Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2021 Mazda CX-30

Both the Sportage and the CX-30 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Mazda CX-30:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sportage is safer than the Mazda CX-30:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-30’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the CX-30. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the CX-30 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 39 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sportage has a standard 140-amp alternator (150-amp - Sportage SX Turbo AWD). The CX-30’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage second among compact suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The CX-30 isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 48 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Mazda CX-30 4 cyl.:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-30 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-30 AWD’s standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Sportage has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-30 FWD’s standard fuel tank (16.4 vs. 13.5 gallons).

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-30:

The Sportage stops shorter than the CX-30:

For better traction, the Sportage has larger standard tires than the CX-30 (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R16). The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-30 (245/45R19 vs. 215/65R16).

The Sportage LX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-30 2.5 S’ standard 65 series tires. The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires have a lower 45 series profile than the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Premium’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage LX has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the CX-30 2.5 S. The Sportage SX Turbo’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Premium.

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-30 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The CX-30’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Sportage has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Sportage flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-30’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the CX-30.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the CX-30 Premium AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the CX-30 Premium AWD (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Sportage has 4.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-30 (98.6 vs. 94.1).

The Sportage has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-30.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sportage’s rear seats recline. The CX-30’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-30 with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 20.2 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-30 with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 45.2 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Sportage’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Sportage has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The CX-30 has no towing capacity.

The power windows standard on both the Sportage and the CX-30 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Sportage is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-30 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-30 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Sportage has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the CX-30 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Sportage’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the CX-30’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Sportage’s optional outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The CX-30 doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except LX/Nightfall) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The CX-30 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Sportage’s optional (except LX/Nightfall) heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $305 less than the CX-30 over a five-year period.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: