No. 1
Mazda CX-3 GT (246 points)
The Mazda CX-3 entered this competition as the favourite given the Japanese company’s reputation for building agile, fun-to-drive vehicles. Over the course of the day, it proved to be more than just a rally car in disguise. Beyond superb handling, a dynamic powertrain, and plenty of thrills behind the wheel, this small crossover from Mazda felt surprisingly comfortable and well built.
The CX-3 is a lot sportier than rivals and crushed them in the handling tests. Sharp steering, a rigid chassis, and a firm suspension that isn’t too harsh make every twist and turn a treat. What’s more, the 6-speed automatic transmission is wonderfully calibrated, not to mention fairly responsive when using the paddle shifters.
A small crossover has to easily navigate through city traffic. While the others do a very good job, the Mazda CX-3 is simply better -- even though rearward visibility is akin to a sports coupe. Speaking of flaws, we must point out the excessively small trunk and limited rear-seat access. Some people may not be fond of the main HMI dial on the centre console, either.
All things considered, the CX-3 not only looks good on paper, but it also scores points in other key departments which makes it the winner of Auto123.com’s small crossover comparison test.