2025 Mazda CX-30 vs. Hyundai Tucson

If you’re in the market for a small crossover, the 2025 Mazda CX-30 is worth your consideration. With its impressive blend of style, performance, comfort, and technology, this SUV meets the needs and preferences of a wide range of car buyers. However, it faces stiff competition from the Hyundai TUCSON, which is also an excellent all-rounder. Our team at Capistrano Mazda in San Juan Capistrano, California, put together this head-to-head comparison to help you decide whether the CX-30 or TUCSON is better for you.

Exterior

The 2025 Mazda CX-30 and Hyundai TUCSON are easily distinguishable. The CX-30 looks sporty yet elegant with its sleek lines and dynamic proportions. Its eye-catching, black-accented grille and sharply angled headlights give it a striking presence. The TUCSON, on the other hand, appears bold and edgy. It embodies Hyundai’s Parametric Dynamics design philosophy, featuring a front grille with strong vertical elements and chiseled side panels.

While they’re both crossovers, the CX-30 and TUCSON compete in different segments. Measuring 173 inches long, 70.7 inches wide, and 61.7 inches high, the CX-30 is a subcompact SUV. In contrast, the compact TUCSON is 182.7 inches long, 73.4 inches wide, and 65.6 inches high. Due to its smaller dimensions, the Mazda is easier to maneuver in confined spaces, making it ideal for urban commuters.

Performance

If you’re looking for an engaging driving experience, the 2025 CX-30 is the standout choice. This Mazda SUV comes standard with a lively SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. In a Car and Driver test, a model with this engine accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds.

If that isn’t quick enough, higher trims offer a 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G Dynamic Pressure Turbo engine with 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. With this turbocharged option, the CX-30 sprints from zero to 60 mph in a mere 5.8 seconds, making it one of the fastest vehicles in its class. All-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard across the lineup.

The 2025 Hyundai TUCSON’s single offering is a 2.5-liter I-4 with 187 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque. This engine works with an eight-speed automatic transmission to send power to the front or all four wheels. The TUCSON provides adequate power for cruising around town and on the highway, but its sluggishness becomes apparent when you’re in a hurry. It takes a leisurely 8.8 seconds to accelerate from zero to 60 mph.

In addition to offering more power, the Mazda CX-30 boasts sportier handling. In fact, it’s one of the most agile and fun-to-drive crossovers on the market. Thanks to its sharp steering and well-tuned suspension, this Mazda model tackles corners and twisty roads with aplomb and feels well-planted at high speeds. It also absorbs bumps and potholes effectively, resulting in a smooth and pleasant ride. While the Hyundai TUCSON delivers confident handling and an agreeable ride, it doesn’t feel as sporty as the CX-30.

Fuel Economy

Despite its more potent engines, the Mazda CX-30 offers better fuel economy than the Hyundai TUCSON. With the standard engine, the CX-30 gets an impressive 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while turbocharged models achieve ratings of 22 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The TUCSON earns 25 mpg city/32 mpg highway with front-wheel drive and 23 mpg city/28 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.

Interior

Whether you choose the 2025 Mazda CX-30 or Hyundai TUCSON, you’ll enjoy an upscale interior with impeccable fit and finish, high-quality materials, and soft-touch surfaces. Both SUVs have ample sound insulation that does a good job of keeping outside noise at bay, giving you a hushed and serene ride.

When it comes to passenger and cargo space, the subcompact CX-30 isn’t as generous as the larger TUCSON. Front passengers in the Mazda crossover enjoy a whopping 41.7 inches of legroom, while those in the back get only 36.3 inches. In comparison, the Hyundai offers 41.4 inches of front legroom and 41.3 inches of rear legroom. Cargo capacity maxes out at 45.2 cubic feet in the CX-30 and 74.8 cubic feet in the TUCSON.

Infotainment Features

The 2025 Mazda CX-30 comes standard with an 8.8-inch touch-screen display, two USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, and a six-speaker sound system. You can upgrade your in-car experience with optional features, such as a 10.25-inch touch-screen display, satellite radio, wireless device charging, an eight- or 12-speaker premium audio system, and the new-for-2025 Alexa Built-In and Mazda Online Navigation technologies.

A notable upgrade on the Hyundai TUCSON is a new infotainment system. The entry-level trim features a 12.3-inch infotainment touch-screen display, smartphone connectivity, USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system. Available upgrades include a dual-screen panoramic display that integrates a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, satellite radio, and a premium audio system.

Driver-Assistance Technologies

New Mazda vehicles feature comprehensive driver-assistance technologies to enhance road safety, and the 2025 CX-30 is no exception. This crossover offers forward collision mitigation, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, lane departure alert, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear-seat alert as standard equipment. Not to be outdone, the base Hyundai TUCSON has most of these driver aids. However, you need to step up to a higher trim to get adaptive cruise control.

Get Behind the Wheel of the 2025 Mazda CX-30 Today

The 2025 Mazda CX-30 and the Hyundai TUCSON have their strengths and weaknesses, so the choice depends on your needs and preferences. If you’re seeking a fun-to-drive yet fuel-efficient crossover, the Mazda may be a better fit. To learn more about the 2025 CX-30 and experience it firsthand, stop by our Capistrano Mazda dealership. With one of the largest new Mazda inventories in the San Juan Capistrano area, our team can help you find the CX-30 model that matches your budget and lifestyle. Contact us today to schedule a test drive.