For 2018, low-speed automatic emergency braking is standard across the CX-3 lineup. Mazda says it has revised the CX-3's suspension to improve handling and ride quality and added more sound-reducing materials to make the CX-3 quieter. Small changes have been made to feature availability.
PROS Attractive and comfortable interior Engaging driving experience Impressive fuel economy for a crossover Good selection of available driver aids and active safety features
CONS Suspension tuning may be too firm for some Tight rear seat Below-average cargo space
The 2018 Mazda CX-3 ranked #2 in Subcompact SUVs. Currently the Mazda CX-3 has a score of 8.3 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 32 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Sporty handling Great gas mileage Upmarket interior
Cons Limited cargo room Small back seat Below-average predicted reliability rating
One spirited drive behind the wheel of the CX-3 will have even the keenest driving enthusiasts singing its praises. We’ve come to expect playful driving dynamics, eager powertrains, and driver-focused interiors from Mazda—it’s the zoom-zoom brand, after all—and this subcompact crossover doesn’t disappoint. Once its practicality is under the microscope, however, the CX-3’s shine starts to fade. It’s small. Shoppers who prioritize cargo space and room for passengers would be better served by many of the CX-3’s rivals, or even a Mazda 3 hatchback. Even so, the CX-3 is on our short list of great crossovers, even if it’s solely for its corner-carving expertise and its fun-loving character.
Pros Sweetest-driving mini crossover around, class-leading fuel economy, eye-catching style.
Cons Cramped rear seat, limited cargo capacity, dawdling infotainment responses.
Not only is the MX-30 an all-new model for Mazda, it marks the first time the Japanese automaker has experimented with an all-electric powertrain. It's similarly sized to the current CX-3 and the upcoming CX-30 crossovers, but borrows the MX nomenclature of the MX-5 Miata, giving us hope that it will be a performance-oriented option in the electric-SUV marketplace.
Another day, another electric vehicle. This time around it's from Mazda, and it blends all the hallmarks of a sporty city SUV with a fully-electric heart. The MX-30 debuts Mazda's pure-electric e-SkyActiv platform, along with a number of new interior technologies likely to filter through the rest of the Japanese brand's line-up in due course. The all-electric MX-30 is part of Mazda's plan to offer an e-SkyActiv (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric) vehicle in each of its model lines by 2030. That includes everything from the Mazda 2 through to the dual-cab BT-50 replacement.
Mazda could have played it safe with this one but it didn't. Instead, it went bold. Rugged, in fact. All the more impressive is the fact that the all-new 2021 Mazda MX-30 is the Japanese automaker's first-ever all-electric vehicle. Going bold is something GM, for example, never would have done. Just look at the Chevrolet Bolt. The new MX-30, by contrast, has unique styling inside and out that may not be to everyone's liking. Mazda has been repositioning itself over the past few years as a more premium brand overall, and the MX-30's slightly more rugged look is not what everyone expected. But it also serves as the ideal gateway model for the brand as it takes its first step towards all-out electrification. The question is whether the MX-30 can successfully challenge the likes of the popular Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and even the upcoming BMW iX3.