Compare the2022 Subaru Crosstrek HybridVS 2021 Mazda CX-3

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Crosstrek Hybrid are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The CX-3 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The CX-3 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Crosstrek Hybrid. But it costs extra on the CX-3.

The Crosstrek Hybrid offers available parking sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the CX-3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid weighs 723 to 866 pounds more than the Mazda CX-3. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is safer than the Mazda CX-3:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	CX-3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	138	183
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	196 lbs.	199 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	58 G’s	85 G’s
Hip Force	428 lbs.	487 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	201	287

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Crosstrek Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 114 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The CX-3 is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

There are over 15 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mazda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek Hybrid’s warranty.

Engine

As tested in Consumer Reports the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is faster than the Mazda CX-3:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	CX-3
Zero to 30 MPH	3.4 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	9 sec	9.6 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	5.7 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	17.1 sec	17.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	83 MPH	82.2 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running on electricity gets better mileage than the CX-3:

			MPGe
Crosstrek Hybrid
	AWD	Electric Motor	99 city/80 hwy
CX-3
			MPG
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Crosstrek Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the CX-3:

			MPG
Crosstrek Hybrid
	AWD	2.0 flat-4 Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy
CX-3
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/34 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	27 city/32 hwy

The Crosstrek Hybrid can drive on battery power alone for up to 17 miles. The CX-3 must run its internal combustion engine to move.

Regenerative brakes improve the Crosstrek Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stop lights the Crosstrek Hybrid’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-3 AWD’s standard fuel tank (13.2 vs. 11.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-3 (3 to 7). This means the Crosstrek Hybrid produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-3 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has X-Mode, a true all-wheel-drive system, which uses a four wheel traction control system to redirect engine power to the axle and wheel that still has traction to keep the Crosstrek Hybrid moving if even only one wheel still has traction. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a true all-wheel drive system; it could get stuck while one or more wheels still have traction.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Crosstrek Hybrid’s brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-3:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	CX-3
Front Rotors	11.6 inches	11 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	11.1 inches

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-3 are solid, not vented.

The Crosstrek Hybrid stops shorter than the CX-3:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	CX-3
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	148 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Crosstrek Hybrid has larger tires than the CX-3 (225/55R18 vs. 215/60R16).

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-3’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Crosstrek Hybrid has standard 18-inch wheels. Only 16-inch wheels are available on the CX-3.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-3 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Crosstrek Hybrid flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-3’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the CX-3 (104.9 inches vs. 101.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Crosstrek Hybrid is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the CX-3.

For greater off-road capability the Crosstrek Hybrid has a 2.6 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-3 (8.7 vs. 6.1 inches), allowing the Crosstrek Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Crosstrek Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 13.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-3 (100.7 vs. 87.6).

The Crosstrek Hybrid has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 5 inches more rear hip room and 5.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-3.

Cargo Capacity

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-3 with its rear seat folded (43.1 vs. 42.7 cubic feet).

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the CX-3’s in almost every dimension:

	Crosstrek Hybrid	CX-3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	28.9”/63.1”	30.9”/58”
Max Width	53”	n/a
Min Width	43”	39.4”
Height	30”	26.6”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Crosstrek Hybrid. The CX-3 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The CX-3 has no towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Crosstrek Hybrid is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CX-3. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Crosstrek Hybrid has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The power windows standard on both the Crosstrek Hybrid and the CX-3 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Crosstrek Hybrid is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-3 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The CX-3’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Crosstrek Hybrid’s exterior PIN entry system. The CX-3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

Keyless Access and Start standard on the Crosstrek Hybrid allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Mazda CX-3’s Pushbutton Start doesn’t unlock the doors or the cargo door.

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-3’s power window (except driver window) and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the CX-3’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. The CX-3 doesn’t offer heated side mirrors.

The Crosstrek Hybrid has standard heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the CX-3.

On extremely cold winter days, the Crosstrek Hybrid’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The CX-3 doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

Economic Advantages

The Crosstrek Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Crosstrek Hybrid will retain 53.08% of its original price after five years, while the CX-3 only retains 49.89% to 50.63%.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid and the Mazda CX-3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Mazda CX-3 by over 22 to one during the 2021 model year.