test model featured an upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, rated at 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's conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and manual tap-shift mode added to its sporty feel. The ride was refined with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in, though it could be rough over potholes and bumpy roads. The suspension handled dirt and gravel roads decently but struggled with craggy paved roads.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's standard powertrain was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, generating 187 hp and 186 pound-feet of torque, delivered to the standard all-wheel-drive (AWD) system through a six-speed automatic transmission. The EPA fuel economy rating was 26 mpg in combined driving. The 2.5 Turbo's 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder offered 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel, and 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg in combined driving.

The turbo four's horsepower rating grew for the 2022 model year, along with increased structural rigidity, improved suspension dampening, reduced interior noise, and a revised automatic transmission. These updates made the CX-5 feel more like an entry-level luxury vehicle. The turbocharged engine's torque arrived at 2,000 rpm on regular gas and 2,500 rpm with premium fuel, providing quick acceleration once the torque kicked in. The CX-5's ride quality was firm, connected, and communicative, with minimal body roll in curves and corners.

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, 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 offered plenty of space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats provided solid headroom but lacked the rear-seat headroom of the larger CX-5, making them suitable for short-to-medium trips.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's front seats were modified for improved comfort and support, with height-adjustable driver and front passenger seats in all but the base 2.5 S. Higher trims offered power adjustment for both front seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and three different upholstery upgrades. The Signature trim included Nappa leather, adding a luxury feel.

However, the CX-5's technology, storage space, rear-seat room, and cargo space were lacking. The infotainment system lacked a conversational voice recognition system, and the control knob required memorization and conscious thought to use. The CX-5's in-cabin storage areas were relatively small, the back seat was cramped, and the cargo area offered 30.9 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 59.3 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, less than many mainstream rivals.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the center console and toggle buttons. The system was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW's iDrive but lacked touch functionality, making it difficult to use. Getting out of Apple CarPlay was a pain, and operating CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was maddening. Even after learning the system, it remained frustrating and distracting for new users.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system had a wide, 10.25-inch display with sophisticated graphics and a logical menu structure but was frustrating to use. The physical controls on the center console were awkward and required memorization and conscious thought. The control knob often required a series of twists and pushes to execute commands, making it more distracting than a touchscreen. The user experience was often flat, with issues like the SiriusXM channel list defaulting to the bottom of the list.

Mazda Connect offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a free three-year trial subscription to Mazda Connected Services, and SiriusXM. Upper trims included a 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. The test vehicle had a front-facing camera, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors.

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 adaptive front headlights and 360-degree parking camera were helpful features. The CX-30 earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's i-Activsense tech included most driver assistance features as standard, with a few exclusive to the 2.5 Turbo Signature, like the surround-view camera system, parking sensors, rear low-speed automatic emergency braking, and Traffic Jam Assist. The i-Activsense tech operated smoothly and accurately, with an Active Driving Display in the three most expensive versions. The lane-departure warning system offered visual, audible, and tactile alerts, and the adaptive cruise control provided smooth braking. The CX-5 also had an E911 system for automatic collision notification but lacked a warning message for driving without headlights at night.

The CX-5 earned five-star ratings in every NHTSA assessment and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.