Used 2019 Mazda CX-3 for sale 

This Mazda Cx-3 is a 5 seater crossover SUV that is offered in 3 trims i.e. Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. The base trim starts at $20,390 and for the price, you get a decent set of features. The best part about the CX-3 is the standard feature list and the availability of FWD and AWD across the trim lineup. All three trims also come with a 2.0L Inline-4 engine as standard. So the only differentiating factor that remains is the feature list on offer among the trims.

Trim to Choose

We would recommend going for the base sport trim as all the trims come with the same engine and offer both RWD and AWD setup. It packs in necessary features even in the base avatar and being a Mazda safety features are standard across the range. Just to be on the safe side we suggest opting for the Sport I-Activsense Package that adds Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Smart Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning, High beam control, and more features thus making the CX-3 a safe car.

The 2019 Mazda CX-3 is offered with Mazda’s Skyactiv unit that features a 2.0-liter inline-4 engine. The setup puts out a decent 148 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque which is a bump of 2 hp compared to the last year, while torque remains the same. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission that, in a standard setup, along with the FWD configuration. All-wheel-drive is optional across all the trims. The setup of the CX-3 is more focused on impressive fuel economy but you can have some fun with the CX-3 thanks to the brilliant chassis.

The competition is tough for these mini-SUVs, and Mazda established its territory with its tad more horsepower than the usual, though Chevrolet Trax with a smaller 1.4L engine isn’t far either in terms of power and is better in terms of torque than the Mazda. The CX-3 features a six-speed automatic gearbox unlike its rivals Honda HR-V and Toyota C-HR which gets a CVT gearbox, Chevrolet Trax which also comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox is left behind by the more powerful Mazda CX-3 in terms of power figures.

Acceleration

The CX-3 is peppy compared to the rivals and its engine delivers better acceleration figures in about all driving situations.

That said, the Mazda CX-3 does a blistering 0-60 mph run in 8.6 seconds while the quarter-mile comes in 16.3 seconds. These numbers are among the best in the segment and the six-speed automatic has a big role to play in this as the two of the three rivals get a sluggish CVT.

Even with similar engines and power, Mazda’s sorcery keeps the CX-3’s acceleration under 9 seconds Noteworthy is the figures of Chevrolet Trax which are at par even with a smaller displacement engine. For the quarter-mile run, the HR-V and Trax catch up with the CX-3, all doing the quarter-mile run in a shade over 16 seconds.

Ride and Handling

Ride and handling have been the CX-3’s forte. The CX-3’s handling is sharp and nimble and driving it reminds you that this Mazda has inherently some of the Miata's DNZ ingrained into it. In the past two years, as per Mazda, they have retuned the CX-3’s suspension to offer better driveability without losing on the ride comfort.

Compared to last year, this year’s CX-3 offers a better ride and handling but has gotten stiffer over time. But the ride quality is still mature and isn't very soft or harsh. The handling on the other hand has shown phenomenal progress. To unleash its full potential just put it in the Sport mode and zip through the city’s traffic with a breeze.

Braking

The brake bite of the Mazda CX-3 feels confidence-inspiring and offers a smooth stop, and the pedal is easy to modulate and they don't fade even after subsequent hard braking and stops. The braking distance from 60 mph was 127 feet, which is on par for the class.

The CX-3 isn’t the best when it comes to braking and takes 127 feet to come from 60 mph to standstill whereas the rivals take a lesser distance to stop. Even though it has a lower curb weight the car doesn’t shed speed easily.

Fuel economy is another forte of the Mazda CX-3. Every SUV in this segment boasts decent mileage figures but all of them after left behind by the CX-3, the EPA estimates a fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city, 34 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined for the base front-wheel-drive CX-3. With all-wheel-drive and the fuel economy figure falls to 27/32/29 mpg in city, highway, and combined respectively.

The 2019 Mazda CX-3 is the most fuel-efficient SUV in the segment, its combined 31 mpg mileage is the best in the class. Honda is breathing down Mazda’s neck with its 30 mpg mileage. But on the flip side, CX-3 gets the smallest fuel tank in this comparison which translates into a smaller range from a tankful.

The 2019 CX-3 seats five people in two rows. This Mazda crossover features one of the finest interiors in the class. There is nothing cheap on this Mazda, hard plastic is absent throughout the cabin. The leather/suede seats are comfortable and have a high beltline, the front seats are 6-way manually adjusted but power-adjustable seats would have been appreciated as standard. On the contrary, the front seats are comfortable, roomy, and supportive.

However, the rear seats have less headroom and legroom than many rivals, and adults may not be able to ride comfortably in the back. Ingress and egress through the rear doors feels like entering a tunnel and the seats are too cramped for comfort. The coupe-like roofline hinders the headroom making it a strict no-no for tall passengers.

The CX-3 has a comfortable set of front and rear seats but it lacks far behind its competitors especially the Honda HR-V in terms of space. Coming to the rear, the Rear Passengers won't be the happiest if three are seated in the rear seats as it feels cramped, it’s best suited for two adults. The overall Cabin space feels less as compared to what the competition offers which is a deal-breaker here.

Infotainment

The Mazda CX-3 gets a 7-inch infotainment screen that runs on Mazda's CONNECT system with voice commands. The system is easy to use and has a quick response time.

The overall impression was positive while using this setup. Mazda has also given a rotary knob to control the screen in case you don't want to use the touchscreen. The absence of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in otherwise perfect infotainment is sorely felt in the 2019 CX-3.

Some other infotainment features include:

• AM/FM/HD Radio
• MAZDA CONNECT infotainment system 
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• 8-speaker sound system
• Tweeter speakers
• Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio

Interior Features

Key highlights of the interior features include:

• Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel
• Keyless Ignition
• Climate Control
• Tilt And Telescopic Steering Wheel
• Interior Air Filtration

Cargo Capacity

Dimension wise the Mazda CX-3 is the smallest in the segment so it is no surprise it offers a small cargo space compared to the rivals. 

The precious cargo room stands at 12.4 cubic feet on the Mazda CX-3 behind the rear seats. That said, folding the rear seats liberates some space but the rear seats don't fold completely flat.

The CX-3 with 12.4 cubic feet on offer; it's far behind either Honda’s or Toyota's 24.3 and 19.0 cubic feet respectively. But with the option of 60/40-split rear seats, the seats can be either be folded completely to liberate 44.5 cubic feet of space.

The 2019 Mazda CX-3 has been redesigned rather succinctly this year, The front fascia sports a reshaped grille and a slight redesign. The bonnet is long and sharp with a sleek pair of headlights flanking its side. The side profile is clean and offers a smooth design with no fancy curves or lines going through the profile.

There a healthy dose of black cladding and black trim all over the Mazda CX-3's body especially on the higher trims. The black trim is offered from the Touring trim which also gets bigger 18-inch alloy wheels. Lower trims get 17-inch alloy wheels. By the overall look the Mazda CX-3 is more or less the jacked-up version of the Mazda-3 hatchback.

Exterior Dimensions

The Mazda CX-3 measures just 168.3” long, 69.6” wide, and 60.7” tall. It rides on a very small 101.2” wheelbase. It also weighs anywhere between 2,809 and 2,959 pounds depending on the Front-wheel-drive and All-wheel-drive variant you choose. These figures are shorter than the Honda and Toyota. To put it more clear the dimensions of the Mazda are more equivalent to a hatchback than a compact SUV. In terms of garage storage, even a small one-car garage will suit the CX-3 well. On a side note, the CX-3 is significantly lighter and nimble, making it easier to drive in city traffic conditions.

The CX-3 is the smaller SUV in this comparison. But these give the car nimbleness which makes zipping through city traffic a breeze but compromises upon the leg space for the passengers. In this comparison, Toyota offers the biggest dimension and which translates into more space inside. On the flip side, CX-3 gets an edge over others with a better ground clearance of 6.1 inches making it easier to drive through those big bad bumps or potholes.

Exterior Features

Key highlights of the exterior features include:

• 18" Aluminum Alloy Wheels
• Wheel Locks
• Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers
• Fully Automatic Projector Beam LED headlights
• LED Brakelights
• Roof Rack Side Rails

The NHTSA gave the 2019 CX-3 an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with four stars rating in the rollover test. The IIHS named the 2019 CX-3 as the 'Top Safety Pick' for the 2019 compact SUV segment and gave it the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests. Grand Touring, Sport, and Touring trims equipped with the i-Activsense package received the second-highest rating of Acceptable for the headlights while the lower trims and trims without this package received the lowest rating of Poor.

Standard advanced safety features:

• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rearview camera
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Low-speed automatic emergency braking
• Automatic high-beam headlights (available)
• Full-speed forward-collision warning (available)
• Traffic sign recognition (available)
• Automatic emergency braking (available)
• Adaptive cruise control (available)
• Lane departure warning (available)

2019 Mazda CX-3 Vs 2019 Honda HR-V

Honda and Mazda are both Japanese manufacturers and they have quite similar traits in that sense. Both the cars rival each other neck-to-neck in almost all the comparisons but the Mazda CX-3 is more engaging to drive compared to the HR-V. 

But the HR-V is more spacious compared to the CX-3 and that in itself tilts a lot of probable customers in the favor of the HR-V.

2019 Mazda CX-3 Vs 2019 Toyota CH-R

The Toyota C-HR is a quirky-looking car and the Mazda CX-3 when pitted side-by-side actually makes the C-HR look like a hatchback in front of it. The C-HR looks sporty but the Mazda CX-3 is the one that has sporty handling.

The Mazda CX-3 also offers better practicality and space inside the cabin compared to the C-HR. So to conclude except for the T-badge value there isn't anything more you get in the C-HR over the Mazda CX-3 

2019 Mazda CX-3 Vs 2019 Chevrolet Trax

The Chevrolet Trax is nowhere close to beating the Mazda CX-3. The CX-3 has out-numbered the Trax in the sales figures and that is evident from the fact that Trax has nothing better to offer compared to the Mazda CX-3. The only reason why one might go with Chevrolet is it being from an American manufacturer.

The 2019 Mazda CX-3 has a lot of wow factors and a decent asking price to sway the buyers in its favor, it has an eye-catching and upscale look, it comes with a bevy of latest safety features available in the segment, it rides and handles well considering the fact that it is only a jacked-up hatchback. The only downside is that it doesn't offer the best interior space especially for the rear passengers and feels a bit tight. But the Mazda CX-3 is a driver's delight in the way it drives and for sure will put a smile on your face every time you drive it.