Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2021 Mazda CX-30

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The CX-30’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda HR-V is safer than the Mazda CX-30:

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

There are almost 2 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the HR-V’s warranty.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the CX-30 have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 19th in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 22nd.

On the EPA test cycle the HR-V gets better mileage than the CX-30:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda HR-V 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 HR-V has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The HR-V stops shorter than the CX-30:

For better traction, the HR-V Sport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-30 (225/50R18 vs. 215/65R16).

The HR-V’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-30 2.5 S’ standard 65 series tires. The HR-V Sport’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Premium’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the HR-V has standard 17-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the CX-30 2.5 S.

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

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-30 Premium AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Honda HR-V may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 350 pounds less than the Mazda CX-30.

The HR-V Sport/EX/EX-L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-30 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The HR-V has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-30 (100.1 vs. 94.1).

The HR-V has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-30.

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

The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-30 with its rear seat up (24.3 vs. 20.2 cubic feet). The HR-V has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-30 with its rear seat folded (58.8 vs. 45.2 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the HR-V 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 HR-V’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the CX-30’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The HR-V EX/EX-L’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The CX-30 doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

Insurance will cost less for the HR-V owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the HR-V will cost $230 less than the CX-30 over a five-year period.

The HR-V will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the HR-V will retain 52.22% to 53.55% of its original price after five years, while the CX-30 only retains 48.52% to 48.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda HR-V will be $2265 to $2467 less than for the Mazda CX-30.