Compare the2022 Mazda CX-30VS 2021 Hyundai Tucson

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Tucson 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 Tucson 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 Tucson 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 Tucson.

Both the CX-30 and the Tucson have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Hyundai Tucson:

	CX-30	Tucson
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	148	172
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	219 lbs.
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	97 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	179	226
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33.5%	37%

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 Hyundai Tucson:

	CX-30	Tucson
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	94
Hip Force	275 lbs.	356 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	197	241
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	178	312
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	583 lbs.	1028 lbs.

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 Tucson is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda first in reliability. Hyundai is ranked 6th.

Engine

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 25 more horsepower (186 vs. 161) and 36 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 150) than the Tucson’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (186 vs. 181) and 11 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 175) than the Tucson’s optional 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (250 vs. 181) and 145 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 175) than the Tucson’s optional 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Mazda CX-30 4 cyl. is faster than the Hyundai Tucson:

	CX-30	Tucson 2.0	Tucson 2.4
Zero to 30 MPH	3.2 sec	4 sec	3.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	8.7 sec	11 sec	9.6 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.2 sec	6.9 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	16.7 sec	18.3 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88 MPH	80.2 MPH	83 MPH

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-30 stops shorter than the Tucson:

	CX-30	Tucson
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

The CX-30 Premium handles at .83 G’s, while the Tucson Limited AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-30 Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Tucson SE (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-30 has a 1.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tucson (8 vs. 6.4 inches), allowing the CX-30 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The CX-30 is 3.4 inches shorter than the Tucson, making the CX-30 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/Turbo/Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Tucson doesn’t offer a memory system.

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 Tucson doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-30’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Tucson’s standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

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 Tucson’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

When the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/Turbo/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Tucson’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The CX-30’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Tucson offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the CX-30 and the Tucson offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Turbo/Premium has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Tucson doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

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.