2023 Mazda CX-30 vs 2023 Hyundai Kona

If you’re in the market for a compact crossover, both the 2023 Mazda CX-30 and the Hyundai Kona are great choices. Both vehicles come with tons of standard features and are an absolute blast to drive, but how do they stack up against each other?

The truth is that it all comes down to what you’re looking for, which is why we decided to give each vehicle a brief rundown for you here.

2023 Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 is the smallest vehicle in Mazda’s standard vehicle lineup, but it sure packs a punch. There’s a ton to love with this fun crossover, and we’ll break down some of its top features that make the CX-30 such a joy to drive.

The Powertrain

If you’re looking for a fun car to drive, the engine under the hood of the 2023 Mazda CX-30 delivers. The standard engine is a 2.5L SkyActiv-G engine that pushes 191 horsepower and has 186 lb-ft of torque.

While that’s plenty quick, if you want something a bit more powerful some of the higher trim levels add a turbo to this same engine, increasing the horsepower output to 250 and upping the torque levels to 310 lb-ft – more than enough to push you up against your seat!

Cargo Space and Clearance

The Mazda CX-30 is the smallest vehicle in Mazda’s lineup, but if you’re expecting some sort of tiny car, that’s not the CX-30. The trunk space alone has 20.2 cubic feet of storage space, and if you fold down the second-row seats you unlock 45.2 cubic feet of storage space.

Meanwhile, the CX-30 sits a bit higher off the ground, with 6.9 inches of ground clearance. While it’s not a vehicle you’ll want to try to climb up the side of a mountain with, you’re not going to have any issues getting to a campsite even if you have to leave the pavement. It’s a versatile vehicle that can take you wherever you want to go!

Standard Features

No matter what Mazda CX-30 you go with you’re going to get a ton of great features. Nothing quite highlights this like all the standard features that come with every 2023 CX-30. Not only do you get great comfort features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, but it’s packed full of safety features.

Every CX-30 comes with a lane departure warning system with lane-keeping assists, a rearview monitor, and even a radar cruise control system with stop-and-go technology. Moreover, there’s a driver attention alert system and even rain-sensing intermittent windshield wipers.

Other great features like Blind Spot Monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts start to come standard with the S Select trim level.

2023 Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is an extremely popular compact crossover, and in a lot of ways it’s extremely similar to the CX-30. But what exactly does the Kona offer, and is it the right choice for you? We’ll break it all down for you here.

The Powertrain

While the 2023 Hyundai Kona has plenty of power to get you from point A to point B, there’s no doubt that it’s not quite as powerful as the 2023 Mazda CX-30. The Kona comes standard with a 2.0L MPI Atkinson engine that pushes 147 horsepower and provides 132 lb-ft of torque.

Upgraded trim levels come with a 1.6L Turbo GDI engine that pushes 195 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. While this engine is significantly more powerful than the standard 2.0L MPI Atkinson engine, it’s just a bit more powerful than the standard Mazda CX-30 engine.

Cargo Space and Clearance

While the 2023 Kona is plenty spacious, its interior dimensions vary slightly compared to the CX-30. The cargo space in the trunk space is a smidge smaller than the CX-30 at 19.2 cubic feet, but once you fold down the second-row seats you unlock slightly more storage space with a 45.8 cubic foot capacity.

The Kona also sits slightly lower than the CX-30, but it’s still plenty high enough. It sits 6.7 inches off the ground, which is more than enough to handle dirt roads and grassy fields at campgrounds or fairs. It’s not a vehicle you’ll want to take too far off-road, but it can easily handle most family adventures.

Standard Features

While the Kona lags a little behind in the cargo space, ground clearance, and performance departments compared to the CX-30, one area it offers a bit more is with standard features.

No matter which 2023 Kona you go with you get a blind spot collision avoidance system with rear cross-traffic alerts, forward collision avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, and even a lane following assist with a lane keeping assist feature!

The Kona also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay with all their vehicles, and the driver attention warning system is standard. With the Kona tons of standard features come with every trim level and package!

When You Want a Mazda CX-30

You want the Mazda CX-30 if you’re looking for a compact crossover with a little more power and versatility. It’s still not the fastest car on the market, but it’s quick enough to push you up against your seat when you push down the accelerator. In short, it’s versatile, comfortable, and a joy to drive!

When You Want a Hyundai Kona

If you’re looking for a more family vehicle that can get you and everyone else in your car safely from one point to another, you might want the Hyundai Kona.

It comes with more standard features on the lower trim levels, and while it won’t blow anyone off the track, it’s still responsive enough to navigate busy streets safely.

Final Thoughts

Are you interested in the 2023 Mazda CX-30 or do you have questions about either vehicle? The friendly team at Seacoast Mazda would love to help you out and point you in the right direction. Don’t hesitate to reach out and they’ll walk you through everything you need to know to test drive one and get behind the wheel as soon as possible!