2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, aligning its design more closely with other models in the Nissan lineup, such as the Armada and Rogue. The front of the Kicks featured a bold, double V-motion grille design, complemented by thinner, longer headlights that extended down the face of the vehicle. The SR and SR Premium trims were equipped with LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights, enhancing visibility. The rear of the Kicks showcased a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination, giving it a proportionate look reminiscent of the Nissan Leaf. However, the trunk area appeared less premium, with a piece of bodywork that seemed like an afterthought. The Kicks offered a variety of new paint options, including Electric Blue Metallic and Scarlet Ember Tintcoat, and continued to provide a two-tone paint job option, enhancing its upmarket appearance.

Inside, the Kicks maintained its familiar interior styling but incorporated higher quality materials, drawing inspiration from the 2020 Nissan Sentra. The SR Premium trim featured Prima-Tex-appointed seating with a three-tone design and stitching, adding a touch of luxury. The interior also included new seat and door designs, a full centre console armrest, and a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and shift knob. Buyers could further customize their Kicks with over 100 million colour combinations using Nissan Kicks Colour Studio accessories. The overall design of the Kicks emphasized its greenhouse, making a bold statement and establishing its unique style.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 shared its design language with the larger CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. Built on the same platform as the Mazda3, the CX-30 resembled a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. Its raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, and the slight curve at eye level for taller drivers could be distracting. The cabin of the CX-30 was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. The interior design was one of the best among affordable cars, with an artful blend of conventional and digital displays in the instrument cluster. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its usability was hindered by a steep learning curve.

In Canada, the CX-30 was available in GX, GS, and GT trims. The GX came with 16-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a standard all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain. The GS added 18-inch alloy wheels, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and additional premium colours. The GT trim featured a power liftgate, paddle shifters, full leather upholstery, and adaptive headlights. The GT grade also offered an optional turbocharged engine, which was tested for this review. The Advanced Visibility Package, required with the turbo, included front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera, and Traffic Jam Assist.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks was equipped with a single powertrain option, a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive (FWD). The Kicks did not offer an all-wheel drive (AWD) option. Despite being considered low-powered, the Kicks had a good power-to-weight ratio, providing adequate power for its size. The electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist made the Kicks nimble and easy to maneuver in various driving conditions. The SUV’s front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension, twist beam, and twin-tube shock absorbers contributed to its handling capabilities. The Kicks was equipped with standard 16-inch steel wheels on the S trim, while the SV and SR trims featured 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. The SR Premium trim came with 17-inch black alloy wheels. All Kicks models were fitted with all-season tires. The Kicks also included a traction control system, stability control system, hill start assist, and auto-hold feature. The base model Kicks S had a front disc/rear drum antilock braking system, while the SV and SR trims received new rear disc brakes for improved stopping power. The Kicks was rated by Natural Resources Canada with a fuel efficiency of 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 6.6 on the highway, and 7.2 combined.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of engine options. The base engine in the GX trim was a 2.0-litre four-cylinder producing 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The GS and GT trims came with a standard 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine delivering 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The test model featured the upgraded 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 horsepower 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 enhanced throttle response and shift mapping. The CX-30 had a conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and a manual tap-shift mode. The CX-30 offered a sporty and refined ride, with well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. However, the suspension resulted in a rough ride over potholes and imperfections on paved roads.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks made efficient use of its small size, with easy-to-reach buttons and knobs throughout the cabin. The interior offered good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple storage options for smartphones. Climate controls were straightforward and easy to locate while driving. The Kicks featured a D-shaped steering wheel, a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, a four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and a 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The SUV had best-in-class front seat legroom, though the hip room proportions made the front seats more compartmentalized for larger and taller drivers. Adults could comfortably fit in the back seats, which was not always the case in the subcompact class. The available tonneau cover provided hidden storage, covering about two-thirds of the rear cargo area.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered up to 1,280 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 572 litres with the rear seats in use. These figures were average for the subcompact SUV segment. The GT grade featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding centre console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The centre console provided ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. The rear seats offered solid headroom, suitable for adults on short-to-medium trips, though they lacked the rear-seat headroom of the larger CX-5.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a range of modern technology features, surpassing some competitors like the Chevrolet Trax and Ford EcoSport. The base model Kicks S included a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert. The Kicks SV added Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium featured a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers, including two in the front seat headrests, providing immersive 360-degree sound. The SR Premium also included a surround-view monitor, offering a 360-degree bird’s eye camera view of the vehicle’s exterior.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design, with the infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen lacked touch functionality and was controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the centre console, along with toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW’s iDrive, but it had usability issues. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, and operating CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was frustrating. However, accessing CarPlay from the Mazda home screen was straightforward. The system remained challenging to use even after setting up presets, and it could be distracting for new users.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, a suite of driver-assistance and safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks was equipped with 10 airbags, and the SV and SR trims included adaptive cruise control, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert. The 2021 Kicks had not been crash-tested by the IIHS, but the similar 2020 model received Good marks in crashworthiness. The NHTSA gave the 2021 Kicks a four-star overall rating, and it had a strong history of few recalls.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered available driver-assistance features, though most were not standard in Canada. Available features included forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Standard features included rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher grades offered traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking. The test model had adaptive front headlights and a 360-degree parking camera. The CX-30 earned five stars from the NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.