This crossover drives like a hot hatch with a premium interior that punches above its $26k-$30k price tag, but that 12.7-gallon fuel tank means you'll be filling up every 300 miles even with decent highway mileage. The rear seats are legitimately cramped, fine for errands or small kids, miserable for adults on road trips. Owners rave about the handling, the upscale cabin, and crash safety that's proven itself in real-world wrecks at highway speeds. The turbo is quick and fun but drinks premium fuel; the base engine is the smarter daily driver. If you're a single or couple who values driving enjoyment over cargo space, this is the most engaging small crossover you can buy. If you need family room or haul gear regularly, step up to the CX-5.
Mazda built a compact crossover that drives like a sport sedan and lasts like a Toyota, then fumbled the 2026 redesign by burying climate controls in a touchscreen. The 2017-2025 generation is the sweet spot: upscale interior, engaging handling, and owners routinely hitting 200k+ miles with nothing but oil changes. The rotary dial infotainment that reviewers love actually works once you learn it. But the new model ditches those physical controls just as competitors are bringing them back, and the community is furious. Shopping used or hunting a leftover 2025? You're golden. Eyeing the 2026? You're the guinea pig for Mazda's cost-cutting experiment, and early sentiment suggests they read the room wrong. Buy the outgoing model while you still can.