The Mazda CX-3 is a compact car built from 2016 to 2022. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the CX-3 is
The Mazda CX-3 is a compact car that Mazda built from 2016 to 2022 — 7 model years. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Mazda range: Protege, 323, Millenia.
Where the CX-3 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 107 CX-3s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JM1 | 2016-2021 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mazda VIN decide which of these 1 lines your CX-3 belongs to. What every character in a CX-3 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mazda CX-3 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mazda CX-3 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment CX-3 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mazda CX-3 have? Power & range
The Mazda CX-3 is offered with 1 powertrain — 2.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Mazda CX-3, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | 4WD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The CX-3 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mazda CX-3. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | CX-3 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 13 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 111 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,311/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 96 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mazda CX-3?
The CX-3 is a compact car, built from 2016 to 2022. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Mazda CX-3 made?
Across 107 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Mazda CX-3 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the CX-3 reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific CX-3?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mazda
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 2013–2026 | 33 | 38 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-50 | 2023–2026 | 10 | 38 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda MX-5 | 1990–2026 | 34 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Mazda RX-7 | 1981–1996 | 23 | 18 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-30 | 2020–2026 | 11 | 29 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Mazda CX-90 | 2024–2026 | 15 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |