Skip advert
Advertisement

Used Mazda CX-3 (Mk1, 2015-2020) review - What do owners think? 

Mazda has a strong reputation for reliability, but some models haven’t been highly rated in our Driver Power satisfaction surveys

Mazda has an excellent reputation for reliability and is a consistently strong performer in Driver Power. Its ninth-place finish in the 2015 survey was well ahead of premium brands such as Audi and Mercedes. And while its dealers didn’t finish as well in the same poll, the network still outperformed these two.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Other cars from Mazda have finished surprisingly low down the Driver Power list in the past – older versions of the 3 compact family car and 6 large family car tumbled down the table, for example, making it seem as though owners were more critical in 2015 than they had been in previous years. Yet at the same time, more modern models performed much, much better, so the omens are good for the CX-3, which shares technology with this latest generation of cars.

Reliability

The CX-3 ranked a disappointing 48th in the Driver Power 2018 new car satisfaction survey; poor ratings for practicality, comfort and running costs dragged the score down. But owners were far more enamoured with the ride and handling, along with the exterior design and finish. The infotainment and connectivity are also well thought of. Safety and reliability came mid-table.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £11,990Avg. savings £703 off RRP*Used from £10,000
Toyota Yaris Cross
Hyundai Tucson

Hyundai Tucson

RRP £29,840Avg. savings £5,643 off RRP*Used from £11,495
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £24,040Avg. savings £1,761 off RRP*Used from £17,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Dodge Charger 2026 review: real US muscle makes some UK sense
Dodge Charger Sixpack - front cornering

New Dodge Charger 2026 review: real US muscle makes some UK sense

The Dodge Charger is both characterful and practical, but it's likely to be a rare sight on UK roads.
Road tests
17 Sep 2026
New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost
Alastair Crooks with the Mercedes C-Class Electric

New Mercedes C-Class Electric gets a bittersweet range boost

New model has launched in Germany but won’t be coming to the UK
News
17 Sep 2026
Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Range Rover Evoque is now just £455 a month
Range Rover Evoque P300e Autobiography - full width front

Car Deal of the Day: A fully-loaded Range Rover Evoque is now just £455 a month

Not often do we feature a Range Rover, but today is an exception. The top-spec Evoque is our Deal of the Day for 18 September.
News
18 Sep 2026