Best Small 2WD SUV under $35,000
The CX-3 has notched up multiple wins and again takes out the Best Small 2WD SUV under $35,000 trophy at this year’s Australia’s Best Cars awards.
What sets it apart from the rest
Sharp pricing puts the mid-level Maxx variant at a similar cost to the entry-level models from Honda and Hyundai. This allows a smarter and more premium feel for the CX-3.
Mazda also trumps the HR-V and Hyundai Kona in the all-important safety stakes. Add to that the best fuel economy – if only by a whisker to the Honda HR-V – and the CX-3 is unstoppable.
What’s it like to drive
The CX-3 doesn’t perform quite as well as the runner-up HR-V, but the steering is precise.
It can get a bit noisy in the cabin when the engine revs increase, but that’s expected in this smaller class.
What it’s got
- Forward and reverse Smart City Brake Support, which monitors the vehicle in front to assess the likelihood of a collision. If there is a high risk, the system will warn the driver and brake automatically if needed.
- Blind-spot monitoring and a rear-cross safety alert, which detects approaching vehicles from metres away – neither of which are available in the other finalists based on the variants the judges tested.
- Modern and classy interior layout, with a first-rate and easy-to-use infotainment system.
Is this the car for you?
If size matters, the CX-3 might not be the car for you. There’s more than enough space in the front, but everything behind is cramped to the point that an adult back-seat passenger might not be able to fit if the driver is taller than six-foot.
How the finalists fared against the Mazda CX-3 Maxx
