Compare the2022 Toyota C-HRVS 2021 Mazda CX-30

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota C-HR have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-30 doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The C-HR has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the C-HR has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Premium has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the C-HR and the CX-30 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 and driver alert monitors.

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 Toyota C-HR is safer than the Mazda CX-30:

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the C-HR for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-30.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 23rd, 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 14th.

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

For better traction, the C-HR has larger tires than the CX-30 (225/50R18 vs. 215/65R16).

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the C-HR has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the CX-30 2.5 S.

For superior ride and handling, the Toyota C-HR 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 C-HR has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the C-HR flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-30’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The C-HR Limited handles at .82 G’s, while the CX-30 Premium AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the C-HR’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the CX-30’s (34.2 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The power windows standard on both the C-HR and the CX-30 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the C-HR 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.

If the windows are left open on the C-HR the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the CX-30 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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

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

The C-HR has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Premium.

The C-HR will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the C-HR will retain 56.66% to 57.4% of its original price after five years, while the CX-30 only retains 49.65% to 50.57%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota C-HR will be $2639 to $9001 less than for the Mazda CX-30.

The Toyota C-HR outsold the Mazda CX-30 by 13% during 2020.