Whats the vibe?
The Mazda CX-3 has been on sale in Australia for over a decade- tweaked here and there with some botox to keep it looking fresh, but the bones haven’t changed in ten years. In the car world, that’s a very long time.
Think of it like unboxing a ten-year-old iPhone which has reached its maximum iOS - it might still work, but it’s missing the latest features and would feel old compared to the new stuff. On the other hand, a ten-year-old bag? Vintage.
The CX-3 sits somewhere between the two. It’s a small SUV that’s easy to drive, looks stylish, and doesn’t try too hard to impress. But like the recipe for a classic blueberry muffin, many people clearly think the CX-3 is a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
It's also essentially a Mazda 2 in some stilettos, so it's definitely a little car.
Timeless, luxe design
So easy to fit places
Zippy lil' cutie
Not to be ageist but she old
Hard to see out the back
Quite pricey against other teeny SUVs
Overall, we’re fans of the Mazda CX-3. Look, it’s not the newest thing out there, and that shows, especially when it comes to tech, like the small screen. But for the most part, it does a lot right.
It checks the boxes of what you'd want in a small car: really nimble to drive, easy to zip around in, and you can park it anywhere. Okay, maybe not literally anywhere, but if there’s one of those cursed spots with a tree behind it that a ute can’t fit into, it’s all yours.
But don’t be fooled by the SUV marketing – this is a small car. A really small car. So if that’s what you need, it’s a great, popular and classic choice.
If the price feels a bit steep for something this compact, though, that's fair enough. Check out some of the other small SUVs below – they might tickle your fancy and save you a few grand. Sure, they probably won’t feel as poised. But poised goes out the window if you’d rather spend the leftover cash on a trip to Vietnam or something.
Overall, we would recommend this car if:
You want something small, cute and easy to park
You don’t regularly drive rear passengers or large dogs
You love the design and something classic
