2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite a 2019 refresh and a 2020 Black Edition, its exterior design remained polarizing. The Pilot was available in seven trims, ranging from the base LX to the upscale Black Edition, with prices between $32,250 and $49,920. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $2,000 on most trims. The new Special Edition trim added black 20-inch alloy wheels, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate. The Black Edition, fully loaded with exclusive black leather upholstery and red accents, had a window sticker of $51,435.

Quality materials were evident throughout the Pilot's interior, including hard plastic panels. The flat dashboard, thin windshield pillars, and low center console gave the front seat a minivan-like feel. However, the drab exterior design and black floor mats that attracted pet hair were drawbacks. The Pilot's interior was spacious and comfortable, but its design did not stand out.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look of a downsized CX-5, with an upright grille and smooth fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, resembling a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, and its slight curve could distort the view for taller drivers. The cabin was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. The instrument cluster blended conventional and digital displays, and the infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard. However, the infotainment system had a steep learning curve.

The CX-30 was available in several trims, from the base 2.5 S to the range-topping Turbo Premium Plus. The base 2.5 S came with 16-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and standard all-wheel drive. Higher trims added features like 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery, and a power sunroof. The Turbo Premium Plus included front-and-rear parking sensors and additional driver assistance features.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine was smooth and refined, providing quick acceleration. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered the front wheels, with an available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. The Pilot's fuel-saving measures included variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined for the AWD model. The test vehicle averaged 21.5 mpg.

The Pilot's MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension provided a comfortable ride and athletic handling. The torque-vectoring AWD system and 20-inch wheels contributed to the fun on pavement. The steering was well-weighted and responsive, and the brakes were properly calibrated, though they could heat up and vibrate with prolonged use. Off-road capability was limited by the Pilot's 7.3 inches of ground clearance and all-season tires.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The test model had a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine rated at 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on 87 octane fuel, and 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane fuel. Power was routed to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, and the Sport mode altered throttle response and shift mapping for a livelier drive.

The CX-30 had a conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a manual tap-shift mode. The manual mode pattern was similar to race cars, with "back" to upshift and "forward" to downshift. The CX-30's sporty, refined ride featured well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, with little body roll in cornering. However, the suspension provided a rough ride over potholes and imperfections.

The 2021 Honda Pilot offered ample space for a family, with seating for up to eight people. The test vehicle's leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable and supportive. The driver's seat had 10-way power adjustment, while the front passenger's seat had four-way adjustment. Second-row captain's chairs were optional on the Touring trim and standard on Elite and Black Edition models. These chairs were nearly as comfortable as the front seats and slid forward for easier third-row access.

The Pilot's third-row seat comfort was average for midsize SUVs, with a low and flat bottom cushion. Storage was abundant, with compartments in the door panels, center console, and front seatback pockets. The EX-L trim and higher included a power tailgate, with hands-free operation on higher trims. The Pilot provided 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 83.9 cubic feet.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. These figures were average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Turbo Premium Plus model had a power rear liftgate. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The center console provided ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles.

The rear seats offered solid headroom and were suitable for adults on short-to-medium trips. However, the rear seats lacked the headroom of the larger CX-5, making them less comfortable for longer drives.

Most 2021 Honda Pilots included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and a basic version of HondaLink connected services. The Special Edition added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim included navigation, a WiFi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The infotainment system was adequate but had a small screen and limited voice-recognition technology. HondaLink subscription services were available only on higher trims.

The Touring trim also added a rear-seat entertainment system, a 115-volt power outlet, an HDMI port, and a Cabin Talk feature. The rear-seat entertainment system played DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and streaming audio apps.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had an elegant dash design, with the infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen had no touch functionality and was controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW's iDrive, but it had poor usability. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was difficult, and operating CarPlay with a rotary dial was frustrating. However, getting into CarPlay from the Mazda home screen was easy.

The Mazda infotainment system remained confusing even after setting up presets, and it could be distracting for new users.

The 2021 Honda Pilot came standard with Honda Sensing, a package of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with the EX trim, the Pilot also had blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The older version of Honda Sensing worked but lacked smoothness and refinement. The lane-departure warning system's steering wheel wobble was also noticeable.

The Pilot received favorable crash-test ratings, with a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and "good" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an "acceptable" score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with standard driver-assistance features such as forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The Turbo Premium Plus model added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking.

The CX-30 also had adaptive front headlights, a 360-degree parking camera, and a head-up display. The electronic parking brake did not disengage until the driver fastened their seatbelt, which could be inconvenient for low-speed maneuvers.

The CX-30 earned five out of five stars from the NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with top marks in all crash tests and a "Superior" score for its driver-assistance technology.