Car Detailing for Mazda CX-3

Detailing your Mazda CX-3

The CX-3 is a Mazda2 in a crossover suit, which means a small cabin with a nicer interior than its size suggests and a cargo area that fills up after one grocery run. Gear ends up on the rear seats, so those get extracted. The suede-like inserts on the GT seats are dry-brushed, the faded cladding gets restored, and the paint, often Soul Red, gets a careful polish. It is a quick car to finish and a satisfying one to keep protected.

What we watch for on a CX-3

• GT seats have suede-like inserts that are dry-brushed and spot-cleaned rather than soaked
• The small cargo area means gear rides on the rear seats, which usually need extraction
• The lower body cladding goes grey after a few winters and comes back with a trim restorer rather than a dressing
• Soul Red Crystal paint needs a test spot before polishing
• 18-inch wheels with thin spokes trap brake dust and salt

Compact SUVs: cargo areas that do everything

Compact crossovers are family cars, gear haulers and dog taxis in one. The cargo floor, the rear seatbacks and the door sills collect the most dirt, while taller bodies catch more road spray along the sides.