Compare the2022 Mazda CX-30VS 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-30 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Equinox doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Mazda CX-30 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The CX-30 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Equinox doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus has standard Rear Smart Brake Support that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Equinox doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-30. But it costs extra on the Equinox.

The CX-30’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Equinox doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CX-30 and the Equinox have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 Mazda CX-30 is safer than the Chevrolet Equinox:

	CX-30	Equinox
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	148	159
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/172 lbs.	363/349 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	179	376
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches

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

	CX-30	Equinox
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	109
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches
Hip Force	275 lbs.	357 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	197	288
Hip Force	525 lbs.	630 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	178	377
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	583 lbs.	730 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CX-30 is .9% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the Equinox.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-30 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 77 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Equinox has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The CX-30’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Equinox’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-30’s reliability 17 points higher than the Equinox.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in reliability. Chevrolet is ranked 17th.

Engine

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (186 vs. 170) than the Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 80 more horsepower (250 vs. 170) and 117 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 203) than the Equinox’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-30 4 cyl. is faster than the Chevrolet Equinox:

	CX-30	Equinox
Zero to 60 MPH	7.5 sec	8.9 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	20.7 sec	26.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.9 sec	9.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89 MPH	83 MPH
Top Speed	126 MPH	124 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-30 stops shorter than the Equinox:

	CX-30	Equinox
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	182 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	133 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The CX-30 has engine speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The CX-30 Premium handles at .84 G’s, while the Equinox LT AWD pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-30 Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Equinox LT AWD (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the CX-30’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Equinox’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet). The CX-30’s turning circle is 6.8 feet tighter than the Equinox RS’ (34.8 feet vs. 41.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-30 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Equinox (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the CX-30 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The CX-30 is 10.1 inches shorter than the Equinox, making the CX-30 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The CX-30 has .8 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room and 1.5 inches more rear hip room than the Equinox.

Ergonomics

The CX-30 Premium has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Equinox doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-30’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Equinox’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The CX-30 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Equinox doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The CX-30’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Equinox’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-30 Premium has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Equinox doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Economic Advantages

The CX-30 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the CX-30 will retain 49.65% to 50.57% of its original price after five years, while the Equinox only retains 42.36% to 47.88%.

Recommendations

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Mazda CX-30 as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.