3 – Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX-3 has received more bouquets than brickbats since it first hit the market for the 2016 model-year. There are clouds hovering above the model, however: sales are down by 25% since the start of this year. Which shows that maybe Mazda’s little crossover doesn’t have all the weapons to fight off increasingly tough competition (see the Kona).
It does deliver a responsive drive and it’s sure got a pretty face, but in terms of several criteria it’s starting to fall short. Space is at a premium inside, and even though the trunk offers up to 1,528 litres of space, the sloping roofline means you can’t always fit what you want inside. Worse, stablemate the Mazda3 now comes with all-wheel drive, and there’s a new baby coming to the family in the form of the slightly larger Mazda CX-30. It makes one wonder what kind of future awaits the little CX-3. It’s not a bad choice, but it’s gotten iffier in the last year.
From our review:
“One of the earliest examples of the subcompact crossover species (it’s all of three years old!), it remains a particular favourite of Canadian motorists. Its qualities are undeniable, even if its tiny dimensions can pose a challenge when you’re lugging more than a wheel of cheese around.”
Our review of the 2019 Mazda CX-3
Comparison of the 2019 Mazda CX-3 vs the 2019 Hyundai Kona
