Audi Q3 vs Mazda CX-30

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen. When the interior debuted in 2019, it was a standout design, but Volkswagen's newer interiors had started to catch up, making the Q3's cabin feel modern and refined, though not as special.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, with an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's incredibly raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, and its slight curve at eye level for taller drivers could distort the view of the road. The cabin was comfortable and quiet, with solid and satisfying buttons and doors. The instrument cluster blended conventional and digital displays, and the infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, though it had a steep learning curve.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim tuned the same engine to 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The more potent powertrain provided a lively feel and solid power for passing, especially in Sport mode. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes. The base engine had some turbo lag, most notable under hard acceleration or highway passing. The Q3 offered nimble handling and a comfortable ride, striking a balance between engagement and refinement.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, making 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in our test model produced 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel, 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. The CX-30 featured a conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a manual tap-shift mode. It had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in, though it could be rough over potholes and bumpy roads.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the cargo space with the rear seats folded was subpar for the class. The Q3 made up for this with its passenger space, offering comfortable front seats with deep cargo pockets and impressive rear-seat headroom and legroom. It seated five, but four passengers could comfortably take a road trip if they packed light.

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 rear seats in use, about average for the subcompact SUV segment. Our Turbo Premium Plus model had a power rear liftgate. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The center console provided plenty of space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. The rear seats offered solid headroom and were suitable for adults on short-to-medium trips, though they lacked the headroom of the larger CX-5 and might be tight for longer drives.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, featuring logical, ergonomic menu navigation, standard Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features were wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit replaced the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display that could present the navigation map across nearly the entire screen.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the center console and a series of toggle buttons. This setup, inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive, lacked touch functionality, making it difficult to use, especially with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigating out of CarPlay was cumbersome, and operating it with a rotary dial was maddening. Even after learning the system, it remained frustrating, and it would be distracting for anyone borrowing the car.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Buyers could also select available features like a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist for parallel and perpendicular parking spots.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came loaded 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. Our Turbo Premium Plus test 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. It also had adaptive front headlights, a 360-degree parking camera, and a head-up display. The CX-30 earned five out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).