2025 Kia Sportage vs 2026 Mazda CX-30

$27,390 · Crossover

$25,975 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The battle between the 2025 Kia Sportage and the 2026 Mazda CX-30 pits practicality against agile design. The Sportage excites with its spaciousness, offering a substantial 39.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity and a height of 65.4 inches, catering to those needing room to haul. It boasts 187 horsepower from its standard engine. Conversely, the CX-30 delivers a more driver-focused, compact experience; it's significantly shorter at 173.0 inches, making urban navigation feel nimble. While nearly matching power with 186 horsepower, the Mazda compensates with standard All-Wheel Drive, contrasting the Sportage's FWD setup. The Kia secures a slight edge in efficiency, achieving 28 MPG combined versus the Mazda's 27 MPG combined. Priced closely, the CX-30 starts lower at $25,975 compared to the Sportage's $27,390 MSRP, demanding a close look at overall needs.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Mazda CX-30

The smaller 2026 Mazda CX-30, with its standard AWD and superior combined efficiency of 27 MPG, offers better city driving security and efficiency for the daily grind.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Kia Sportage

The 2025 Kia Sportage decisively wins for families due to its vastly superior 39.6 cu ft of cargo capacity, more than double the CX-30's capacity.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2026 Mazda CX-30

The Mazda CX-30 is preferred by enthusiasts for its more dynamic footprint, being 10.5 inches shorter and featuring standard AWD versus the Kia's FWD setup.

💰 Best Value

2026 Mazda CX-30

The 2026 Mazda CX-30 offers better inherent value by providing standard AWD and near-identical performance metrics for an initial price $1,415 less than the Sportage.

Choose the Kia Sportage if...

You prioritize maximum interior volume and need 39.6 cu ft of dedicated cargo space.
You prefer the slightly higher output of 187 horsepower and 32 highway MPG.
You are comfortable with a front-wheel-drive configuration in a larger crossover footprint (183.5 inches long).

Choose the Mazda CX-30 if...

You value standard All-Wheel Drive capability right from the $25,975 starting price.
You want a more compact and agile vehicle, evident in its 173.0-inch length.
You want the enthusiast edge provided by 186 lb-ft of torque, which is greater than the Kia's 178 lb-ft.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sportage	Mazda CX-30
Length	183.5"	173.0"
Width	73.4"	70.7"
Height	65.4"	61.4"
Wheelbase	108.5"	104.4"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	—
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Blind Spot Monitor	—	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	—	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	—	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Base Engine Displacement	2.5 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	187 hp @ 6100 rpm	186 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	178 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm	186 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Transmission Type	8-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	25/32 MPG	24/31 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	28 MPG	27 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	357.5/457.6 mi.	304.8/393.7 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	14.3 gal.	12.7 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Cruise Control	✓	—
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Single Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Push Button Start	—	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Infotainment Display	8.0 in	8.8 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	8
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Mazda
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Remote Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Front Head Room	39.6 in.	38.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	57.5 in.	55.6 in.
Front Hip Room	54.8 in.	54.6 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	✓
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Manual Adjustments	6-way	6-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	4-way	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Rear Head Room	39.4 in.	38.3 in.
Rear Leg Room	41.3 in.	36.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	55.6 in.	53.6 in.
Rear Hip Room	53.4 in.	53.2 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	17 x 7.0 in	16 x 6.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/65R17	215/65R16
Spare Tire Type	—	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	—	Inside Mounted

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	—
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Front Suspension Type	—	Independent
Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Mazda
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sportage and 2026 Mazda CX-30.

How much more cargo space does the Kia Sportage offer over the Mazda CX-30?

The 2025 Kia Sportage is significantly more accommodating, boasting 39.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity. This dwarfs the 2026 Mazda CX-30, which only provides 20.2 cubic feet, making the Kia the clear choice for hauling needs.

Is the performance difference noticeable between the two crossovers?

Power figures are nearly identical, with the Kia at 187 hp and the Mazda at 186 hp. However, the CX-30 transmits its 186 lb-ft of torque through standard AWD, while the Sportage uses FWD with slightly less torque (178 lb-ft).

Which vehicle is better for slippery road conditions?

The 2026 Mazda CX-30 is the superior option for poor weather as it comes standard with All-Wheel Drive. The 2025 Kia Sportage is equipped with a simpler front-wheel-drive configuration.

What is the primary financial difference between these two models?

The 2026 Mazda CX-30 starts at an MSRP of $25,975, making it $1,415 cheaper than the 2025 Kia Sportage, which begins at $27,390.

How do the overall sizes compare for parking and maneuvering?

The Mazda CX-30 is the smaller vehicle across the board, measuring 173.0 inches in length and 61.4 inches in height. The Sportage is longer at 183.5 inches and taller at 65.4 inches, leading to a less nimble profile.

Is there a significant difference in fuel economy?

The difference is minimal; the Kia Sportage ekes out a slight advantage by achieving 28 MPG combined, compared to the CX-30's 27 MPG combined, using regular unleaded fuel in both cases.