2017 Mazda CX-3 Sport

The CX-3 is Mazda's smallest crossover, a subcompact wagon that's more about style and driving fun than raw cargo space. It handles like a hot hatch, with quick steering and a light, eager feel that makes it genuinely fun on a back road. The cabin is nicely put together with upscale materials for the class, but rear legroom and cargo space are tight. Every CX-3 gets a 7-inch touchscreen with Mazda Connect, and higher trims add features like a head-up display and Bose audio. The Sport is the base CX-3, sitting below the Touring and Grand Touring, and it skips luxuries like leather and a sunroof to keep the price low. Its 2.0L I4 makes 146 horsepower and pairs with a six-speed automatic, delivering peppy around-town response and 31 mpg combined combined. Front-wheel drive is standard here, which saves weight and improves fuel economy over the available AWD, but you lose some all-weather traction.