Mazda CX-3 (2015 – 2019) Review

Mazda expanded its SUV offering in 2015 with the Mazda CX-3, which was a smaller car than the Mazda CX-5 but did not skimp on quality or driving fun. It was pitched as a premium option with an upmarket cabin, lots of standard kit and the option of AWD. Up against the likes of the dependable Honda HR-V, good-value Skoda Karoq and stylish Toyota CH-R, the Mazda has a lot to recommend it. Read on for our full Mazda CX-3 review.

At first sight, the Mazda CX-3 looks very much like the larger Mazda CX-5, but it is appreciably smaller, with bolder lines, sleeker headlights and a more prominent grille. Inside it is very much like the Mazda 2 of the same period, with a classy, neat dashboard layout and an abundance of quality materials.

There is a standard fit seven-inch touchscreen with a rotary controller for use on the move. It’s not as slick as the touchscreen system you’d find in a Volkswagen T-Roc, but it works well enough and means there’s no mess of buttons to clutter up the centre console.

The finish is good, with plush leather or suede inlays in the doors and on the dashboard, depending on trim level, while practicality is fine for a family.

There is plenty of legroom and enough headroom for all but the tallest passengers. A 350-litre boot is about average for the class, although it has the benefit of a false floor for hiding items out of sight.

Engines include a frugal 1.5-litre diesel (later changed to a 1.8-litre) and a 2.0-litre petrol, the top version with 150PS. All of the engines give the light Mazda CX-3 punchy performance, with plenty of pace to overtake slower traffic and gearing that gives a relaxed, quiet motorway cruise, notwithstanding a little wind noise around the large door mirrors.

But it’s on a country road where the Mazda CX-3 really shines, thanks to ample grip and lively steering. It’s a fun car on a back road, with suspension that blends a comfortable ride with impressive handling and body control.

For those who live out in the wilds, there is even an all-wheel-drive variant on offer for some extra traction in poor conditions.

You are not short of choice when it comes to used SUVs, but there is no doubt the Mazda CX-3 is one of the best small SUVs on sale. 

Looking for a second opinion? Why not read heycar’s Mazda CX-3 review?

For a small SUV, Mazda’s CX-3 is surprisingly adept on the motorway. Crosswinds and inclines have no discernible affect on its stability, and it’s also very refined.

You can also have an all-wheel-drive version for even more sure-footed progress in poor weather conditions.

It’s not just at home on B-roads, though – the light, accurate gearchange and light clutch make town driving easy, while engine noise and road noise are suppressed at motorway speeds. That said, there is noticeable but unobtrusive wind noise around the door mirrors.

In 2018, the Mazda CX-3 was refreshed and the 1.5-litre improved to a 1.8-litre with 115PS

Buyers who want an automatic can choose between the 120PS petrol or 105PS diesel engines, both of which are available with a six-speed auto.

It has no real impact on emissions or economy of the petrol model, but pushes up the diesel’s emissions from 105g/km to 136g/km, and lowers fuel economy from 60.1mpg to 54.3mpg.

You’ll see much mention of the word ‘SkyActiv’ when talking about the Mazda CX-3. This is essentially Mazda’s phrase for all the technology it uses to save fuel.

It means that unlike most manufacturers, Mazda has shied away from turbocharged downsized engines and instead stuck to traditional naturally-aspirated engines.

As a result, the sole petrol engine is a 2.0-litre – available in two versions, with either 120PS or 150PS. The lower powered variant was upped to 121PS in 2018, and got an improvement in torque, too.

The petrol engine suits the Mazda CX-3, helped by a short and snappy gear shift. Despite its raised ride height, the car is very good in corners with impressive body control, yet the ride is still comfortable, so you’re not having to make sacrifices. 

High grip levels complete the picture, making for a fun-to-drive, nimble car.

The 2.0-litre 150PS engine is only available with all-wheel drive, although the system isn’t really meant for tough off-road conditions, but should at least give extra security in poor weather.

Despite the fact it’s not turbocharged, the 2.0-litre is none the worse for it.

You may expect it would suffer from a lack of torque with 204Nm, but in fact it pulls strongly in gear, so you don't have to work the engine and gearbox constantly to get meaningful performance.

Frugal and high-mileage drivers will be best off with a diesel, rather than the petrol. The 1.5d might have a lower power output, but peak torque of 270Nm, available from just 1600rpm, means it is responsive and capable, making overtaking and motorway cruising easy.

It’s also efficient with our Real MPG figures showing close to 60mpg.

When tested by Euro NCAP in 2015, the Mazda CX-3 earned a decent score of four stars.

It was held back from a higher score by not having automatic emergency braking or offering it as an option. Lane keep assistance was also optional, rather than standard.

However, the Mazda CX-3 does come with six airbags, ESP and Isofix child seat mounts in the rear bench.

The front seats were also praised by Euro NCAP for the way the protected occupants from whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision.

Hitch up the Mazda CX-3 to an unbraked trailer and you can tow between 600 and 640kg, depending on the model you are driving.

With a braked trailer, all Mazda CX-3 models are good to pull up to 1200kg.

Rear legroom and headroom are decent enough for most passengers, although taller adults will struggle for comfort on longer trips thanks to the sloping rear roofline.

The 350-litre boot has a double floor as standard, so the owner can choose between a flat load deck and a larger load area with a lip. The double floor is also handy for hiding valuables.

There’s better news in the front of the cabin, as driver and passenger are treated to lots of room. The steering wheel and seat offer plenty of adjustment, and the view out in most directions is good for the driver.

However, the sloping rear pillars can make swapping lanes on the motorway trickier than in some other small SUVs.

All models come with air-conditioning, alloy wheels, cruise control and touchscreen infotainment with Bluetooth, while upper trim grades gain extra luxuries.

These include leather/suede upholstery, a head-up display and LED lights, plus emergency braking and lane-departure warning tech for additional safety.

Material quality is good, with soft leather dashboard inlays and, on upper trim grades, suede door inlays and leather seats.

The dashboard uses a hard plastic but it feels upmarket and sturdy, rather than cheap and flimsy. This gives the Mazda CX-3 a premium feel – something sadly missing from rivals like the Nissan Juke and the Renault Captur.

The cabin of the Mazda CX-3 is very similar in style to the Mazda 2, which makes sense considering they are based on the same platform.

The dashboard is neat and comes with a seven-inch touchscreen as standard, which makes for an uncluttered centre stack with just ventilation controls.

The touchscreen is operated by a rotary controller near the gear lever and it’s very intuitive and user-friendly. It links up mobile phones via USB or Bluetooth, bringing safe social media connectivity and web radio to the cabin, as well as streaming for Spotify or other music apps.

A seven-year-old Mazda CX-3 with approximately 50,000 miles under its wheels will cost around £10,500.

This shows that the Mazda holds its value well, helped by a good reputation for reliability, dealer service and the car’s sharp looks, which are ageing well.

A four-year old Mazda CX-3 with 20,000 miles will have many years of life left in it, and should cost around £16,000 for a model with a high spec.

The 1.5 diesel version of the Mazda CX-3 was claimed to be capable of 70.6mpg combined economy.

This was under the previous testing methods, so in the real world it equates to around 57mpg according to our Real MPG figures, which is still acceptable.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine is capable of exceeding its claimed fuel consumption figure of 42.8mpg and we’ve seen returns of up to more than 48mpg with gentle use. This makes for low running costs whether you go petrol or diesel.

As most Mazda CX-3 models will have been registered from 1 April 2017 onwards, they will pay road tax at a flat rate of £180 (correct at the time of writing). Some earlier cars will pay less than this, thanks to their low CO2 emissions.

Insurance for the Mazda CX-3 should not be onerous, as the range sits in groups 13 to 19 depending on engine and trim. Nor will servicing be a drain on your bank account, with intervals at 12,500 miles.

The Mazda CX-3 SE is the entry grade and comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, and electrically adjustable and power folding door mirrors.

It also has cloth upholstery, soft-touch dashboard panel, leather steering wheel and gear lever, engine stop/start button, manual air-conditioning, cruise control with speed limiter, electric front and rear windows, a seven-inch touchscreen system with USB/AUX/Bluetooth/DAB, hill-hold assist and two Isofix mounts.

Take the Mazda CX-3 SE Nav and it comes with satellite navigation, as the name suggests.

With the Mazda CX-3 SE-L, you gain tinted rear glass, automatic lights, automatic wipers, parking sensors, heated front seats, automatic climate control, smart city braking and lane departure warning. The Mazda CX-3 SE-L Nav adds navigation.

The Mazda CX-3 Sport Nav adds 18-inch gunmetal alloy wheels, LED headlights and Adaptive Front Light system, LED signature rear lights and a reversing camera.

For the interior, there is cloth/leatherette upholstery, dark red soft-touch knee pads, dark-red leatherette door inserts, digital speedometer, head-up display, keyless entry, and a BOSE audio system specific to Mazda CX-3.