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Ford Bronco vs Mazda CX-30

2026 Ford Bronco vs 2026 Mazda CX-30 — two small SUVs compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Ford Bronco

2026 Ford Bronco

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD
VS0 – 6Mazda CX-30 wins 6 of 6 categories
Mazda CX-30

2026 Mazda CX-30

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Mazda CX-30 is more fuel-efficient: 27 vs 20 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $850 a year less in fuel for the Mazda CX-30 (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Mazda CX-30 is the bigger car, about 8 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Mazda CX-30 has had fewer recall campaigns (7 vs 50).

The two cars

The 2026 Ford Bronco is a small SUV offered with 3 engines (2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and part-time 4-wheel drive. It measures about 165 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 100-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,288 lb (2dr 2.3l SUV).

The 2026 Mazda CX-30 is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.5L 4-cyl turbo) and 4-wheel drive. It measures about 173 inches long and 71 inches wide on a 104-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,342 lb (Cx30 4dr SUV AWD).

Buying used? The 2024 Bronco and the 2023 CX-30 have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2021 CX-30.

Basics

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.3L 4-cyl turbo, 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl turbo
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
4-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

20 MPG
Best combined MPG
27 MPG
19 city
City / highway MPG (best)
24 city
$3,350
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,500

Performance & space

–
Horsepower (most powerful)
186 hp
–
Seats (most)
5
165 in
Length
172.8 in
79.5 in
Width
70.9 in
72 in
Height
61.8 in
4,288 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,146 lb

Safety & reliability

11
Driver-assist features standard
12
9
Recalls (2026)
0
50
Recalls, all years since 2005
7
11
Owner complaints (latest year)
4

Interest

26,704
Wikipedia views, 30 days
8,173

Buying used

2024
Best used year
2023
–
Year to avoid
2021

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Ford Bronco if…

  • You want something easier to park (8 in shorter)

Choose the Mazda CX-30 if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (27 vs 20 MPG)
  • You want more room (8 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (7 vs 50 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Ford Bronco

  • Lots of standard safety tech4 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 20 MPG combined, 23% below the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG.
  • 9 recallsMore than similar models (about 1). Confirm repairs with the VIN.

2026 Mazda CX-30

  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Full 2026 Ford Bronco specs →Full 2026 Mazda CX-30 specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →