2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 was reminiscent of a smaller CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. Built on the same platform as the Mazda3, it was essentially a raised version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing distractions for taller drivers due to its slight curve. 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. However, the infotainment system, while attractive, had a steep learning curve.

In contrast, the 2023 Genesis GV70 shared styling cues with the G70 compact luxury sedan, particularly above the belt-line. The split-bar headlights and strong chrome line visually connected it to its sedan counterpart, giving it a coupe-like SUV appearance without sacrificing versatility. The GV70's cabin was luxurious, with top-notch materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, with climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash featured a full touchscreen backed by a rotary dial and button controls, offering a better user experience than touch capacitive controls.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a base 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The GS and GT trims came with a 2.5-litre engine producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The test model featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged engine, delivering 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane. The CX-30's turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, with a Sport mode enhancing throttle response and shift mapping. The ride was sporty and refined, with quick and precise steering, though it could be rough over potholes.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 2.5T was equipped with a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The 3.5T variant featured a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission with AWD. The GV70 offered a refined driving experience, blending comfort and sharp handling. The Electrified GV70 used a 77.4-kWh battery with dual motors, producing 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, with a Boost mode increasing output to 483 horsepower. It had a range of 383 kilometres and could charge from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes on a fast charger.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 1,280 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 572 litres with the seats in use. The GT grade featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding centre console cover, which could get stuck when the rear seats were folded. The centre console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats provided solid headroom but lacked the space of larger models like the CX-5.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 818 litres with the seats in use. It came standard with a hands-free power liftgate. The front featured large cupholders in the centre console, though in-door cupholders couldn't hold larger bottles. The centre console had a tray with a retractable lid. Front-seat passengers could easily find a comfortable seating position, but rear legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats forward. The rear bench reclined for added comfort.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash, controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. The system was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW's iDrive but lacked touch functionality, making it cumbersome to use, especially with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigating between presets was challenging, even after learning the system.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a 14.5-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also had helpful buttons and a rotary dial for control, though the dial was close to the rotary shifter, which could cause confusion. It featured four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Additional features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered available driver-assistance features, though most were not standard in Canada. These 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 a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a full suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist with lane-keeping assist. The 2.5T Advance Plus added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.