Mazda CX-3 SUV (2015-2020) - Practicality & boot space
The Mazda CX-3 cabin is spacious enough, but it doesn’t lead the way in any area
Given that the usual crossover customer has a small family, the CX-3 needs to perform well when carrying anything and everything. And given that the Mazda is slightly larger than the Nissan Juke, there’s more space inside, which goes some way towards justifying the higher price.
Mazda CX-3 interior space & storage
As a raised crossover SUV, the CX-3 is easy to get in and out of. Couple this with a high driving position and supportive seats and you get a mini-SUV that’s comfortable and easy to see out of. The steering wheel is adjustable for both reach and rake and you can alter the seat height for better visibility.
In terms of storage space, there’s a large glovebox and the door bins are capable of holding litre bottles of water. Cup-holders are located behind the gearlever in the centre console. In the rear, passenger legroom is decent, but taller adults will find that the sloping roofline eats into their headroom. There are two ISOFIX points for child seats and the rear seats fold completely flat for extra practicality.
Boot space
The CX-3 has a 350-litre boot when the seats are up, which beats the likes of the Ford EcoSport and Nissan Juke, but can't match the Peugeot 2008. That figure jumps to 1,260 litres when the seats are folded flat. Buyers of the top-spec Sport Nav model get a Bose sound system, but some of the equipment for this eats into boot space, leaving 287 litres.
If you like the CX-3, it's worth reading our Mazda CX-30 review and considering that car instead; it's much newer and has the advantage of a boot that is 430 litres rather than 350.
The CX-3’s boot is well shaped and lacks any protruding bulges, plus there’s a shallow underfloor storage bay. The false floor can be folded away for bonus practicality. The boot lip isn’t pronounced, but the boot opening is high, mainly due to the car's raised ride height.
