Compare the2023 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2023 Mazda CX-30

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek CVT are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Crosstrek CVT’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The CX-30 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Crosstrek and the CX-30 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors, rear cross-path warning 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 Subaru Crosstrek 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 over 16 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

As tested in Motor Trend the Crosstrek Sport/Limited 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder is faster than the Mazda CX-30 4 cyl. (automatics tested):

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Crosstrek CVT’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The CX-30 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-30 (16.6 vs. 12.7 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-30 (5 to 7). This means the Crosstrek produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-30 every 15,000 miles.

The Crosstrek offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and sportiness. The CX-30 doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

The Crosstrek offers an optional 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 Crosstrek stops shorter than the CX-30:

For better traction, the Crosstrek has larger tires than the CX-30 (225/60R17 vs. 215/65R16).

The Crosstrek’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-30 2.5 S’ standard 65 series tires.

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

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

The Crosstrek Premium handles at .81 G’s, while the CX-30 Premium pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Crosstrek Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-30 Premium (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Subaru Crosstrek may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Mazda CX-30.

The Crosstrek has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-30 (100.9 vs. 94.1).

The Crosstrek has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear legroom, 2 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-30.

The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-30 with its rear seat up (20.8 vs. 20.2 cubic feet). The Crosstrek has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-30 with its rear seat folded (55.3 vs. 45.2 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek. The CX-30 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Crosstrek has a 1500 lbs. towing capacity. The CX-30 has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Crosstrek is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CX-30. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Crosstrek Base). The CX-30 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Crosstrek 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.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Mazda CX-30 by almost three to one during the 2022 model year.