Price
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-3
The 2020 Mazda CX-3 starts at $20,640, which is a reasonable price for a subcompact SUV. It only comes in one trim.
The 2020 CX-5 carries a starting price of $25,090. That's slightly above the class average. Three mid-level trims are priced around $27,000, $30,000, and $35,000, with the most expensive option including all-wheel drive and a more powerful engine. The range-topping CX-5 Signature model starts at $37,055.
Seat Comfort
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
Both the CX-3 and CX-5 seat five passengers in two rows. In addition, both offer plenty of space and comfort in the front seats. However, while the CX-3 has enough headroom in the back seats for average-sized adults, legroom is tight, and there’s definitely not enough room for three adults. The rear seats are also difficult to get into and out of.
The CX-5 features adult-sized rear seats, though they’re not as spacious as the seats in some other compact SUVs. Taller adults should have enough leg- and headroom, and three adults can fit across the back row in a pinch.
Interior Quality
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
Most Mazda vehicles receive praise for their premium cabins, and the CX-3 and CX-5 are no exception. However, the subcompact and compact SUV classes have different expectations for quality.
The CX-3 is packed with nice materials and has a modern and appealing design. However, it’s a budget vehicle, so you’re going to find some hard plastic surfaces. This is common among nearly all classmates.
The CX-5 has one of the nicest interiors in the compact SUV class. In fact, its sleek styling and first-rate materials wouldn’t be out of place in some luxury vehicles.
Interior Technology
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-3
The CX-3 and CX-5 both come standard with the Mazda Connect infotainment system. In its standard configuration, the Mazda Connect system features a 7-inch touch screen, though an 8-inch touch screen is optional in the CX-5. The CX-3 gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the 2020 model year, and both come standard. To get the same smartphone app connectivity in the CX-5, you have to step up one trim level from the base model.
The Mazda Connect infotainment system can be controlled using the touch screen or a rotary knob on the center console. It’s fairly intuitive, but some operations require multiple steps to complete.
Cargo Space
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
Several rival SUVs provide more cargo space than these Mazda siblings. The CX-3 has just 12.4 cubic feet behind its rear seats. This is about the same amount of space you’ll find in the trunk of a small car. Folding the seats down opens the space up to a much more competitive 44.5 cubic feet.
The CX-5 has 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind its second row, which should suffice for a family’s vacation luggage. With the rear seats folded down, there’s 59.6 cubic feet.
Acceleration
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
The CX-3’s lone engine option is a 148-horsepower four-cylinder. It gets the job done for most driving situations since the crossover is small and light. However, it can get loud under hard acceleration at higher speeds. A refined six-speed automatic transmission with a manual-shift mode comes standard.
The CX-5 offers three engines: a 187-horsepower four-cylinder, a 227-horsepower turbo-four that makes 250 horsepower with premium gas, and a 168-horsepower turbo-diesel. The base engine provides enough power for most daily driving. However, if you crave eager acceleration, the turbo-four should do the trick. The diesel was not yet available at the time of writing.
Fuel Economy
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-3
Mazda’s vehicle lineup has a reputation for good fuel economy. With front-wheel drive, the 2020 CX-3 returns an EPA-estimated 29 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway. These are impressive numbers for the class. All-wheel-drive models get 27 mpg in the city and 32 on the highway.
The CX-5 gets better gas mileage than most compact SUVs. According to the EPA, with its base engine and front-wheel drive, it returns 25 mpg in the city and 31 on the highway. If you opt for the turbo-four, which comes standard with all-wheel drive, the CX-5 gets 22 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. Fuel economy ratings for the turbo diesel weren’t published at the time of writing.
Ride and Handling
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Mazda that doesn’t handle well. Many of the automaker’s vehicles are arguably best-in-class in terms of their overall driving dynamics.
Few, if any, subcompact crossovers can match the CX-3’s agility. It sits low to the ground and drives more like a sports car than an SUV. Its responsive steering and strong brakes certainly help. However, its stiff suspension makes for a rougher ride on bumpy roads.
The CX-5 is nimble, highly maneuverable, and easy to drive. Not only does it ride like a smaller car and handle winding roads confidently, but it also delivers a coddling ride.
Reliability
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
According to J.D. Power, the 2020 CX-3 earns a below-average predicted reliability rating of 2.5 out of five. The 2020 CX-5’s rating is about average, at three out of five.
Mazda covers both crossovers with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
Safety
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-5
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2020 CX-3 an overall rating of five out of five, with five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover evaluation. However, the NHTSA also issued an auxiliary safety concern for the CX-3. During side crash testing, the rear passenger-side occupant was struck by the rear door panel, which could cause a serious injury.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the CX-3 a Top Safety Pick. It earned the highest ratings of Good in all six crash tests and Superior for its standard front crash prevention system. Its standard headlights received the second-lowest rating of Acceptable.
The 2020 CX-5 earned the same five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with the same star ratings as the CX-3 in each category. The IIHS designated the CX-5 as a coveted Top Safety Pick+. Its front crash prevention system received Superior and Advanced ratings based on how the vehicle is equipped. Similarly, its headlights received both Good and Acceptable ratings based on configuration.
Safety Features
Winner: 2020 Mazda CX-3
The 2020 CX-3 comes with many more standard driver assistance features than the CX-5. The CX-3 includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, adaptive headlights, automatic high-beam headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a head-up display, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability.
The 2020 CX-5 features forward collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. You can opt for extras such as traffic sign recognition, a head-up display, and a surround-view parking camera system.
The Winner Is …
2020 Mazda CX-5
In the end, the choice between these two small crossover SUVs comes down to your budget and priorities. Both Mazdas deliver a fantastic driving experience, return excellent fuel economy, receive good crash test ratings, and come packed with advanced driver assistance aids. To top it off, the CX-3 and CX-5 are easy on the eyes and have handsome cabins.
If you need more passenger and cargo space, the CX-5 is the better option. It also offers a stronger engine option and a smoother ride. However, if you’re on a budget, the CX-3’s lower starting price, better fuel economy, and healthier standard feature set is hard to pass up.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
To learn more about the Mazda CX-3 and CX-5, check out their individual reviews. Visit our SUV rankings to see how they stack up against the competition.
When you’re ready to buy or lease your new car, use the U.S. News Best Price Program to find the dealer in your area with the lowest prices. Shoppers who use the program save an average of over $3,000 off MSRP.
2020 Mazda CX-3 vs. 2020 Mazda CX-5: Worth the Upgrade?
- Price: 2020 Mazda CX-3
- Seat Comfort: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Interior Quality: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Interior Technology: 2020 Mazda CX-3
- Cargo Space: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Acceleration: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Fuel Economy: 2020 Mazda CX-3
- Ride and Handling: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Reliability: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Safety: 2020 Mazda CX-5
- Safety Features: 2020 Mazda CX-3
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CX-3 vs. CX-5: Which Mazda Crossover Offers the Most Bang for Your Buck?
The Mazda CX-3 and CX-5 are both solid small crossovers. These SUVs offer good gas mileage, high safety scores, premium cabins, and terrific driving dynamics. However, they differ in some key areas, like price, features, and passenger and cargo space.
The Mazda CX-3 came to market as an all-new subcompact crossover for the 2016 model year. It has never been completely redesigned, though it has seen updates over the years. For 2020, it gets notable upgrades, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which both come standard, and a host of standard advanced driver assistance technologies.
The CX-5 came to market for the 2013 model year. Like the CX-3, it has seen many updates, though it also underwent a full redesign for 2017. The 2020 model remains relatively unchanged, aside from some new standard active safety systems. The CX-5 saw some major upgrades in 2019, however, such as a turbo-four engine option and available smartphone app integration. It currently holds the second-place position in our compact SUV rankings, just a decimal behind our 2020 Best Compact SUV for the Money award winner – the Honda CR-V.
We use U.S. News Best Cars reviews and scoring data to compare these small crossover SUVs in the categories that matter most to car shoppers. Use the information in this article – along with your priorities – to decide whether the Mazda CX-3 or CX-5 is best for you.
It’s important to note that we constantly update our scores and rankings as new data and expert research become available. For this reason, the scores in this article may not match up with the scores in our rankings and individual vehicle reviews.
Continue reading to learn which small Mazda SUV wins this battle.