The 2021 Mazda CX-30 Just Suffered a Loss to the Kia Sportage
The 2021 Kia Sportage feels like an underdog against the 2021 Mazda CX-30. You just don’t hear about it as much. But maybe you should learn more about the Kia Sportage as it just outranked the Mazda CX-30 as one of the best new SUVs you can buy for under $25,000.
The 2021 Kia Sportage outranks the Mazda CX-30
According to the U.S.News, the 2021 Kia Sportage outranks the 2021 Mazda CX-30 on their list of the best new SUVs you can buy for under $25,000. The Sportage came in second place while the CX-30 landed in third.
This list is pretty wild because the Subaru Crosstrek is in last place and the Hyundai Kona came in first. But we will focus on those little SUVs later. Today is all about seeing why the Kia Sportage is considered to be a better buy.
The Kia Sportage vs. the Mazda CX-30
The 2021 Kia Sportage begins at around $23,990, while the 2021 Mazda CX-30 starts at about $21,900. So, the Sportage is about $2,000 more before dealership markups, and destination fees have been added.
With the Sportage, you get a 2.4-liter four-cylinder base engine with 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. You can upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine for 240 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which is a surprising amount of muscle for this SUV. the Kia Sportage can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.1 seconds and tow up to 1,653 lb.
The CX-30 comes with a 2.5-liter base engine with 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. For more power, upgrade to the Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo trim. It’s a 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder option with 250 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. It begins at around $29,900.
The CX-30 can tow up to 1,500 lb when properly equipped and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. But the turbo engine helps it reach 60 mph in about 5.1 seconds. So, upgrade to the Turbo trim if you want to really race around.
Mazda CX-30 and Kia Sportage features
The Kia Sportage offers up to 30.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats with up to 60.1 cubic feet total. The 2021 Mazda CX-30 provides 20.2 cubic feet behind the backseat with up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space total.
Also, according to CarBuzz, the 2021 Kia Sportage has more space for passengers. It offers more legroom, more shoulder room, and more headroom. So, taller passengers will appreciate this.
You’ll find an 8.8-inch touchscreen in the Mazda CX-30. Plus, Apple Car Play and Android Auto now come standard. But there are only two USB ports. This is only a problem if you drive more than one passenger around. The Kia Sportage has an 8.0-inch screen and also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Both SUVs have a nice interior with quality materials. While the CX-30 is described as sleek, the Sportage is described as being incredibly comfortable. They both also have a nimble turning radius, quiet cabin, and smooth ride.
The Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-30 both rank well in terms of safety. Still, the Kia Sportage has more standard safety features like a driver attention monitor, lane-departure warning, and more, which are available with the CX-30. The 2021 Sportage simple has a little more value with its price.
