Compare the2025 Mazda CX-30VS 2025 Acura ADX

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-30. But it costs extra on the ADX.

Both the CX-30 and ADX have rear cross-traffic warning, 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 ADX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-30 and the ADX 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, 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 Mazda CX-30 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 ADX has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

There are almost 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-30’s warranty.

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 Acura 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, Acura is rated below average.

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 1 more horsepower (191 vs. 190) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (250 vs. 190) and 141 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

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

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 ADX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

For better maneuverability, the CX-30’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the ADX’s (34.8 feet vs. 37 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-30 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the ADX (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the CX-30 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-30 is 1 foot shorter than the ADX, making the CX-30 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-30 has .6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 5.8 inches more rear hip room than the ADX.

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 ADX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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 ADX’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the ADX A-Spec’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

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 ADX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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 ADX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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