Ford Edge vs Mazda CX-30

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated Ford's contemporary design language with the existing Edge body. This refresh made the Edge a cleaner-looking alternative to the more aggressively styled Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag.

Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, despite attempts to modernize it with features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models came with leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching. However, the interior design didn't feel as fresh as the exterior.

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 serving 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. Taller drivers might find the slight curve at eye level distracting.

The CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. It boasted one of the best interior designs among affordable cars, with an artful blend of conventional and digital displays in the instrument cluster. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its functionality took a backseat to form, resulting in a steep learning curve. The trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and premium touches.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model came with an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel. The ST had standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. An option package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though some enthusiasts found this comparison a stretch. The Edge ST was enjoyable to drive, especially considering its competitors didn't emphasize performance. The base FWD four-cylinder Edge had a maximum towing capacity of 3,958 pounds, while the V6-powered Edge ST could tow up to 4,525 pounds.

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 upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in our test model delivered 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 button 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 on the center shifter. The manual mode pattern was similar to race cars, enhancing its performance credibility. The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. However, the suspension resulted in a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers. Legroom in both rows was second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims.

The Edge's rotary shift knob was designed to free up space on the center console, but the narrow width of the console limited the available space. The raised console left room for a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

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. 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 ample 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. However, the rear-seat headroom was less than that of the larger CX-5, making it a tight fit for longer drives.

The 2021 Ford Edge was up to date with tech, featuring Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio (with a three-month free trial), and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. The Edge ST models had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge also had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year.

The Sync 4 system had simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts, making it easy for new users to acclimate. Not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, giving the Edge an edge in this area.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design, with the infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen had no touch functionality and was controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the center console and a series of toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW's iDrive, but it lacked the touch functionality that BMW had added in recent years.

Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, and operating CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was frustrating. While getting into CarPlay from the Mazda home screen was easy, switching between presets remained a challenge even after learning the system.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring the top "Good" rating in all crash tests and the top "Superior" rating for front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings depending on the trim level. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests.

Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go and lane centering) and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base Edge SE trim level.

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. 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.

The CX-30's adaptive front headlights turned with the steering wheel, and the 360-degree parking camera was helpful. The head-up display provided crisp, bright graphics, readable even with polarized lenses. The CX-30 also had a system that kept the electronic parking brake engaged until the driver fastened their seatbelt, which could be annoying for low-speed maneuvers.

The NHTSA awarded the CX-30 five out of five stars, and the IIHS gave it the highest Top Safety Pick+ award, with top marks in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for driver-assistance technology.