2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2024 Mazda CX-30

Volkswagen made subtle styling changes to the 2023 model year of the ID.4. The front bumper featured gloss black trim, and the rear bumper had a more squared-off design to improve aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors were introduced, and the rear VW logo now lights up. Despite these updates, the ID.4 didn't look particularly SUV-like, lacking the upright profile and added ground clearance typical of traditional SUVs. This might have been a drawback for some buyers, but it was a common trait among many electric vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

The ID.4 was based on VW’s MEB platform, designed specifically for EVs with built-in modularity to support various models. The interior carried over the best qualities from recent VW gasoline-car interiors, including a minimalist design and an overall feeling of quality. Even the base ID.4 Standard model, aside from a manual driver’s seat, didn’t seem like much of a downgrade from the higher-level ID.4 Pro S. Leatherette upholstery with seat and door-panel inserts made partly from recycled fibers were standard for 2023.

Mazda aimed to ensure the CX-30 was unmistakably an SUV, even if it meant excessive charcoal-colored plastic coating on the lower portions of the body. Despite this, the CX-30 was appealing overall, with short overhangs, a long and low hood, dramatically sculpted flanks, a squat greenhouse, and a rakish roofline. The interior looked and felt like a class above, demonstrating style, refinement, and attention to detail on par with an entry-level luxury-branded SUV. The gauges were clear, the infotainment screen was integrated into the dashboard, and the dual-zone climate controls were a work of art.

There were eight versions of the 2024 CX-30, with the 2.5 S models having a standard 191-horsepower four-cylinder engine, while the 2.5 Turbo models boasted a turbocharged four-cylinder good for up to 250 hp. Prices ranged from $24,995 to $36,800, plus a destination charge of $1,420. The test car arrived in 2.5 Carbon Turbo trim with an exclusive color combination of Zircon Sand paint over Terracotta and Black interior upholstery. The exterior color provoked love-it-or-hate-it reactions, but it worked better on SUVs than on Mazda’s MX-5 Miata sports car. The test model’s MSRP was $34,210, including destination.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with RWD. The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus retained the 82-kWh pack, available with RWD or AWD. Single-motor RWD models were rated at 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor AWD powertrain upped output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, allowing for zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, improving acceleration and handling. The 62-kWh ID.4 Standard felt spritely during a short drive, but more seat time was needed for a proper comparison with the larger-battery RWD version.

With AWD, the ID.4 had the acceleration to rival hot hatchbacks like VW’s Golf GTI and Golf R, but not the handling. While comfortable and refined, the ID.4 allowed too much body roll to be truly entertaining on twisty roads. It was great for long drives but didn’t excel on the nicest driving roads. The ID.4 used regenerative braking to recover energy while decelerating, but VW didn’t pursue one-pedal driving, providing a more familiar experience for EV first-timers.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30, with its turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, had no trouble in the acceleration department. Despite its 250 hp and 320 pound-feet of torque (227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas), the CX-30 didn’t leap forward when the accelerator pedal was stomped. The torque arrived no sooner than 2,000 rpm, and Mazda tuned the powertrain response for a slow build. Power delivery rose smoothly to a crescendo, accompanied by a pleasing note. The CX-30 was perhaps the sports car of its class, given the amount of oomph it provided compared to other small crossovers.

Mazda employed a traditional six-speed automatic transmission in the CX-30, with flawless shifting and a standard AWD system. However, fuel economy was not the turbocharged engine’s forte, with the EPA rating it at 25 mpg in combined driving, but real-world observations showed 21.3 mpg on a mountainous route. The small 12.7-gallon fuel tank didn’t help, limiting travel to no more than 270 miles on a full tank. The CX-30 was fun to drive, zippy, and nimble with a firm, connected ride. It offered excellent outward visibility and newly standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 lived up to its SUV billing with more interior space than other affordable EVs. It had more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than a Chevrolet Bolt EV or Nissan Leaf, and more headroom than the 2023 Kia Niro EV. With 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, the ID.4 had substantially more cargo space than most other entry-level EVs. VW benchmarked the ID.4 against gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and while it fell short of those vehicles on interior space, it was the SUV of affordable EVs in terms of practicality.

The ID.4 also offered some towing capability, with a quoted towing capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. VW made small changes to the interior for 2023, including a conventional lid for the center console, a better spot for a phone, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2024 Mazda CX-30 featured deft design, quality materials, and logical controls. Mazda’s three-gauge, partial digital instrumentation was among the best setups, and the CX-30 boasted a traditional PRNDL shifter. Gloss black trim, metallic accents, and exposed stitching added contrast to the cabin, and the test vehicle’s Terracotta leather seats with simulated Black suede inserts added a splash of color. The interior room was cramped, especially in the back seat, but the driver and front passenger were comfortable. The CX-30 sat high off the ground, making it easier to get in and out compared to a Mazda 3 hatchback.

Storage space was adequate, with 20.2 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the back seat. The load floor could be dropped to stack luggage or retained in a higher position for hidden underfloor storage. Folding the back seat down provided 45.2 cubic feet of volume, on par with other models in the small SUV segment.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 featured a standard 12.0-inch touchscreen on all models, replacing the 10.0-inch screen on lower trim levels. The infotainment system received software updates to improve responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The ID.Cockpit digital instrument cluster was also standard. Despite the updates, the user experience remained similar, with sharp graphics and a choice of smartphone-like icons or a traditional automotive split-screen view. Natural-language voice recognition could intuit most simple command phrases.

The downside was the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel, which replaced conventional buttons. They didn’t provide physical feedback, making it hard to tell if they were pressed. The setup was distracting, but the voice recognition made it redundant in most situations. Another tech feature was ID.Light, an ambient lighting system that also acted as an AI assistant, indicating directions and syncing with the touchscreen.

Turbocharged versions of the 2024 Mazda CX-30 got a new 10.25-inch infotainment display, replacing the standard 8.8-inch screen in other models. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with touchscreen functionality when using those platforms. However, the screen was located far from the driver and front passenger. Mazda’s policy of using static displays and a combination of controls aimed to reduce driver distraction, but the lack of a natural voice recognition system was a drawback.

All CX-30s had a complimentary three-year subscription to Mazda Connected Services, and a free three-month, 2-gigabyte trial to in-vehicle Wi-Fi. New USB-C ports provided connectivity for the latest devices, and more expensive versions had a wireless smartphone charger and a Bose premium audio system.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) hadn’t published crash-test ratings for the 2023 ID.4, but the similar 2022 model received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating. The ID.4 had top “Good” scores in all crash tests, a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, and an “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian collision prevention in daylight. The only blemish was an “Average” score for the standard headlights.

The ID.4 had a good complement of standard driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear park distance control, automatic high beams, traffic-sign recognition, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. Emergency Assist 3.0, which automatically pulled the vehicle over if the driver was incapacitated, was also standard. For 2023, the ID.4 added standard Park Assist Plus automated parking, an automated lane-change feature for Travel Assist, and a 360-degree camera system.

Safety was a hallmark of the 2024 Mazda CX-30, with new standard features for the year. Every version had blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and a new rear-seat alert system. These features joined forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims had adaptive headlights, front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking, rear automatic braking, a surround-view camera system, and a Cruising and Traffic Support system.

The CX-30’s safety features included an adaptive cruise control system that quickly resumed the set speed after changing lanes, lane-departure warnings that vibrated instead of shaking the steering wheel, and a decisive lane-keeping assist system. However, the automatic curve speed reduction technology was too aggressive. The NHTSA gave the CX-30 five-star ratings in every assessment except for rollover resistance, where it received a four-star rating. The IIHS awarded the CX-30 the “Top Safety Pick+” rating.