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Aug 25, 2023

2023 Mazda CX

The CX-3 and CX-30 are both small SUVs from Mazda. Prior to the CX-30’s 2019 launch, it was assumed to take the CX-3’s place, but strong sales justified its smaller sibling hanging around. Here's a

The CX-3 and CX-30 are both small SUVs from Mazda. Prior to the CX-30’s 2019 launch, it was assumed to take the CX-3’s place, but strong sales justified its smaller sibling hanging around.

Here's a size comparison between each car

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The CX-3 range was rationalised in June 2023 and starts at $26,800 before on-road costs – $3300 more than before. It reflects buyers’ love for the peppy 110kW/195Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic combination.

No longer available with all-wheel drive, CX-3s now all use torsion beam rear suspension and struts up front. See below for a spec comparison, or read all about the CX-3 in our range review.

Review

Learn more about the reduced Mazda CX-3 small-SUV range including price, interior, boot space, safety assists and performance.

7.7 / 10 Score

The base Pure is richly specified: high-quality cloth upholstery, a leather-appointed steering wheel and adaptive cruise control are included along with stress-easing driver assistance features.

A more mature vehicle, the larger CX-30 starts with the 2.0-litre (tuned to 114kW/200Nm) which is adequate. Spend a bit more for the ‘big-block’ 2.5-litre (139kW/252Nm) and enjoy a nice blend of old-school throttle response and close-to-new-school fuel economy.

See below for a spec comparison, and read all CX-30 variant reviews on our hub page.

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Incidental storage is where the CX-3 stumbles, with just one box rather than a pair of centre cup holders, tight door bins and a small covered cubby beneath the armrest.

The rear seat is not spacious for six-footers, however, shorter occupants will find the back seat serviceable. The bench is set high for a good view out, and there’s a fold-down centre armrest with cup holders.

Mazda includes two ISOFIX anchors and three top tether points for child seats.

The CX-30 has one of the most attractive and tactile steering wheels available, and incidental storage is better than the CX-3 with a larger covered cubby and two cup holders.

It’s also more spacious in the rear with wider door apertures, making the CX-30 a better choice for a growing family.

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At 264 litres, the CX-3’s boot is small. It’ll fit a pram, suitcases, or your weekend camping gear, but not all three at once. The 60:40 split rear seatback can be folded flat and there's a temporary spare tyre under the boot floor.

The CX-30’s boot is larger and more usable than the CX-3’s, rated at 317L normally, or 430L when taking the under-floor storage into account. With the 60:40 split-fold second row down, it has a 1406-litre total capacity.

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The Mazda’s CX-3’s 2015 five-star ANCAP rating expired in December 2022. All models are equipped with stability control and six airbags (dual front, side and curtain).

For 2023, more safety features have been added across the range with forward auto emergency braking (AEB), blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, rear parking sensors and driver attention monitoring.

Although the CX-3 has a decent safety list, the newer CX-30’s list includes better AEB and adaptive cruise control across the range.

AEB with junction assist, front parking sensors, driver monitoring and a 360-camera can be added to the Pure base model for $1500 and is standard on the Evolve.

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The front struts/rear torsion beam suspension is a common setup and works well enough. The rear end of the CX-3 can be found lacking travel compared to the front though, and the 18-inch alloys introduce harshness over square-edged hits. Still, forward visibility is good and the CX-3 has excellent steering.

The CX-30’s torsion beam (FWD) or multi-link (AWD) rear suspensions are both up to the task. Like the CX-3, the Pure with its 16-inch alloys and balloon tyres rides the best. The CX-30’s well-weighted steering is also worth mentioning.

Opting for the G25 brings welcome extra punch as it’s a fair bit heavier than the CX-3 (1419-1594kg), and the six-speed automatic is expertly calibrated.

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Servicing is due every 12 months or 10,000km and costs $2127 over five years when including brake fluid and cabin filter changes.

A five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty covers the CX-30. It’s also slightly cheaper to service, at $1678 for five years. Maintenance is also due every 12 months/10,000km.

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It may be getting on in years, but the CX-3 is still a peppy, fun car to drive that will appeal to those on a budget (Pure) or looking to downsize without sacrificing amenities (Touring SP and Akari).

A more grown-up car to fit the family, the CX-30 sits in the Goldilocks zone between CX-3 and CX-5 with more choice in the range.

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A Sydney boy through-and-through, John wasn’t treated to the usual suite of Aussie-built family cars growing up, with his parents choosing quirky (oft-chevroned) French motors that shaped his love of cars.