The 2021 Mazda CX-30 was launched just a year back but the response it received was revolutionary. The CX-30 was the first crossover to feature a balanced blend of style, functionality, and performance and hence, became an instant hit with both buyers and enthusiasts. Competition is ripe, and counterparts like the Toyota RAV4 are also in contention for the top spot. Both the SUVs have a lot to offer. But the Mazda CX-30 manages to outclass the Kia Soul with a perfect balance of peppy performance and features, making it a more interesting option. In this article, we are going to see what makes the Mazda CX-30 a more favorable SUV of the two.
For the 2021 model year, Mazda has made Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard across all the trims. Other than that, a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine will be available as an option. The Mazda CX-30 is available in eight configurations – Base, 2.5S, Select, Preferred, Premium, Turbo, Turbo Premium, and Turbo Premium Plus. Interested in the 2021 CX-30? Contact us today to schedule a test drive.
2021 Mazda CX-30 |
VS |
2021 Kia Soul |
2.5-liter Inline-Four Cylinder |
Engine |
2.0-liter Inline-Four Cylinder |
186 hp / 186 ft-lbs. |
Horsepower/Torque |
147 hp / 132 ft-lbs. |
Six-speed Automatic |
Transmission |
Continuously Variable-speed Automatic (CVT) |
20.2 cu. ft. |
Cargo Capacity (cubic feet) |
24.2 cu. ft. |
25 / 33 / 28 | MPG (City/Highway/Combined) | 29 / 35 / 31 |
Visibly, the CX-30 is more powerful than the Kia Soul, with a power output of 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Even though the Kia Soul has an additional engine offering that produces 201 horsepower, the Mazda CX-30 has a more powerful 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine offering that produces 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Both the engines come mated with a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive is standard on the lower trims, the turbocharged engine comes with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. The Kia Soul might have better fuel efficiency than the CX-30. But the CX-30’s peppy power output makes it a lot more engaging to drive.
Coming to the interior, the CX-30 offers a spacious cabin with good quality materials used all-round. Talking about the features, the CX-30 is feature-loaded with the likes of cloth upholstered seats, manually adjustable front seats, a seven-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a six-speaker sound system, a USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, Voice recognition, and automatic climate control.
Safety is not an issue as the CX-30 offers a wide array of features automatic emergency braking, day and night pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, a rearview camera, adaptive LED headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.
All in all, the Mazda CX-30 has a lot more features on offer along with a potent powertrain offering making it a preferable option.