Compare the2024 Kia EV6VS 2023 Mazda MX-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 EV6 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The EV6 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The MX-30 doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the EV6 and the MX-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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 EV6 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The MX-30 has not been tested, yet.

The EV6 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The MX-30’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the EV6 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Mazda covers the MX-30. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the MX-30 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

There are over 42 percent more Kia dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EV6’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is ranked 12th.

The EV6 Light Short Range’s standard electric motor produces 24 more horsepower (167 vs. 143) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor. The EV6 Long Range’s standard electric motor produces 82 more horsepower (225 vs. 143) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor. The EV6 Long Range’s optional electric motors produces 177 more horsepower (320 vs. 143) and 246 lbs.-ft. more torque (446 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor. The EV6 GT’s standard electric motors produces 433 more horsepower (576 vs. 143) and 345 lbs.-ft. more torque (545 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kia EV6 is faster than the Mazda MX-30:

As tested in Car and Driver the EV6 GT electric motors is faster than the Mazda MX-30 (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the EV6 gets better mileage than the MX-30:

The EV6 can travel longer on a full charge than the MX-30 on a full charge:

For better stopping power the EV6 GT’s brake rotors are larger than those on the MX-30:

The EV6 GT’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MX-30 are solid, not vented.

The EV6 stops shorter than the MX-30:

For better traction, the EV6 has larger standard tires than the MX-30 (235/55R19 vs. 215/55R18). The EV6 GT-Line e-AWD’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MX-30 (255/45R20 vs. 215/55R18).

The EV6 GT’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MX-30’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the EV6 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the MX-30. The EV6 GT has standard 21-inch wheels.

For superior ride and handling, the Kia EV6 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 MX-30 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The EV6 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the EV6 flat and controlled during cornering. The MX-30’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The EV6 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The MX-30’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The EV6 has vehicle 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 MX-30 doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the EV6’s wheelbase is 9.8 inches longer than on the MX-30 (114.2 inches vs. 104.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the EV6 is 2.6 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the MX-30.

For greater off-road capability the EV6 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MX-30 (6.1 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the EV6 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The EV6 has 13.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MX-30 (103 vs. 89.8).

The EV6 has .5 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 8.9 inches more rear legroom, 4.7 inches more rear hip room and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the MX-30.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EV6’s rear seats recline. The MX-30’s rear seats don’t recline.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the EV6’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MX-30 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the EV6 Wind/GT-Line/GT’s power liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The EV6’s power liftgate can also be opened or closed by pressing a button. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

The EV6 offers up to a 2300 lbs. towing capacity. The MX-30 has no towing capacity.

The EV6 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The MX-30 uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The power windows standard on both the EV6 and the MX-30 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the EV6 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MX-30 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

On a hot day the EV6’s driver can lower the front windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the MX-30 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Both the EV6 and the MX-30 have standard heated front seats. The EV6 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the MX-30.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the EV6 Wind/GT-Line keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The MX-30 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The EV6’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The MX-30 doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the EV6 and the MX-30 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the EV6 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The MX-30 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Kia EV6 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The MX-30 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The EV6 (except Light)’s optional Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The MX-30 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Kia EV6, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the EV6 first among compact suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The MX-30 isn’t in the top three.

The EV6 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2023. The MX-30 has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the EV6 as the 2023 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The MX-30 has never been chosen.

The Kia EV6 outsold the Mazda MX-30 by over 32 to one during 2022.