2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Mazda CX-30

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, featuring an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially serving as a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's incredibly raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, potentially causing a tan on longer drives. However, the slight curve at eye level for taller drivers distorted the view of the road, which could be distracting.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. It boasted one of the best interior designs among affordable cars, blending conventional and digital displays in the instrument cluster. The infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard, but its steep learning curve was a downside. The trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury elements.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, exuded a rugged, take-no-prisoners design aesthetic with its brick-like appearance. Available in two-door and four-door Unlimited versions, the Wrangler allowed for door removal and offered half doors for better visibility. The windshield could fold down for an open-air experience, and various top options were available for different levels of exposure to the elements. The tailgate swung out, and the rear glass lifted up for easy cargo access.

Inside, the Wrangler's practicality shone through with easy-to-clean floor mats and seats. The design was simple and functional, with a body-colored dash, chunky HVAC controls, and a manual transfer case shifter. The new Reign purple paint color added a unique flair, while the Earl color offered a subtle aquamarine highlight. The Wrangler's interior was straightforward, focusing on functionality over luxury.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque on 87 octane fuel, and 250 hp 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, especially in Sport mode, which altered throttle response and shift mapping for a livelier drive.

The CX-30's sporty, refined ride was characterized by well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in. However, the downside was a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads. The suspension handled dirt and gravel roads decently but struggled with craggy paved roads. The conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and manual tap-shift mode added to the vehicle's performance credibility.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of engine options to suit different off-roading needs. The standard V6 engine produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivered 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both engines could be paired with an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 provided 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, while the Rubicon 392's 6.4-liter V8 boasted 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid offered 21 miles of all-electric range.

Our tester, the Rubicon 392, excelled in off-road performance with its full-time 4WD, 35-inch BFGoodrich KO2 All-Terrain tires, and Off-Road Plus button. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and had a crawl ratio of 58:1 with the Xtreme Recon package. However, the 392's brakes and steering were less impressive, with vague steering and inadequate brakes for the V8's power. Other Wrangler trims had better-suited brakes and less flawed steering.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the seats in use. These figures were average for the subcompact SUV segment. The Turbo Premium Plus model featured a power rear liftgate, which was convenient. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, but it could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The center console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats provided solid headroom for short-to-medium trips but lacked the headroom of the larger CX-5 for longer drives.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler's front seats were comfortable, but heated seats were only available in the 392 or with a cold-weather package. Ventilated seats were not offered. The rear seat could fit three in the four-door models, but it was a tight fit, and the small rear doors made entry and exit challenging. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash, tiny glove box, and center console. The Wrangler had a bin on top of the dash, but it risked overheating items placed there.

Larger cargo space was also limited, with 72.4 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded. The hard top could be removed in one piece or with two front panels, and the Sunrider option allowed for quick exposure to the elements. The soft top was fairly easy to remove, but the plastic rear window could be a pain in cold weather. The Sky One-Touch power soft top was the easiest option, sliding back in 17 seconds at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler provided ample charging points, with USB-A and USB-C ports, 12-volt outlets, and a 115-volt outlet in the center console.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 featured an elegant dash design with an infotainment screen nestled into the dash. The screen had no touch functionality and was controlled by a rotary dial/joystick in the center console and toggle buttons. This setup was inspired by luxury-car infotainment systems like BMW's iDrive but lacked usability. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, and operating CarPlay and Android Auto with a rotary dial was frustrating. Even after learning the system, it remained a pain to use.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running Jeep's Uconnect infotainment system, while our tester had the larger 8.4-inch screen. There were no hard buttons, and everything was accessed from the touchscreen. Uconnect initially appeared complicated but made sense once drivers got used to it. The off-road pages provided valuable information, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto worked as expected. Jeep avoided unnecessary tech, focusing on practical features like a forward-facing camera and auxiliary switches for aftermarket lighting.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came loaded with standard driver-assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The Turbo Premium Plus model added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking. The adaptive front headlights and 360-degree parking camera were helpful, and the head-up display was easy to read with polarized lenses. The CX-30 earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler's standard safety features included a rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control. Blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control were standard only on the 392 model and optional elsewhere. Lane-keeping assist was not offered. The IIHS gave the Wrangler a mix of Good and Marginal ratings, with Poor rankings for headlights on some trims. The NHTSA rated the Wrangler four stars for frontal crash tests and three stars for rollover, but it had not been rated for side crashes.