Compare the2023 Nissan KicksVS 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 Kicks SV/SR 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.

The Kicks has a standard blind spot warning system that 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/Carbon/Premium offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Kicks has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Both the Kicks and the CX-30 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 daytime running lights, around view monitors 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Kicks 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 almost 2 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Kicks’ warranty.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Kicks has a 120-amp alternator. The CX-30’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated lower.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Kicks uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-30 with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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

The Kicks 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 Kicks SV/SR’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-30 are solid, not vented.

The Kicks stops shorter than the CX-30:

The Kicks 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.

The Kicks has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CX-30 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

For better maneuverability, the Kicks’ turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the CX-30’s (34.1 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

The Nissan Kicks may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 pounds less than the Mazda CX-30.

The Kicks is 3.9 inches shorter than the CX-30, making the Kicks easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Kicks has 2.3 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom and .2 inches more rear headroom than the CX-30.

The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-30 with its rear seat up (25.3 vs. 20.2 cubic feet). The Kicks has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-30 with its rear seat folded (53.1 vs. 45.2 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Kicks 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® recommends the Nissan Kicks, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mazda CX-30 isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Kicks third among small suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The CX-30 isn’t in the top three.

The Nissan Kicks outsold the Mazda CX-30 by 2071 units during 2022.