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2020 Mazda CX-3

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Make
Mazda
Model
CX-3
Year
2020
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Mazda CX-3 OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior
OEM Exterior
OEM Interior
Photos Colors
Expert Rating
2.9 (Fair)

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2020 Sport 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sport Utility
most popular
Price:   -  From $20,640
2020 Sport 4dr i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive Sport Utility Price:   -  From $22,040

Overview

What's New

The 2020 Mazda CX-3 sees few additional changes following last year's significant mid-cycle refresh. Importantly, the CX-3 receives standard Apple Car Play and Android Auto for the new model year. The automaker's i-Activsense suite of active safety features is also newly standard, bringing adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and more.

The stylish subcompact crossover is destined for city life, but its available all-wheel drive allows the call of the wild to be answered, occasionally.

Choosing Your Mazda CX-3

The CX-3 is available in only available in one trim for the 2020 model year: Sport. It starts at $21,740 including destination.

Engine Choices

All CX-3 models are equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 148 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque low in the rev range – ideal for scooting around in traffic.

A six-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels. An all-wheel-drive system is available for $1,400, giving it a leg up on some of its two-wheel-drive-only competitors.

The CX-3 runs on regular gas and earns an EPA-estimated 29 miles per gallon city, 34 mpg highway, and 31 combined. AWD reduces those figures by two mpg across the board.

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

Though the CX-3 is designed to be tidy enough for the city, its overall dimensions aren't the smallest of its competitors. It can seat five passengers and has a cargo space with 17.8 cubic feet. Fold the rear seat down, and this expands to 42.7 cubic feet.

Mazda CX-3

Safety Features

The Mazda CX-3 comes standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.

The NHTSA awards the CX-3 with a five-star overall safety rating, and IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick Plus, the highest possible designation in both cases.

Connectivity

Mazda supplies the CX-3 with a 7-inch touchscreen that also utilizes a remote control mounted between the driver and passenger seats. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are newly standard for 2020, joining Pandora, Bluetooth, and USB compatibility.

Mazda CX-3

Sport - From $21,740

The CX-3 Sport wears 16-inch alloy wheels, body-colored mirrors with integrated turn signals, LED headlights that are adaptive, automatic high beams, a rear roofline spoiler, and dual exhaust outlets for a more-than-base outward appearance.

Inside, buyers are treated to push-button start, automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, cloth seats, and a six-way manually-adjustable driver's seat.

Compare CX-3 Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

The 2020 Mazda CX-3 blends the automaker's elegant design theme with high-quality exterior features and interior materials. This year, the CX-3 is easier to configure than ever, with all-wheel drive and the exterior color being the only choice buyers have to make.

author image
Automotive Editor
Read Less

Expert Review

Pros
  • Great handling
  • Tidy size
  • Good fuel economy
Cons
  • Tight rear seat
  • Limited cargo space
  • New CX-30 a better value
Expert Rating
2.9 (Fair)

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

Name game. Despite the introduction of the new Mazda CX-30, Mazda continues to offer the smaller and slightly more affordable CX-3. This might seem odd, especially if you focus on the nomenclature, but the CX-3 does retain its own appeal.

The 2020 Mazda CX-3 is cheaper, for one, and its smaller size might make it just a tad more manageable in the city. However, we doubt the 5-inch difference in length will be the distinction between a perfect parking maneuver and a love tap.

Too-similar names aside, the CX-3 is a typical compact crossover: a practical urban runabout that's thrifty at the pump and not expensive to buy. And in proper Mazda fashion, there's some verve to be found behind the wheel that's absent in most competitors.

Thrifty four-cylinder engine. Every CX-3 is equipped with the same powertrain: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that's naturally aspirated (re: no turbocharger) and paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The combo is good for 148 horsepower, which proves to be adequate thanks to a curb weight of fewer than 3,000 pounds.

Don't mistake adequate for peppy, though. There's enough responsiveness to make stoplight takeoffs and highway passing drama-free exercises, but the pace is never much better than leisurely.

That said, such performance is about on par for this class of crossover. And though 0-60 mph takes at least eight seconds to accomplish, it actually remains one of the faster options in the segment. Others, such as the Ford Ecosport and Toyota C-HR, are even slower, taking 10 seconds or better to do the deed.

Higher trims include paddle shifters, but with this little power on tap, we can't imagine why anyone would be inspired to use them. The six-speed also shifts fine enough when left to its own devices, further negating the need for paddles.

Handling is CX-3's biggest asset. The firm suspension allows for entertaining cornering, yet it offers a smooth ride during more leisurely driving. The steering will goad you into playing around, though, thanks to its communicative rack and sharp response. It might look like a crossover, but there's the spirit of a sporty compact car within Mazda's little utility vehicle.


Mazda CX-3

Cramped quarters. We'll come right out and say it: the CX-3 is small. Whatever room is here is simply not enough if you plan to use this crossover for hauling multiple friends and their stuff. Roominess lacks.

For proof, consider the cargo area, which offers just 17.8 cubic feet of space. Compared to other similarly-sized crossovers, this lags behind the Buick Encore (18.8 cubic feet), Hyundai Kona (19.2), Subaru Crosstrek (20.8), Honda HR-V (24.3), and Nissan Kicks (25.3).

Things don't get better in the back seat. On paper, there are 35 inches of rear legroom; in reality, things feel even tighter. Credit the sloping roofline and high beltline for making it feel as inhospitable as it is. However, there are worse choices: you could buy a C-HR with its 31.7 inches of legroom and feel like you were interred in a Gulag.

At least the front seat is comfortable and spacious enough, though there's not enough width to make it ever feel truly roomy. That's the nature of these small crossovers. But that isn't an excuse for poor space efficiency, and in that regard, the Mazda CX-3 just doesn't cut it.

Vs. the Mazda CX-30. Did you think we were going to get this far without a CX-30 comparison? It might seem trite to belittle one car by comparing it to its bigger, pricier sibling, but the fact remains that the slightly-pricier CX-30 is essentially the CX-3 minus all its shortcomings.

The CX-30 especially outclasses its little brother in cargo area and rear legroom. Cargo space for the CX-30 measures out to 20.2 cubic feet, while the rear-seat legroom in the CX-30 is 36.3 inches. That 1.3-inch legroom increase goes a long way – our editors found that a six-footer could sit behind himself comfortably in the CX-30, which was most certainly not the case with the CX-3.

Power and fuel economy also play a factor: the CX-30 has 186 horsepower out of its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. Despite the added power, it doesn't sacrifice much at the pump, netting an EPA-estimated 28 miles per gallon combined. A CX-3 gets 31 mpg combined. Yes, that difference adds up over time, but is it worth the significant drawbacks in cargo space and passenger comfort?

And let's not forget the price. A CX-3 starts at $21,740. A CX-30? $22,945. That extra $1,205 buys more power, space, and comfort, not to mention more modern styling inside and out. All that is well worth the upcharge, in our opinion.

Final thoughts. The 2020 Mazda CX-3 is a good choice for the right buyer, but most people will be happier with something that offers more space than what the zippy little Mazda can offer. Of those buyers that value the performance the CX-3 delivers, most of them will be better off in the CX-30, which is equally at home on sinewy roads but offers more power to play with.

Where does that leave the CX-3? As a great option for those who don't care about space or rear-seat comfort, appreciate a good-handling road car and want the smallest, thriftiest crossover they can get. Drop any of those parameters, though, and there are better choices to be had, including Mazda's own CX-30.

Check prices for the 2020 Mazda CX-3 »

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L I-4 / 148 HP / 146 ft.lbs.
Transmission
6-spd sequential shift control auto w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
29 / 34 / 31 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
2.0L I-4 / 148 HP / 146 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
29 / 34 / 31 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Semi-independent Torsion Beam Beam
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
12.7 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Regular Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$48
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
42.7 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
88 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
168.3 "
Exterior Width
69.6 "
Exterior Height
60.7 "
Front Headroom
38.4 "
Rear Headroom
37.2 "
Front Legroom
41.7 "
Rear Legroom
35.0 "
Front Shoulder Room
53.5 "
Rear Shoulder Room
50.4 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
2,851 Lbs.
Wheel Base
101 "
Turning Radius
17.4 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
16.0 " Silver Aluminum / 16.0 " Gray Aluminum / 18.0 " Silver W/painted Accents Aluminum / 18.0 " Gray Aluminum / 18.0 " Silver Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone / Pearlcoat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote
Bumpers
Body-colored / Body-colored With Metal-look Insert / Front Body-colored With Metal-look Insert
Grille Moldings
Black W/chrome Accents
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Cloth
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
6-way
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
4-way
Front Armrests
6-way
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Am/fm, Seek-scan
Speakers
6
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Driver
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
1
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Advanced Smart City Brake Support Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Blind Spot Monitoring (bsm) Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Departure Warning System (ldws) Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Pedestrian Detection Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
High Beam Control (hbc) Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Adaptive Front-lighting System (afs) Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors
Rear
Security Systems
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Major Components Months
60 Months / 60,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months
36 Months / 36,000 Miles

Used 2020 Mazda CX-3 for Sale

1 vehicles found within 100 miles of your area
Mazda
Sport
Color: Snowflake White Pearl Mica
Price

$17,998

Mileage

21,829 mi

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STG Auto Group of Montclair (42 mi)

Phone: (909) 552-7433

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Phone: (424) 757-6069
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