Compare the2026 Mazda CX-30VS 2026 Nissan Kicks

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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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 Kicks doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-30 achieved a “Acceptable” rating - the second highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Nissan Kicks has not been tested.

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

Both the CX-30 and Kicks have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, 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 Kicks’ Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the CX-30 and the Kicks 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mazda CX-30 is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	148	476
Neck Injury Risk	26.7%	43.8%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	476 lbs.
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	76 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	179	338
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33.5%	67.5%
Neck Stress	172 lbs.	253 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 much safer than the Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Chest Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	POOR

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mazda CX-30 is safer than the Nissan Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	124
Hip Force	239 lbs.	371 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	121	206
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	669 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	161	303
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	685 lbs.	797 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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 Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	89	158
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	268 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.02 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	144	182
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	112 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.94 in	1.5 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.34 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	379 lbs.	669 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the CX-30 is 2.4% to 5.1% less likely to roll over than the Kicks.

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 Kicks is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

Reliability

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 Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 23rd.

Engine

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (186 vs. 141) and 46 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 109 more horsepower (250 vs. 141) and 180 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 140) than the Kicks’ 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mazda CX-30 is faster than the Nissan Kicks:

	CX-30 4 cyl.	CX-30 turbo 4 cyl.	Kicks
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	6.8 sec	10.4 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	15.1 sec	17.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.3 MPH	91.4 MPH	79.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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 Kicks doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-30 has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Kicks’ standard fuel tank (12.7 vs. 11.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The CX-30 has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Kicks. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Brakes and Stopping

The CX-30 stops much shorter than the Kicks:

	CX-30	Kicks
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	176 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The CX-30 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Kicks; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The CX-30 2.5 S Premium handles at .83 G’s, while the Kicks SR pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The CX-30 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Kicks SR (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the CX-30 is quieter than the Kicks SR AWD (38 vs. 39 dB).

Passenger Space

The CX-30 has 2.2 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear hip room than the Kicks.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the CX-30 Premium/Turbo Aire Edition has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Kicks doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Kicks doesn’t offer a memory system.

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 Kicks doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-30’s power window, power lock and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Kicks’ power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Kicks’ intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Kicks doesn’t offer cornering lights.

When the CX-30 Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Kicks’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Kicks offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Kicks doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the CX-30 and the Kicks offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Kicks SV/SR doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

With standard voice command, the CX-30 offers the driver hands free control of the radio and the navigation computer by simply speaking. The Kicks doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Recommendations

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

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