Compare the2026 Mazda CX-30VS 2025 BMW X1

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-30 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mazda CX-30 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the CX-30 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X1 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 X1 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the CX-30 and the X1 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 BMW X1:

	CX-30	X1
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	148	223
Neck Injury Risk	26.7%	35.1%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	299 lbs.
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	77 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/172 lbs.	363/373 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	179	311
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.5 inches
Neck Compression	85 lbs.	102 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/386 lbs.	395/452 lbs.

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

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 BMW X1:

	CX-30	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	77
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	239 lbs.	330 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	623 lbs.	676 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	161	230
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	42 G’s

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 X1:

	CX-30	X1
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	89	107
Head Peak Forces	no contact	48 G’s
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	.94 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	245 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	144	173
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Neck Compression	67 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.14 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	379 lbs.	959 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 1.9% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the X1.

The Mazda CX-30 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The X1 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

Warranty

Mazda’s powertrain warranty covers the CX-30 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X1. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X1 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 54 percent more Mazda dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the CX-30’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-30’s reliability 23 points higher than the X1.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 28 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 9th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 2 places higher in reliability than BMW.

Engine

The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 295) than the X1 M35i xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the CX-30 with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the X1 M35i (24 city/31 hwy vs. 23 city/31 hwy).

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 X1 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-30 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X1 M35i xDrive requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the CX-30’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the X1’s (34.8 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

Chassis

The Mazda CX-30 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 350 pounds less than the BMW X1.

The CX-30 is 4.2 inches shorter than the X1 xDrive28i, making the CX-30 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Ergonomics

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 X1’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the CX-30 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X1 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The X1’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The CX-30 Premium/Turbo Aire’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The CX-30’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The X1 doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Mazda CX-30 retains 60.49% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 49.64% resale value of the 2025 BMW X1 after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $11599.825854 in depreciation.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-30 and the BMW X1, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-30 outsold the BMW X1 by almost four to one during 2024.

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