2023 Mazda CX-30 vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that offered practicality and style, making it a popular choice for families. Its design featured sliding side doors that provided easy access, especially in tight parking spaces, and a comfortable third-row seat that accommodated adults without hassle. The Odyssey's interior was spacious, with a classic open-concept design and quality leather upholstery, creating a sense of luxury. The Touring trim level added a touch of sophistication with dark gray 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, while the kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines added a sense of style to its otherwise clean flanks.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-30 was a compact SUV that combined artful design with a hint of ruggedness. Its long hood and dramatic flanks gave it a nose-heavy appearance, while the excessive gray body cladding emphasized its SUV identity. Inside, the CX-30 offered an upscale cabin with quality materials, including off-white leather and polished metal accents. The GT Turbo trim featured a tasteful combination of colours, creating an entry-level luxury feel. However, the exterior's ruggedness was not reflected in the interior, which focused on elegance and comfort.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, it averaged 10.4 L/100 km. The Odyssey's driving character was enjoyable, with quick acceleration and responsive handling, but its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of powertrains, with the base GX trim featuring a 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque. The GS and GT models had a 2.5-litre engine with 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque, while the GT Turbo boasted a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine with up to 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium gas. The CX-30's six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive provided a smooth driving experience, with a fuel economy rating of 8.2 L/100 km combined. However, its small 48-litre fuel tank limited its range, and the suspension struggled with speed bumps and humps.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, it featured quality leather seats, a tri-zone automatic climate control system, and ample storage space. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat provided comfort for adults. With 929 litres of cargo space behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with the second-row seats removed, the Odyssey excelled in cargo capacity, making it ideal for family trips and hauling large items.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 provided a comfortable driver's seat with dual-zone automatic climate control and a power moonroof. However, the front passenger seat offered limited adjustment, and rear legroom was tight. Storage space was reasonable, with bins and compartments for small items. The CX-30's cargo capacity was 572 litres with the rear seats up and 1,280 litres with them folded down, which was modest for a small crossover. The power liftgate was a convenient feature, but the lack of underfloor storage limited its practicality.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. It featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology for monitoring and communicating with rear passengers. The rear entertainment system included a 10.2-inch display and wireless headphones. However, the infotainment system was outdated, lacking a larger screen and a tuning knob. The navigation system required specific voice commands, making it less user-friendly than smartphone-based options.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30's Mazda Connect infotainment system had several drawbacks, including the absence of a touchscreen display and conversational voice recognition. The centre console controls required visual reference, and the steering-wheel controls were hard to read. The system's voice recognition was only partially effective, but smartphone integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was available. The 8.8-inch display offered pleasing graphics and a logical menu structure, but the lack of a tuning knob was a notable omission.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, occasionally issuing invalid warnings or taking abrupt actions. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2023 Mazda CX-30 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, thanks to improved side-impact crash protection and additional safety features. The GX trim included blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and more. The GT and GT Turbo trims added advanced features like a surround-view camera and traffic jam assist. The driving assistance systems generally worked well, but the forward-collision warning system could be overly sensitive.