2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 was reminiscent of a smaller CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It shared its platform with the Mazda3, essentially serving as a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing a tan on longer drives. However, the windshield's slight curve at eye level for taller drivers could distort the road view, which was distracting. Inside, the cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a solid feel to the buttons and doors. The interior design was one of the best among affordable cars, blending conventional and digital displays artfully. The infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard, but its steep learning curve was a downside.

In contrast, the 2023 Dodge Durango maintained its familiar yet attractive design, avoiding faux ruggedness for a clean, car-like styling. It eschewed oversized grilles, opting for slim styling with forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake. The rear featured Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights, giving it a distinctive look. The SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models had subtle unique styling features, including a Viper-like hood with functional air inlets and heat extractors. The interior, while not as distinctive as the exterior, was still pleasant, with materials suited to their price points. The Citadel model added luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery and heated seats, while the SRT Hellcat test car featured bold red leather upholstery.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of engines, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the GX, producing 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The GS and GT models came with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Our test model featured the upgraded 2.5-litre turbocharged 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. The six-speed automatic transmission routed power to all four wheels. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, with a Sport mode enhancing throttle response and shift mapping. The CX-30's sporty, refined ride was characterized by well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, though it had a rough ride over potholes.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a variety of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, producing 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with AWD standard in Canada. The 5.7-litre Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The SRT 392 model boasted a 6.4-litre Hemi V8, producing 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in roughly 4.5 seconds. The SRT Hellcat model took it further with a 6.2-litre supercharged V8, producing 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in about 3.5 seconds. The Hellcat's acceleration was exhilarating, though its size made it awkward on twisty roads. The adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero tires, and Brembo brakes made managing the power easier.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered up to 1,280 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 572 litres with the seats in use, which was 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. Rear seats offered solid headroom, suitable for short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be tight.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations. The SXT, GT, and R/T models featured two front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models had second-row captain's chairs, with this setup optional on GT and R/T models. The Durango's interior space was competitive with other three-row midsize SUVs, though the Chevy Traverse offered more cargo space. The Durango had 487 litres with all three rows in place, 1,226 litres with the third-row seats folded, and 2,409 litres behind the first row. Small-item storage was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. The Durango's towing capacity was impressive, with V6 models capable of towing up to 2,812 kilograms, and Hemi V8 models up to 3,946 kilograms.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design, with the infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen lacked touch functionality, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the centre console and toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW's iDrive, but it suffered from usability issues. Navigating Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, as the "Home" button didn't take users to the Mazda home screen. The rotary dial made operating CarPlay and Android Auto frustrating, though entering CarPlay from the Mazda home screen was straightforward.

The 2023 Dodge Durango's lower trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, while the GT grade and above featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless connectivity. Both used Stellantis's Uconnect system, with the larger screen getting the current Uconnect 5 version. The infotainment experience was comparable to newer rivals, with the larger touchscreen and Uconnect 5 being responsive and user-friendly. The SRT models had added personality with Easter Eggs, including a burnout-themed animation on startup. The Performance Pages app provided performance information, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available on higher trims.

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

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS tests, with top "Good" marks in some tests but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash test. AWD versions received a three-star rollover resistance rating. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert standard on all trims. Forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking were not standard but available on higher trims.