Mazda CX-3 review

Overview

The CX-3 is a small car with a taller driving position, not a cut-price version of a larger family SUV. This review covers the UK 2017-update SE-L Nav with Mazda's 120 PS petrol engine, front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual, before the 121 PS Nav+ facelift arrived in August 2018. It makes most sense for one or two people who regularly need to park in narrow spaces, but sometimes want to carry a passenger in the back. We have not driven this particular car; this is original buying analysis from Mazda's period specifications and independent UK reviews. The attraction is the combination of manageable dimensions and useful equipment without paying for the highest trim.

Exterior and interior

At 4.28 metres long, the CX-3 is easy to fit into spaces designed for ordinary hatchbacks. Its rising sides leave less glass behind the driver's shoulder, however, so sitting higher does not automatically mean you can see more when reversing. Set the seat to your normal position and look for the corner of the car before relying on the sensors. SE-L Nav uses 16-inch wheels and cloth upholstery. The separate console controller and volume dial are handy if you dislike menus for basic adjustments. On a used example, inspect the rear bumper where luggage is lifted in, the lower edges of the doors and the seat fabric next to the driver's door.

Practicality

Mazda quotes 350 litres in five-seat mode to the belt line, including underfloor storage, on the version without the Sport Nav Bose enclosure. That figure includes spaces a single large bag cannot occupy. Lift the false floor, measure the opening and see whether the item you carry every week fits with the parcel shelf in position. The rear backrest splits, but folding part of it is not a workaround if you routinely carry five people. The real limitation is the space between the back seat and a front seat adjusted for a taller driver. Bring your passengers or child seat rather than assuming five seat belts make it an equally useful substitute for a bigger SUV.

Driving experience

The ordinary petrol manual is worth a look if you want a crossover without giving up the easy gear changes of a small hatchback. Independent reviewers saw a more involving drive than the SUV silhouette might suggest, although ride comfort and rear visibility deserve a check of your own. Mazda revised the 2017 car's handling controls, but that does not make worn suspension or poorly matched tyres acceptable. Drive the car over a broken town street and then along a faster road, checking whether it feels settled and whether you can judge its corners. We would favour a sound car on the original 16-inch wheel size over an example bought for a sporty appearance alone.

Performance

The 2.0-litre petrol makes 120 PS, equivalent to roughly 118 bhp. Mazda's UK brochure gives 9.0 seconds from rest to 62 mph for the front-wheel-drive manual. The 120 PS automatic and 150 PS all-wheel-drive car are separate specifications, and that time should not be used for either. This engine is naturally aspirated, so expect to change down rather than rely on a rush of turbo torque in a high gear. When the car is warm, take a normal uphill section and decide if the response suits you. Judge the clutch and shift quality as part of that drive; a published acceleration time tells you little about an older vehicle's condition.

Fuel economy

The manufacturer's combined figure for this manual is 47.9 imperial mpg on the older NEDC cycle. It is not equivalent to a later WLTP result, nor a promise of the mileage you will see between fill-ups. We use 40 mpg for the running-cost scenario, with a separate sensitivity check if your day is mainly short cold trips. At 35 mpg rather than 40, the same 8,000 miles and assumed fuel price add about £190 a year. If you only make local journeys, assess annual fuel cost rather than rejecting a well-kept petrol car on its laboratory number. For clean-air charging zones, check the individual registration rather than using fuel type as a shortcut.

Reliability

A naturally aspirated petrol manual is an intelligible used proposition, but we have not used a fleet failure-rate dataset for this exact specification. Our reliability opinion has limited confidence. Evidence of regular maintenance is worth more than a verbal claim that the car has never had trouble. Compare bills with the MOT mileage history and inspect any gaps, then check for clutch judder, difficult gear selection, warning lights, noisy wheel bearings and uneven tyre wear on a proper test drive. These are inspection priorities, not claims that the model is prone to every listed fault. A dealer or independent specialist should be able to explain exactly what has been done and what will be due next.

Safety

Euro NCAP's 2015 assessment relates to the original CX-3 and used a left-hand-drive 2.0 test car. Its historical rating has expired; it does not answer how a particular 2017 car would perform under today's tests. Mazda's UK 2017 equipment table lists a city braking system and lane departure warning on SE-L Nav, but those are aids rather than substitutes for driver attention. Check whether the dashboard reports a camera or airbag fault and ask for the repair record if the windscreen has been replaced. Verify child-seat fit from the car's handbook and actual anchor positions. Use the government recall service and ask Mazda to confirm outstanding work against the VIN.

Technology and features

On the selected UK SE-L Nav, rear parking sensors, heated front seats and ordinary cruise control are factory features. The original seven-inch system offers navigation, DAB and Bluetooth; none of those proves that the car has Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Both phone interfaces stay conditional here because a compatible retrofit has to be confirmed on the vehicle. Connect your own phone, place a call and check that the maps display while parked. Rear sensors are not a reversing camera, which belonged to higher equipment in the original range. If a listing mentions adaptive cruise, ask the seller to show the corresponding controls and build details rather than treating conventional speed hold as the same function.

Running costs

Use £5,000–£10,000 as a November 2026 shopping envelope, not a live valuation or a claim that cars are available at either boundary. At 8,000 miles, 40 imperial mpg and an assumed £1.45 per litre, fuel costs about £1,320. Allow a rounded £250 for tax and £550–£950 for routine servicing, MOT and consumables, giving about £2,100–£2,550 a year before insurance, depreciation, finance and larger repairs. Check the real tax figure and get your own insurance quote before comparing it with a smaller hatchback. If the car needs tyres and an overdue service immediately, include that money in your offer calculation rather than using the entire budget for purchase.

Advantages and disadvantages