The smallest crossover in Mazda’s lineup has been around for about five years and it looks like it will remain in production for a few more years. The 2021 Mazda CX-3 has been presented already and it features no notable changes. It comes with a well-known design and pretty much the same list of standard and available equipment.
This you may count on a crossover that may be tight but it is very fun to drive. It offers excellent handling, in a combination with super-attractive styling and the best-looking cabin in the class. Add to this a long list of standard equipment and it’s easy to consider this tiny SUV a great choice for those who are looking for a subcompact crossover. However, the CX-3 isn’t without flaws. Of course, most of them refer to the amount of space, as the rear seats definitely aren’t for adults, while the cargo area is among the smallest in the class.
2021 Mazda CX-3 Redesign
As we’ve just mentioned, the 2021 Mazda CX-3 comes without any notable change. It continues with a familiar design, which has been around since 2015. Of course, it rides on the company’s well-known SkyActive platform and follows Mazda’s contemporary design language. So, it’s easy to conclude that we are talking about one of the best looking models in the class.
In terms of size, this is a pretty small vehicle, even for its class. It features around 101.2 inches in wheelbase, while the overall length goes around 168 inches. So, it’s pretty obvious that there isn’t much space on the inside, but we will get on that in a minute. On the other side, the benefit of such a small size is excellent maneuverability. Combined with excellent handling, it makes CX-3 a perfect vehicle for urban conditions.
Interior
On the inside, you can notice a typical Mazda philosophy. The dashboard is designed in a simplistic manner but comes with impressive aesthetics. Also, materials are really impressive for this segment, so there is no doubt that most experts consider this cabin the best-looking in the class. Furthermore, the list of standard and available equipment is pretty long, which makes everything look even more opulent.
On the other side, this definitely isn’t a particularly spacious cabin. While the front seats are spacious and comfortable, the story is completely opposite in the second row. There, you may count on a lack of legroom and headroom. Therefore, it’s best to leave this area for kids. The cargo volume is another weak point of this model. It goes around 17.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind its second-row seats and 42.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. That’ way below average for the segment.
Features
As we already mentioned, there are no bigger changes for the 2021 Mazda CX-3, and this refers to the list of standard and available features as well. Therefore, base models come with a familiar list of standard equipment that includes goodies like automatic climate control, a 7-inch touch screen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a six-speaker stereo, voice recognition, and a USB port. Additionally, you can get some pretty nice things, such as an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a universal garage door opener, and interior ambient lighting.
When it comes to safety features, this small crossover is also pretty impressive. It comes standard with things like automatic emergency braking, day and night pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, lane departure warning, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive LED headlights, a rearview camera, rain-sensing windshield wipers, head-up display, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control and many more.
2021 Mazda CX-3 Engine
Things under the hood have also remained the same. The 2021 Mazda CX-3 continues with a familiar 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated engine, which puts out around 148 horsepower, which seems pretty much okay for daily commuting. The engine is refined and delivers pretty decent acceleration. Also, the six-speed automatic does a pretty decent job. Typically for the segment, things can be pretty noisy at higher speeds.
When it comes to fuel economy, you may count on some of the highest ratings in the class, as this small crossover returns a pretty impressive 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.
2021 Mazda CX-3 Release Date and Price
The 2021 Mazda CX-3 already arrived in most markets and we didn’t see any significant price increase. Base models are available at around 21.700 dollars. When it comes to the competition, some of the key rivals are models like Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Nissan Kicks etc.