Compare the2025 Mazda CX-30VS 2024 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-30 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Nissan Kicks doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Kicks doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The CX-30 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the CX-30 and Kicks have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus has Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Kicks’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-30 and the Kicks have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Mazda CX-30 weighs 668 to 842 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 Nissan Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	148	191
Neck Injury Risk	26.7%	32%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	374 lbs.
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	27 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/172 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	179	326
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33.5%	79%
Neck Stress	172 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	85 lbs.	138 lbs.

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 Nissan Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	139
Hip Force	275 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	197	318
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	178	218

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Mazda CX-30 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Kicks has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-30’s reliability 12 points higher than the Kicks.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 10 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 69 more horsepower (191 vs. 122) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 128 more horsepower (250 vs. 122) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 114) than the Kicks’ 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-30 4 cyl. is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.3 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-30 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The Kicks doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-30 has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks (12.7 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-30’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.4 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11 inches

The Mazda CX-30 has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Kicks. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The CX-30 stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	177 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-30 has larger tires than the Kicks (215/65R16 vs. 205/60R16).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium has standard 18-inch wheels. The Kicks’ largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Mazda CX-30’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Kicks S only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-30’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Kicks (104.4 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-30 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Kicks.

The CX-30 2.5 S Premium handles at .84 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-30 2.5 S Premium executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Kicks SR (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-30 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the CX-30 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The CX-30 has 3.7 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 4.1 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-30 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks with its rear seat folded (45.2 vs. 32.3 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-30 Premium has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/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 Kicks 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 Kicks doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-30’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kicks has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

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 Kicks’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The CX-30’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks’ power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CX-30 Select Sport/Preferred/Carbon/Premium’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Kicks’ manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-30’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kicks’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-30 Premium has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Kicks doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/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 Kicks’ 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 Kicks offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Premium has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Kicks doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Turbo/Premium’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 Kicks doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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

With standard voice command, the CX-30 offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kicks doesn’t offer a voice control system.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-30 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Kicks doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the CX-30 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the CX-30 will cost $225 to $1565 less than the Kicks over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-30 and the Nissan Kicks, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-30 outsold the Nissan Kicks by 15% during 2023.