2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

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 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 from the buttons to the doors. The interior design was one of the best among affordable cars, with an artful blend of conventional and digital displays. The infotainment screen rose organically from the dashboard, but its attractive design came with a steep learning curve.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe had a more conservative exterior styling compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs. It maintained the same look as the 2022 model, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights as its distinctive elements. The Santa Fe was available in four trims in Canada, all with standard AWD. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in the U.S., featured a black interior with Nappa leather seats, offering a high-quality look and feel. The cabin was dark and monotone, but the beige or grey interior options provided visual contrast. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable, with heated and cooled front seats standard in the Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe's interior was spacious, with ample legroom and cargo space, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered a range of engine options, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the GX trim, producing 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The GS and GT trims featured a 2.5-litre engine with 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The test model came with 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 fuel. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, especially in Sport mode, which altered throttle response and shift mapping. The CX-30 had a sporty, refined ride with well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, though it could be rough over potholes.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a 2.5-litre engine, available in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The Preferred trim's naturally aspirated engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims featured a turbocharged engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The turbocharged Santa Fe offered a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and no discernible turbo lag. Handling was smooth, with only slight body lean during cornering. The Santa Fe's towing capacity was 907 kg for the non-turbo version and 1,587 kg for the turbo version, with trailer brakes required for maximum capacity.

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, adding convenience. The front seats had a sliding centre console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when 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, suitable for short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be tight.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, offered more rear-seat legroom and cargo space. Rear-seat legroom was 1,060 millimetres, among the best in its class. Cargo space behind the second row was 1,032 litres, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. The Santa Fe featured an underfloor storage compartment in the cargo area. Seat comfort was a strength, with an eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats standard in Canada. The top trims included a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim featured Remote Smart Parking Assist, a head-up display, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's infotainment system was elegant but challenging to use. The screen was nestled into the dash and controlled by a rotary dial/joystick, with no touch functionality. This setup was inspired by older luxury-car systems like BMW's iDrive, which had usability issues. Navigating between Apple CarPlay and the Mazda home screen was cumbersome, and the rotary dial made operating CarPlay and Android Auto frustrating. Even after learning the system, it remained a challenge for new users.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch colour LCD display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and dual USB ports. Wireless charging was available in the top trims, along with a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clearly marked icons and logical arrangement. Voice recognition capabilities were mixed, handling navigation commands well but struggling with music and temperature adjustments.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 offered several driver-assistance features, though many 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 a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, with top marks in crash tests and driver-assistance technology.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety-related ADAS, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more. Highway Driving Assist was standard on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS, with top ratings in crashworthiness tests.