Mazda is on a roll introducing aesthetically interesting new cars and SUVs. Check out the Mazda6; it looks right as rain. The all-new Mazda CX-3 is no different. Mazda’s design team takes what could have been a bland, uninteresting subcompact SUV and crafts a stunner out of the awkwardly small proportions.
There is no bad angle to view the CX-3 from when you check it out in person. The front styling, profile and rear have a continual design flow from front to back that’s attractive and cohesive. The attention to detail up front is surprisingly impressive for a small SUV, showing off a more upscale appearance than some of its competitors like the Jeep Renegade, Chevrolet Trax and Honda HR-V.
Mazda isn’t well known for high-quality interiors in its least-expensive cars, but it looks like the automaker is coming around with the CX-3’s accent stitching, contrasting door panel colors and higher-quality materials. The refreshed 2016 Mazda6 and CX-5 wear similar upgrades.
I’m not convinced that the floating multimedia display is the way to go, however; it looks bulky on top of an otherwise sleek dashboard.
Comfort also isn’t bad up front where forward visibility looks to be wide open, though out back it could be tight with the thick rear body pillars and small windows. The big question in this pint-sized SUV is the rear seat and cargo room.
The CX-3’s backseat and cargo room are tight without question. While not uncomfortable, my 6-foot, slender frame was snug in the backseat with little headroom to spare. If you’re going to sit in the backseat with someone, you’d better hope that you’re comfortable with him or her, and that they’ve showered. It’s an intimate experience and tighter than the Mazda3’s backseat. Mazda also positioned the seats inward to give passengers a better forward view of the road.
The CX-3 doesn’t sit too high off the ground for an SUV with available all-wheel drive. It’s one of the lowest, sleekest small SUVs I’ve seen and has a great ground-hugging stance. That doesn’t mean it’s easy to get in and out of, though. The wheel well takes up entry and exit space.
