Compare the2024 Nissan AriyaVS 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 Ariya 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 Ariya Platinum+ has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The MX-30 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Ariya 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 Ariya and the MX-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 and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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.

The Nissan Ariya weighs 668 to 1402 pounds more than the Mazda MX-30. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The Nissan Ariya achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The MX-30 has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Nissan pays for scheduled maintenance on the Ariya for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Nissan will pay for tire rotations, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the MX-30.

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 Ariya’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

The Ariya’s standard electric motor produces 71 more horsepower (214 vs. 143) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor. The Ariya +’s standard electric motor produces 95 more horsepower (238 vs. 143) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (221 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor. The Ariya’s optional electric motors produces 192 more horsepower (335 vs. 143) and 213 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor. The Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+’s standard electric motors produces 246 more horsepower (389 vs. 143) and 242 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 200) than the MX-30’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ariya + electric motor is faster than the Mazda MX-30:

As tested in Car and Driver the Ariya Engage+/Evolve+/Platinum+ electric motors is faster than the Mazda MX-30 (base engine):

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

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

For better stopping power the Ariya + e-4ORCE’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the MX-30:

The Ariya’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.

For better traction, the Ariya has larger standard tires than the MX-30 (235/55R19 vs. 215/55R18). The Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MX-30 (245/45R20 vs. 215/55R18).

The Ariya Platinum+’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 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 Ariya has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the MX-30. The Ariya Platinum+ offers optional 20-inch wheels.

The Ariya 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 MX-30 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

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

The Ariya 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 Ariya’s wheelbase is 4.9 inches longer than on the MX-30 (109.3 inches vs. 104.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Ariya is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the MX-30.

For greater off-road capability the Ariya has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the MX-30 (6.7 vs. 5.4 inches), allowing the Ariya to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ariya Platinum+ uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The MX-30 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Ariya has 11.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MX-30 (101.2 vs. 89.8).

The Ariya has 1.1 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 6.9 inches more rear legroom, 4 inches more rear hip room and 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the MX-30.

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

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Ariya Evolve+/Empower+/Platinum+ has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Ariya Platinum+, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The MX-30 doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Maximum trailer towing in the Mazda MX-30 is limited to 0 pounds. The Ariya e-4ORCE AWD offers up to a 1500 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the MX-30, the Ariya Platinum+ has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster) and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The power windows standard on both the Ariya and the MX-30 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Ariya 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 Ariya’s driver can lower all the 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 Ariya and the MX-30 offer available heated front seats. The Ariya Engage/Evolve+/Empower+/Platinum+ also has standard 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 Ariya Platinum+ 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 Ariya’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 Ariya and the MX-30 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Ariya 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 Nissan Ariya Evolve+/Empower+/Platinum+ has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The MX-30 doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Ariya Empower+/Platinum+’s ProPILOT Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The MX-30 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Nissan Ariya, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ariya 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 Nissan Ariya outsold the Mazda MX-30 by almost 135 to one during 2023.