2022 Mazda CX-30 vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 had a sporty and svelte design reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. It was visually lower and wider, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the furthest corners of the chassis, giving the body a hip-like appearance similar to the wide fenders of a Porsche 911. The headlights squinted in anger, tracing a V-shaped pattern that mirrored the black trim below on the bumper. The wedgy profile looked sharp with an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler, while the matte silver paint added a smooth and silken finish.

The EV6's interior featured dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and black and white seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and circled the rear passengers. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls added a futuristic touch, making the EV6 enjoyable to drive. The overall aesthetic was car-first, computer-second, which contributed to its appeal.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the look and styling of a downsized CX-5, with an upright grille and smooth, flowing fenders. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially making it a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's incredibly raked windshield acted like a greenhouse on sunny days, and its slight curve at eye level for taller drivers could distort the view of the road, which was distracting.

Inside, the CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with solid-feeling buttons and doors. The instrument cluster blended conventional and digital displays, and the infotainment screen rose organically from the smooth dashboard. However, the infotainment system had a steep learning curve, prioritizing form over function. The trim levels ranged from the 2.5 S to the Turbo Premium Plus, each adding more features and luxury elements, culminating in the range-topping Turbo Premium Plus with front-and-rear parking sensors and advanced driver assistance features.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, with its two electric motors, produced 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. It had a 77-kilowatt-hour battery mounted low in the chassis, allowing the 4600-pound car to accelerate to 60 mph in a claimed 4.6 seconds. The top-power GT trim, arriving in fall 2022, promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of less than 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller battery (58 kWh) and a single motor (167 hp and 258 lb-ft), which was not recommended. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models offered a more acceptable 225 hp and the same torque.

The dual-motor GT-Line provided a thrilling driving experience with its quick torque delivery and seamless power distribution. The EV6's regenerative braking had more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the driving range was disappointing in cold weather, with the EV6 delivering only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging was efficient, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW, but real-world charging stations often fell short of this capability.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine in our test model delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft 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. The CX-30's conventional shifter design, steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters, and manual tap-shift mode added to its performance credibility. The CX-30 had well-weighted steering and quick turn-in, with minimal body roll in cornering. However, the sporty suspension resulted in a rough ride over potholes and bumpy roads.

The 2022 Kia EV6 reinvented core functions with features like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The EV6 offered generous legroom and headroom in all seating positions, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited to 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. Towing capacity was rated at 2,300 pounds, and the onboard power generator could run 120-volt equipment or charge another EV.

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. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the seat when the rear seats were folded. The center console provided ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats offered solid headroom for short-to-medium trips but lacked the headroom of the larger CX-5 for longer drives.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was simple, quick, and full of connectivity, though it required a wired connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel showed vehicles in surrounding lanes and a 3D bar graph of power and speed. The 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp and clear, and the head-up display used augmented reality for directional arrows and adaptive cruise control tracking. Higher trims featured a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's infotainment screen was nestled into the dash and controlled by a rotary dial/joystick and toggle buttons. This setup, inspired by older luxury-car systems like BMW's iDrive, lacked touch functionality and was difficult to use, especially with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Navigating between presets and settings was cumbersome, even after spending time learning the system.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies, but it came equipped with impressive standard tech, including lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. Higher trims added features like automatic rear braking, 360 cameras, evasive steering assist, and adaptive cruise control with machine learning.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with standard driver-assistance features like 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 CX-30 earned five stars from the NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.