Compare the2026 Mazda CX-30VS 2025 Nissan Kicks Play

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
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 Nissan Kicks Play doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear 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 Kicks Play 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 Kicks Play doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The CX-30 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Mazda CX-30 has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer Daytime Running Lights.

The CX-30 Premium/Turbo Aire has a standard 360° View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Kicks Play only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

The CX-30 has standard E911 Automatic Emergency Notification, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a GPS response system, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the CX-30 and the Kicks Play have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Mazda CX-30 weighs 644 to 842 pounds more than the Nissan Kicks Play. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 Play:

	CX-30	Kicks Play
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	148	191
Neck Injury Risk	26.7%	32%
Neck Stress	216 lbs.	374 lbs.
Neck Compression	18 lbs.	27 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/172 lbs.	343/312 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
HIC	179	326
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	33.5%	79%
Neck Stress	172 lbs.	392 lbs.
Neck Compression	85 lbs.	138 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 Nissan Kicks Play:

	CX-30	Kicks Play
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	139
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.9 inches
Hip Force	239 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	121	318
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	47 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	161	218

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

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 Kicks Play has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 6 places higher in reliability than Nissan.

Engine

The CX-30’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 64 more horsepower (186 vs. 122) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (186 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder. The CX-30’s optional 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 128 more horsepower (250 vs. 122) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (320 vs. 114) than the Kicks Play’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder.

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

	CX-30 4 cyl.	CX-30 turbo 4 cyl.	Kicks Play
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	6.8 sec	10.5 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	15.1 sec	18 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.3 MPH	91.4 MPH	77.5 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 Play doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The CX-30 has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Kicks Play (12.7 vs. 10.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the CX-30’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Kicks Play:

	CX-30	Kicks Play
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	10.4 inches	8” drums
Opt Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	11 inches

The Mazda CX-30 has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Rear drums are standard on the Kicks Play. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The CX-30 stops much shorter than the Kicks Play:

	CX-30	Kicks Play
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	190 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the CX-30 has larger tires than the Kicks Play (215/65R16 vs. 205/60R16).

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Kicks Play’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium has standard 18-inch wheels. The Kicks Play’s largest wheels are only 16-inches.

The Mazda CX-30’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Nissan Kicks Play only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-30’s wheelbase is 1.3 inches longer than on the Kicks Play (104.4 inches vs. 103.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the CX-30 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the Kicks Play.

The CX-30 2.5 S Premium handles at .84 G’s, while the Kicks Play pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-30 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the Kicks Play (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 29.2 seconds @ .55 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-30 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Kicks Play (8 vs. 7 inches), allowing the CX-30 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The CX-30 has 3.7 inches more front hip room, 2.6 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 4.1 inches more rear hip room and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Kicks Play.

Cargo Capacity

The CX-30 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Kicks Play with its rear seat folded (45.2 vs. 32.3 cubic feet).

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 Play doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Ergonomics

The CX-30 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Play 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 Play doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The CX-30’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Kicks Play has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The power windows standard on both the CX-30 and the Kicks Play have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the CX-30 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Kicks Play prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

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

On a hot day the CX-30’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Kicks Play can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Play’s power lock 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 Play’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The CX-30’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Kicks Play’s halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

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 Play doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the CX-30 has standard extendable sun visors. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

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

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Kicks Play.

On extremely cold winter days, the CX-30 Turbo/Premium’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

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 Play doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the CX-30 Select/Preferred/Carbon/Aire/Premium has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer rear vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the CX-30 has a standard Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the CX-30 Premium. The CX-30’s navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Kicks Play doesn’t offer a navigation system.

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 Play doesn’t offer a voice control system.

Compared to the Nissan Kicks Play’s traditional radio, the Mazda CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mazda CX-30 offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Kicks Play doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

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

The Mazda CX-30 outsold the Nissan Kicks Play by 23% during 2024.

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