MAZDA CX-3 Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Already in its third year, the Mazda CX-3 proved to be a huge success in the small SUV market.

For 2018, the CX-3 got an improved exterior design, as well as a better suspension that enhanced the driving experience.

Safety was also increased by adding the automatic emergency braking system.

For someone looking for a fun to drive, easy to manoeuvre even in the city, the CX-3 was among the top choices.

One of the shortcomings that came with the CX-3 was the limited legroom and headroom for the rear passengers, thus, larger families would not have been that delighted by it.

Available in three trim levels, the Sport, Touring and the Grand Touring, the CX-3 came with multiple features to satisfy most customers.

The sport trim had a great starting price and was greatly equipped, with 16-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen display, USB, a 6-speaker audio system, a height-adjustable driver seats and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.

Moving to the upper Touring trim level, the CX-3 came equipped with bigger 18-inch alloys, heated mirrors, automatic wipers and automatic headlights. The interior was also upgraded with nicer cloth upholstery and even faux leather for the seats. Heated from seats were also included, along with a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert.

The top of the line, the Grand Touring, came with a sunroof, LED lightning for headlights, foglight and foglight, leather upholstery, a head-up display, shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel and a better 7-speaker premium Bose audio system.

Built on the Mazda 2 platform, the CX 3 debuted at Los Angeles Auto Show in 2014 and it was one of the most highly anticipated vehicles from that segment in that year.

The small-segment started to fade away in favor of small crossover vehicles. The lifted suspension was not only better for driving over curbs and roaming with confidence over speed-bumps. It also allowed easy access inside the vehicle.

It was the fifth Mazda model to use the Kodo design language. Through that design language, Mazda said the car expresses its motion soul with its swept, curved lines. Its dimensions are between the Mazda 2 and Mazda 3. But, since it was a crossover, it was higher than both of them. And it wasn't higher only from the lifted suspension. The bodywork was higher than the 2. That allowed a bigger interior headroom. The higher ground clearance was nicely masked with black plastics around the wheel-arches and side-sills.

Inside, there was room for four passengers. Due to a higher seating position, the legroom in the back was very good for the vehicle's size. The car featured an infotainment system on top of the dashboard with a controller between the front seats, or via the touch-screen.

Under the hood, there were two engine variants, with automatic or manual transmission. The car was available with front or all-wheel-drive. Its safety systems included autonomous braking systems, lane departure warnings, cruise control, and speed limiter.