Compare the2026 Mazda CX-30VS 2026 Acura ADX

The CX-30 has standard Whiplash-Reducing Headrests, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Headrests system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The ADX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-30. But it costs extra on the ADX.

Both the CX-30 and ADX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium has Smart Braking Support - Rear Crossing (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The ADX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-30 and the ADX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-30 is safer than the ADX:

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-30 is safer than the ADX:

The Mazda CX-30 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The ADX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

There are almost 2 times as many Mazda dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-30’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 88 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 29th.

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 60 more horsepower (250 vs. 190) and 141 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 179) than the ADX’s 1.5 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mazda CX-30 is faster than the Acura ADX:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the CX-30 (except Turbo)’s fuel efficiency. The ADX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-30 stops shorter than the ADX:

The CX-30 2.5 S Premium handles at .84 G’s, while the ADX A-Spec AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CX-30’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the ADX’s (34.8 feet vs. 37 feet).

For greater off-road capability the CX-30 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the ADX (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the CX-30 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The CX-30 is 1 foot shorter than the ADX, making the CX-30 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CX-30 has .6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom and 5.8 inches more rear hip room than the ADX.

The CX-30 Premium/Turbo Aire has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The ADX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the CX-30 and the ADX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the CX-30 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The ADX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The CX-30’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The ADX’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the ADX A-Spec’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-30 Premium/Turbo Aire has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The ADX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-30’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The ADX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Compared to the Acura ADX, the Mazda CX-30 eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its optional integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

Compared to the Acura ADX’s traditional radio, the Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-30 and the Acura ADX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-30 outsold the Acura ADX by almost three to one during 2025.