2024 Mazda CX-3 vs 2023 Mazda CX-30

What's the difference?

Hard to believe Mazda’s diminutive CX-3 has been with us for close to a decade (it arrived in early 2015). But with successive upgrades, including a major model refresh in 2019, it remains a popular choice with ‘light’ SUV buyers, dominating the segment so far in 2023.

So, how does this evergreen campaigner manage to keep quality competitors like the Kia Stonic, Toyota Yaris Cross and VW T-Cross firmly in its rearview mirror?

We spent a week with the recently updated (yes, again) mid-spec G20 Evolve to see how it shapes up in the urban environment of 2023.

Sometimes it’s good to check in on your friends.

You might not have seen them in a while, and they might not be the most recent addition to your circle, but it’s still good to see how they’re doing once in a while.

For this review, we’re checking in with the Mazda CX-30, which we loved when it first arrived, and we of course made some great memories with.

A few years have passed since, and the small SUV space in which it competes has become ever more crowded since.

The question is, should we be spending time with our old pal, the CX-30? Or, is it better spent with one of its new, trendy rivals?

We’ve grabbed a top-spec G25 Astina in front-wheel drive guise to find out.