| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Extremely fun to drive | Cramped rear seat | The 2020 Mazda CX-3 hasn't changed much mechanically or aesthetically compared to the previous year model apart from a few changes |
Premium interior quality | Poor cargo capacity | The lineup being reduced to just one trim level, more standard features onboard, and inclusion of connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
Powerful and punchy engine | Stiff suspension | |
Good fuel economy | ||
One of the most affordable options in the class |
$20,640
price148 hp @ 6000 rpm
horsepower146 lb.-ft. @ 2800 rpm
torque6-Speed Shiftable Automatic
transmission2.0L 4cyl FWD 6A
engine-
basic warrantyCompact crossover SUVs have become some of the best-selling cars in recent years due to the convenience and practicality that they offer. These SUVs are small, nimble, have enough grunt for their size, and offer better fuel economy than most other genres of cars. The Mazda CX-3 was born as a product of the demand for compact crossover SUVs and has been one of the best cars in the class due to the number of features as well as practicality that it brings in.
The 2020 Mazda CX-3 only comes in a single trim which is named ‘Sport’ that offers a plethora of features and creature comforts that make sure that you don’t feel the need for an upgrade. It is priced attractively, offers a good number of features and you also get to choose between FWD and an AWD drivetrain option.
The CX-3 is the smallest car in the Mazda lineup and certainly the cheapest, but don’t be concerned about it not having Mazda’s unique traits as it has a plethora of them in and around it. Prices for the 2020 Mazda CX-3 start at a base price of $21,740 and it competes with the Toyota C-HR, the Honda HR-V, and the Chevrolet Trax in the compact crossover SUV class.
The Mazda CX-3 initially came in 3 trim levels which were named Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring respectively. The inception of the Mazda CX-30 meant that the CX-3 is now left with just the Sport trim from the 2020 model year version. But that doesn’t make the Mazda CX-3 less attractive as Mazda has made sure to stuff in as many features as they can into the Sport trim while keeping the prices as low as possible. The only choice of options remains to choose between the FWD or AWD drivetrain options.
|
Trim |
Sport |
|---|---|
|
MSRP (FWD) |
$21,740 |
|
MSRP (AWD) |
$23,140 |
|
Key Features |
LED headlights with auto-leveling |
|
An adaptive front lighting system |
|
|
Automatic climate control with pollen filter |
|
|
The electronic parking brake with auto-hold |
|
|
High beam control |
|
|
Blind-spot monitoring system |
|
|
The 7-inch color touchscreen infotainment display |
The CX-3 is fully-loaded vis a vis the price point it comes in and to add to that, the Japanese car manufacturer also pairs in certain packages and options to aid the customization, of which the most popular option is the roof rack side rails and the rear parking sensors which add a lot to the practicality of the crossover.
Which trim should you buy?
The 2020 Mazda CX-3 only comes in a single trim which is named ‘Sport’ that offers a plethora of features and creature comforts that make sure that you don’t feel the need for an upgrade. It is priced attractively, offers a good number of features and you also get to choose between FWD and an AWD drivetrain option.
The Skyactiv-G engine series are known for their ability to pump out really good performance while also keeping the fuel economy as possible and the CX-3’s engine is no different. It offers the best in class fuel economy with a combined MPG figure of 31. It also gets a 12.7-gallon fuel tank capacity which allows you to take the CX-3 on long journeys without a doubt as it offers a combined range of 393.7 miles on a full tank of fuel.
|
Models |
2020 Mazda CX-3 |
2020 Toyota C-HR |
2020 Honda HR-V |
2020 Chevrolet Trax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
29 |
27 |
28 |
26 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
34 |
31 |
34 |
31 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
31 |
29 |
30 |
28 |
|
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
12.7 |
13.2 |
13.2 |
14.0 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined; Miles) |
368/432/394 |
356/409/383 |
370/449/396 |
364/434/392 |
The CX-3’s fuel economy is certainly the best in class, but the Honda HR-V with its 13.2-gallon fuel tank capacity offers the highest range by a fraction of a difference compared to the CX-3. With a similar tank capacity as the HR-V, the C-HR reports a lower range than Honda, while the Chevrolet Trax comes somewhere in between.
The interior of the 2020 Mazda CX-3 too is stylish and intriguing just like its exterior. The interior design layout has a minimalistic appeal to it with a lot of elements kept really simple and easy to handle.The dashboard layout is one of the best designs in the class as it stays low in front of the driver hence increasing the visibility and aesthetics of the interior. The material used on the doors and dashboard surface is soft to touch and hence adds to the premium feel of the interior. The front seats are nice and comfortable with 6-way manual adjustability.
The seats have cloth upholstery and are decently wide and spacious. There are an armrest in the center and 2 cup holders as well. The air conditioning unit is an automatic climate control unit that works efficiently in cooling and ventilating the cabin. The rear seats are 60-40 split-bench seats with an armrest in the center. The space in the second row feels a bit less compared to the rest of the competition. The cargo capacity is decent at 17.8 cubic feet of volume behind the second-row seat and about 42.7 cubic feet of space behind the front row seats.
|
Models |
2020 Mazda CX-3 |
2020 Toyota C-HR |
2020 Honda HR-V |
2020 Chevrolet Trax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Legroom; inches) |
38.4/53.5/41.7 |
38.1/49.0/43.5 |
39.5/56.8/41.2 |
39.6/54.1/40.8 |
|
Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Legroom; inches) |
37.2/50.4/35 |
38.3 52.5/31.7 |
38.3/54.5/39.3 |
38.8/52.8/35.7 |
|
Cargo Capacity (cubic feet) |
17.8 |
19.1 |
24.3 |
18.7 |
The CX-3 certainly is roomy in the front row, but the second row might feel cramped and the cargo capacity also isn’t great. These seem to be the only major drawbacks on the CX-3’s part. The Honda HR-V certainly proves to be the most spacious car in the class.Some of the standout interior features in the CX-3 are as follows:
The 2020 Mazda CX-3 comes with the latest and updated MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system. The fact that Mazda offers their best infotainment system in their entry-level car certainly shows their commitment towards customers in giving the most value for the offered money. The infotainment display is a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment display that also gets a knob to control the screen.
The addition of a rotary knob for controlling the screen makes it a lot easier while driving at high speeds. The audio system is of good quality and gets 6 speakers. The CX-3 also has a host of other features such as Aha internet radio and Pandora internet radio. There are connectivity features such as Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.Some of the highlights of the infotainment system are as follows:
The CX-3’s nimble handling and compact feel come from its platform that it shares with the Mazda 2. The front grille and the headlamps give the CX-3 its unmistakable Mazda look.The tall boy stance along with the higher seating position helps in navigating through traffic and makes it easier to drive.
The short wheelbase aids the cornering ability and helps reduce the turning radius. The wheels are 16-inch ones and although they suit the CX-3 very well, a set of larger wheels certainly could have added some flair to the exterior.
|
Models |
2020 Mazda CX-3 |
2020 Toyota C-HR |
2020 Honda HR-V |
2020 Chevrolet Trax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
2,851 |
3,300 |
2,906 |
2,805 |
|
Length (inches) |
168.3 |
172.6 |
170.4 |
167.6 |
|
Width (inches) |
69.6 |
70.7 |
69.8 |
69.9 |
|
Height (inches) |
60.7 |
61.6 |
63.2 |
64.9 |
|
Ground Clearance (inches) |
6.1 |
5.9 |
7.3 |
6.2 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
101.2 |
103.9 |
102.8 |
100.6 |
The CX-3 has one of the shortest wheelbases, curb weight, and overall lengths in the class which when looked upon from a handling point of view really helps, but it does reduce the interior space. The Honda HR-V seems to have a perfect form and shape as its wheelbase and curb weight are neither too little nor too much while it has the best ground clearance in the class.Some of the standout exterior features are as follows:
Apart from being full of various exterior and interior features, the CX-3 also has earned a reputation for being one of the safest compact SUVs out there. It gets an excellent overall safety rating of 5 stars as per the NHTSA records and the IIHS records suggest the same results too. Along with being structurally safe, the Mazda CX-3 also has some of the best-in-class safety features that truly make it stand apart. Some of these safety features include Blind-Spot Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning System, Rear Collision Warning System, and so on.Some of the standout safety features are as follows:
The Toyota C-HR gets some mixed reactions when it comes to its exterior and interior designing. The styling might seem striking, but the performance definitely isn’t. The C-HR’s engine feels underpowered and the CVT doesn’t fulfill the needs of an exciting driving experience. For a lesser retail price, the CX-3 offers a lot more when compared to the Toyota C-HR and hence turns out to be the right choice to go for.
The Honda HR-V certainly turns out to be the toughest rival to the CX-3 as it leaves the CX-3 behind when it comes to the exterior as well as interior features and practicality quotient. The HR-V offers a lot more in these aspects but the CX-3 stays ahead when the handling and powertrain performance is taken into consideration.
The HR-V might be costlier than the CX-3, but it turns out to be a great value for money car as it offers certain practical features that the CX-3 lacks.
There seems to be nothing noteworthy to quote about the Chevrolet Trax. It seems to be the product of Chevrolet’s attempt at being present in a class that is filled with options and tons of demands.The Trax doesn’t bring much to the table when it comes to features or practicality and hence it seems to be one of the last options in the class that people would prefer. The CX-3 on the other hand is an example of what a car in this class should be and that sets the bar straight for the CX-3.
The compact crossover SUV class is one of the busiest segments in the industry today with a lot of changes and things happening. To be a car worthy of each and every penny a customer pays is a much harder reputation to achieve in this class than any other, but Mazda seems to have cracked the code with the CX-3. The Mazda CX-3 is undoubtedly one of the best cars in the class which is worthy of the money spent on it. It does have its drawbacks regarding interior space and trunk capacity, but the rest of the attributes are definitely second to none.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #17 | 8.9 sec | 16.6 sec | - | |||
2020 Ford Explorer Ranked #1 | 5.9 sec | 14.4 sec | 142 mph | |||
2020 Honda Passport Ranked #2 | 6.1 sec | 14.7 sec | 112 mph | |||
2020 BMW X1 Ranked #3 | 6.6 sec | 15.3 sec | 127 mph | |||
2020 Cadillac XT4 Ranked #3 | 6.6 sec | - | - | |||
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class Ranked #4 | 6.78 sec | - | - |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #2 | 29 mpg | 34 mpg | 31 mpg | 12.7 gal. | 368.3/431.8 mi. | |||
2020 Kia Niro Ranked #1 | 51 mpg | 46 mpg | 49 mpg | 11.9 gal. | 606.90/547.40 mi. | |||
2020 Hyundai Venue Ranked #3 | 27 mpg | 35 mpg | 30 mpg | 11.9 gal. | 321.3/416.5 mi. | |||
2020 Hyundai Kona Ranked #3 | 27 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | 13.2 gal. | 356.4/435.6 mi. | |||
2020 Honda HR-V Ranked #3 | 28 mpg | 34 mpg | 30 mpg | 13.2 gal. | 369.6/448.8 mi. | |||
2020 Subaru Outback Ranked #4 | 26 mpg | 33 mpg | 29 mpg | 18.5 gal. | 481/610.5 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #28 | 168.3 in. | 69.6 in. | 60.7 in. | 6.1 in. | 101.2 in. | |||
2020 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #1 | 199.4 in. | 77.5 in. | 69 in. | 8.8 in. | 115.3 in. | |||
2020 Ford Explorer Ranked #2 | 198.8 in. | 78.9 in. | 69.9 in. | 7.9 in. | 119.1 in. | |||
2020 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #3 | 198.5 in. | 77.3 in. | 69.5 in. | 7 in. | 114.2 in. | |||
2020 Kia Telluride Ranked #4 | 196.9 in. | 78.3 in. | 68.9 in. | 8 in. | 114.2 in. | |||
2020 Honda Pilot Ranked #5 | 196.5 in. | 78.6 in. | 70.6 in. | 7.3 in. | 111 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #29 | 17.8 cu.ft. | 87.6 cu.ft. | 42.7 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Mazda CX-30 Ranked #1 | 20.2 cu.ft. | 94.1 cu.ft. | 148.9 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Buick Encore Ranked #2 | 18.8 cu.ft. | 92.8 cu.ft. | 48.4 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Buick Encore GX Ranked #2 | 23.5 cu.ft. | 94.3 cu.ft. | 50.2 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #2 | 47.2 cu.ft. | - | 89.7 cu.ft. | |||
2020 Kia Telluride Ranked #3 | 21 cu.ft. | - | 87 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #1 | 4.4 cu.ft. | 17.8 cu.ft. | 42.7 cu.ft. | - | |||
2020 BMW X1 Ranked #2 | 13.3 cu.ft. | 27.1 cu.ft. | 58.7 cu.ft. | - | |||
2020 Buick Encore Ranked #3 | 89.7 cu.ft. | 18.8 cu.ft. | 48.4 cu.ft. | 74 ft. | |||
2020 Fiat 500X Ranked #4 | 83.1 cu.ft. | 14.1 cu.ft. | 39.8 cu.ft. | 82 ft. | |||
2020 Jeep Renegade Ranked #5 | 50.8 cu.ft. | 18.5 cu.ft. | 50.8 cu.ft. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2020 Toyota Highlander Ranked #6 | 84.3 cu.ft. | 16 cu.ft. | 84.3 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 Mazda CX-3 Ranked #17 | 1038 lbs. | 989 lbs. | 2851 lbs. | |||
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #1 | 6200 lbs. | 1180 lbs. | 4513 lbs. | Jeep USA | ||
2020 Ford Explorer Ranked #2 | 5300 lbs. | 1425 lbs. | 4345 lbs. | |||
2020 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #3 | 5000 lbs. | 1700 lbs. | 4400 lbs. | |||
2020 Hyundai Palisade Ranked #3 | 5000 lbs. | 1605 lbs. | 4127 lbs. | |||
2020 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #3 | 5000 lbs. | 1699 lbs. | 4287 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: July 23, 2024
Overall I love my car cause it's reliable and saves a lot of gas . No problems what do ever with it . And I couldn't ask for anything better .. great interior quality. don't have to waste much money for gas
