Comparing the Mazda CX-3 With Crossovers from Honda, Hyundai, and Kia

Compact crossovers get more popular with each passing year as their efficiency specs inch closer to what you'll get with a sedan while providing more functionality than a sedan will. Well, if you're searching for a compact crossover that is incredibly fun to drive, the Mazda CX-3 is the model to start with because it takes notes from other sporty models in the Mazda lineup to craft a crossover unlike any other.

Mazda CX-3 vs. Hyundai Kona

• The Hyundai Kona is one of the few models that has a lower starting price than the Mazda CX-3, and even then, it's not by much. But, the Mazda CX-3 remains the more value-packed of the two as it has a better suite of standard features, like a blind spot monitoring system, and feels of higher quality thanks to the cabin materials.
• Mazda is a brand famous for its zippy cars that are an absolute joy to drive, and the Mazda CX-3 is the latest testament to this. It comes standard with the more powerful engine than the Hyundai Kona while also handling better and being a few hundred pounds lighter, which is also how the Mazda CX-3 is more efficient than the Hyundai Kona.
• The top-of-the-line trim levels are where you'll find the most impressive tech, and the Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring has features like a rear window defogger, Bose® speaker system, Hill Launch Assist, and Traffic Sign Recognition, none of which you'll get in the highest Hyundai Kona trim level even though it costs more.

Mazda CX-3 vs. Kia Niro

• The starting price of the Kia Niro sits several thousand dollars above that of the Mazda CX-3 even though the feature packages of the two are quite similar. If you want the most value from the crossover you buy, the Mazda CX-3 provides more than the Kia Niro.
• The Mazda CX-3 prioritizes passenger enjoyment of their time on the road, which the Kia Niro can't keep up with. The Mazda is nimble, quick to accelerate, and provides impressive driving dynamics. The Kia Niro, a hybrid, doesn't have the same horsepower or fun-to-drive nature, so you may get bored in it.
• When you want the most feature-packed model between the Mazda CX-3 and the Kia Niro, the Grand Touring trim of the Mazda CX-3 is the way to go. It has features like a head-up display, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Pedestrian Monitoring for the forward collision system that the Kia Niro doesn't offer in any trim despite its most expensive trim starting at a price nearly $10,000 more than the Grand Touring.

Mazda CX-3 vs. Honda HR-V

• The value of the Mazda CX-3 shines most clearly when comparing to the Honda HR-V as the Mazda crossover has a lower starting price, better efficiency in city driving, and better standard feature package. Affordability is at the top of the list of traits car shoppers look at first, and the Mazda CX-3 shows that better than the HR-V.
• We've lauded the Mazda CX-3 for its performance as it is the clearest way in which it separates itself from other compact crossovers, and the Honda HR-V is no different. The Mazda CX-3 has a more powerful engine, whether you look at horsepower or torque, while also being lighter than the Honda HR-V, so that power does more for you. The Mazda CX-3 is also more agile and comfortable around tight turns at speed than the HR-V, so you always feel in control.
• Safety is another important aspect to consider in a new car, and the Mazda CX-3 has more standard safety tech while also earning a 2019 Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The Honda HR-V has the NHTSA award, but not the one from the IIHS.