Faults:

Nothing in one year and about 4000 miles. Main dealer used for servicing.

General Comments:

This Mazda CX-3 may look like every other generic car on the road these days, but look beyond the typical modern looks and it is actually a decent all round car.

Nice wheels on this SE model, white exterior in color, would have preferred a darker color but buying used I had no choice. It's not bad to look at either way. Inside is typical dull grey and very Japanese also.

Very comfortable. It has all the modern features you would expect from a 2017 car.

I rather like driving it, sporty feel. 2.0 petrol engine is the one to have - more reliable than the diesels of this time period, and still manages a genuine 40 mpg or more if you take it easy. Power is very good as well, gearshift is slick, very good drive.

If I have any complaints - the interior has not got as much space as you might think. I do a low annual mileage so its hard to comment on long term reliability, (though I'm sure if servicing is kept up with it will be fine). Oh and the ride is overly firm on rough roads. But if you are looking for a decent modern vehicle, you could do a lot worse than one of these.

Faults:

DPF (diesel particulate filter) needed replaced, expensive. Common modern diesel issue.

Rear struts won't hold the hatch open very well anymore.

Mystery intermittent starting issue. Replaced the battery, seems better but still won't start some days, but then starts no problem a short time later!?

Lately the engine management light has come on and off, needs investigation, appears to drive OK however.

General Comments:

The CX-3 is a typical modern vehicle. Looks like anything else on the road. Very bland and boring.

It is comfortable, I'll give it that. Economical too, always over 50 mpg from the 1.5 diesel. Not fast at all however. Pleasant to drive rather than exciting.

Spacious interior and well equipped.

Not bad looking exterior in red with alloy wheels.

A very boring car, not bad, just dull. Not that reliable either. Yes mine is ten years old now, but has low mileage and appeared looked after when bought a couple of years ago, hopefully not too expensive to repair, then I might keep it as basic transport, nothing more. That's all these cars are these days!

General Comments:

I went to sit in a CX-3, in an HR-V and in a Mazda 5. I tried all these because I do like the overall size, but I'm pretty tall at 6'1" and don't always find a smaller vehicle that fits my legs.

The CX-3 has surprisingly good leg room for the driver (not perfect, but acceptable for a compact vehicle), and with the driver's seat adjusted for me, I still had leg room for my legs in the seat behind. This is impressive. I also sat in the HR-V and it had such short leg room I could not place my feet. The rear seats are very comfortable in the CX-3, but the front seat lacks lumbar support.

The CX-3 interior, I think it's the most beautiful and most upscale of all these vehicles. It really feels good and looks beautiful - it was the highest trim. I liked the car even though it definitely feels 'claustrophobic' inside as it really isn't that wide. Rear windows are also very high, which means kids won't be able to look outside - I think this is my main criticism.

The seats are a little more high off the ground compared to a sedan, but still not as high as a Mazda 5 for example. Head room was OK with the seat in the highest position, and I could move the steering towards me enough to have a comfortable position for my hands.

One thing to notice, the gas pedal is the floor hinge type, but I didn't notice this until I looked at it, so it actually works quite well (in other vehicles such as the new Sonata it's kind of annoying because the pedal is too sensitive and the foot position is not natural).