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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie CarHead-to-Head: 2023 Honda HR-V vs Mazda CX-30
We’re taking two of the most popular crossovers, the 2023 Honda HR-V vs the Mazda CX-30, and pitting them head-to-head to find a winner.
Two Crossovers, Two Different Design Philosophies
The subcompact crossover segment is bigger than ever before and two of its most lauded entries are the Honda HR-V and the Mazda CX-30. The automakers approach the goal of creating a compelling car for the segment in very different ways. Today, we’ll break down all of their key features, their specifications, their driving characteristics, and their trim levels. In the end, we’ll pick a winner and tell you why it’s the one to spend your hard-earned cash on.
Honda HR-V vs Mazda CX-30 Specs
Honda’s base model of the 2023 HR-V will cost $23,725 and comes standard with front-wheel drive and a continuously variable transmission. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that develops 158 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque. All three available trims share that basic setup and AWD is available for $1,500 on top of whatever trim one chooses.
Go for the AWD and the EPA says that you’ll get about 27 mpg combined. The front-drive version gets 28 mpg combined. Every HR-V comes with a three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Honda even covers the first two years or 24,000 miles of maintenance too.
The 2023 Mazda CX-30 bookends the HR-V regarding pricing as it starts at $23,725 but can cost up to $35,925 for the top-end Turbo Premium Plus version. In part, it does that because, unlike the HR-V, the CX-30 is available in seven different trim variations with two different engines among them.
The base CX-30 engine is a 191 hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder that gets 26 mpg combined according to the EPA. Above that is a turbocharged version of the same engine with 250 hp and an EPA estimate of 25 mpg. Both engines feed power to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic gearbox regardless of trim.
Driving and Performance
The Honda HR-V was a seriously boring drive during its first generation. Today, it’s still annoyingly slow but at least now it sits atop the Civic’s chassis. That one simple change has allowed it to improve feedback, handling, and body roll. Still, it’s important to note that driving the HR-V is an exercise in patience.
Accelerating from 0-60 mph in the HR-V takes just shy of 10 full seconds and the continuously variable transmission drones the entire time. Jumping onto the highway and getting up to speed isn’t what we’d call fun in the HR-V. It’s best suited for puttering around a busy cityscape or a compact neighborhood.
On the other end of the scale is the Mazda CX-30 which starts out with a base four-cylinder engine that has a bit more power than it did in 2022. Back then we really liked the overall package that Mazda presented even if we felt like the engine could use more oomph. Thankfully, it has it for 2023.
Mazda’s turbocharged version of the CX-30 is downright quick. It’ll rocket from 0-60 mph in just 5.8 seconds. To put that in perspective, it’s almost a full second quicker than a Toyota GR86 sports car. It also doesn’t give up anything to the HR-V in terms of handling or driver engagement. The feedback is sharp and the handling is intuitive.
Comfort and Interior
Where Honda really shines is in the cabin of the HR-V. Not only is it more spacious than the Mazda CX-30 but it’s also better equipped when it comes to cargo storage. That makes sense considering that the HR-V is bigger than it was during its previous generation but in the real world it translates to an extra four cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.
Seating in the Honda HR-V is supportive and comfortable too. Rear-seat headroom might be a touch cramped for taller folks but it’s better than you’ll find in the Mazda. Visibility in the HR-V is overall better than in the HR-V.
Mazda takes a different approach that some will appreciate more. The cabin is far more premium feeling and looking than in the Honda. The panel gaps are tighter, the design is more modern, and the infotainment system is bigger too.
The CX-30’s visibility is hurt a bit by a higher window sill and the seating isn’t as supportive as you’ll find in the HR-V. At the same time, for some people, it’ll fit just right.
Trims and Features
The 2.5 Turbo Premium Plus adds traffic jam assist, a surround-view camera system, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors.
A Carbon Edition basically adds red leather seats, heated side mirrors, a unique gray paint, and 18-inch black wheels to the Preferred trim. Above that is the Premium trim which gets integrated navigation, leather upholstery, roof rails, paddle shifters, a power liftgate, adaptive headlights, a heads-up display, and traffic sign recognition. The first CX-30 trim with the turbo engine is the 2.5 Turbo Premium which comes with a heated steering wheel, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, and everything from the naturally aspirated Premium trim.
The CX-30 Select gets 18-inch wheels, keyless entry, faux leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, tinted rear windows, and blind-spot warning technology. The CX-30 Preferred adds a sunroof, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats.
The base Mazda CX-30 dubbed 2.5 S comes with 16-inch wheels, LED headlights, an 8.8-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and eight speakers. Safety equipment includes automatic high beams, driver attention monitor, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward collision mitigation.
Finally, the HR-V EX-L goes back to 17-inch wheels but picks up dual-zone automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting, a sunroof, an eight-speaker sound system, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, wireless versions of Android and Apple connectivity, a wireless smartphone charging pad, parking sensors, and integrated satellite radio.
Step up to the HR-V Sport and you’ll get 18-inch wheels, tinted rear windows, keyless entry, remote start, heated front seats, six speakers, heated mirrors, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and blind-spot monitoring.
The base HR-V comes with 17-inch wheels, a push-button start, LED headlights, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic climate control, a 7-inch infotainment system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and three USB power outlets. In addition, every HR-V comes with a full suite of driver safety aids. Those include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure mitigation, and forward collision mitigation.
Honda HR-V vs Mazda CX-30: The Verdict
The CX-30 is simply a nicer place to spend time thanks to a higher quality of cabin materials, fit, and finish. If you’re in the market for either, we recommend searching for the best loan and offer some tips on that in this article.
The winner in our eyes is the Mazda CX-30 by a mile and not just because it’s faster and handles better. The overarching goal of a subcompact is to be nimble, easy to drive, and yet, practical too. The CX-30 does that better than the slowly ballooning HR-V.
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