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 Kicks doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.
The CX-30 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.
Both the CX-30 and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.
The Mazda CX-30 weighs 636 to 819 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.
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 Nissan Kicks:
|
CX-30 |
Kicks |
OVERALL STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
148 |
191 |
Neck Injury Risk |
26.7% |
32% |
Neck Stress |
216 lbs. |
374 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
18 lbs. |
27 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
201/172 lbs. |
343/312 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
3 Stars |
HIC |
179 |
326 |
Chest Compression |
.5 inches |
.6 inches |
Neck Injury Risk |
33.5% |
79% |
Neck Stress |
172 lbs. |
392 lbs. |
Neck Compression |
85 lbs. |
138 lbs. |
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 Nissan Kicks:
|
CX-30 |
Kicks |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
73 |
139 |
Hip Force |
275 lbs. |
347 lbs. |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
197 |
318 |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
178 |
218 |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
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 Kicks last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.