2025 Nissan Kicks Play vs 2025 Mazda CX-30 in Toronto, ON

Blog Jul 29th, 2025

2025 Nissan Kicks Play vs 2025 Mazda CX-30 at Avenue Nissan

The 2025 Nissan Kicks Play and the 2025 Mazda CX-30 are two popular picks in the compact crossover segment. Both of them seat five, offer modern styling, and come loaded with tech that make your everyday driving easier. But when you dig a little deeper, the differences start to show. The Nissan Kicks Play focuses on value, fuel efficiency, and smart use of space. And the Mazda CX-30 offers more power and a slightly more upscale feel, with a higher price tag and fuel costs. So, which one should you choose? That’s what we’re here to find out. Continue reading with our team at Avenue Nissan as we break down design, performance, tech, and overall value to help you decide which SUV comes out on top.

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Practical Design

Both the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play and the Mazda CX-30 seat five passengers, but when it comes to comfort, the Kicks Play shows off Nissan’s attention to detail.

Inside the Kicks Play, you’ll find Zero Gravity front seats, inspired by NASA tech to support a more natural sitting position. It might sound futuristic, but it really just means more comfort on longer drives. Add in the leather-wrapped heated steering wheel and heated front seats, and you get a cozy cabin that can handle any weather in Toronto. Space-wise, with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down, there’s up to 915 litres to work with in the Kicks Play. Even with the rear seats upright, it still offers 716 litres, which beats the Mazda CX-30’s 572 litres in that same setup. A built-in cargo cover also helps keep your items tucked away and secure.

As for the 2025 Mazda CX-30, it also comes standard with heated front seats and offers more total cargo space with the seats folded flat (1,280 litres). But what if you’re carrying both passengers and gear? In most cases, the Kicks Play makes better use of space in day-to-day situations.

Performance

When it comes to performance, the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play delivers power with a focus on efficiency and control. Every Kicks Play comes equipped with a 1.6-litre DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine that generates 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque. And thanks to smart tech like Active Ride Control, Intelligent Trace Control, and Intelligent Engine Brake, the Kicks lets you drive with a more stable and precise feeling on the road. Another big win every Toronto driver can appreciate is its fuel economy score, with a rating of 7.7 L/100 km in the city and 6.6 L/100 km on the highway.

Switch over to the 2025 Mazda CX-30, and it offers more power across the board, which features a 2.5-litre engine that produces 191 horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque. If you upgrade to the turbo version, you’ll get 250 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque. Of course, that extra power comes at a cost. The CX-30’s fuel economy is rated at 10.5 L/100 km in the city and 7.9 L/100 km on the highway, which is noticeably thirstier than the Kicks Play.

Let’s do some math here: if you mostly drive in the city, covering around 12,000 kilometres a year and gas averages $1.50 per litre, the 2025 Kicks Play would cost you about $1,386 per year in fuel. Compare that to the Mazda CX-30’s higher average, and you’re looking at $1,890 annually at the pump. So if fuel savings matter most to you, the answer is clear.

Engine Specs	Kicks Play	CX-30
Horsepower (hp)	122	191/250
Torque (lb-ft)	114	186/320
Fuel Economy (City/Hwy L/100 km)	7.7/6.6	10.5/7.9
Annual Fuel Cost	$1,386	$1,890

Technology

Both the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play and Mazda CX-30 deliver a modern digital experience that keeps you connected on the go. Each one features a digital gauge display, a touchscreen infotainment system, and support for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can access your apps, maps, and music hands-free using voice commands. Below, we’ve broken down some of the other tech features from each:

Nissan Kicks Play Technology Highlights:

NissanConnect
Nissan Safety Shield 360
Intelligent Cruise Control
Nissan Intelligent Key
And More

Mazda CX-30 Technology Highlights:

Mazda Connect
Keyless Entry
i-Activsense
Mazda Radar Cruise Control
Active Driving Display

Shop the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play at Avenue Nissan

Both the 2025 Nissan Kicks Play and Mazda CX-30 bring a lot of awesome features to the table, but which one fits you best comes down what you value most. If fuel efficiency, smart tech, and clever interior space are high on your list, the Kicks Play is worth a test drive. But don’t just take our word for it, and you can stop by Avenue Nissan to experience it for yourself because a test drive can tell you more than any spec sheet ever could. View our current Kicks Play inventory online, or connect with our team if you have any questions.