Mazda CX-3 vs Volvo V60

2 head-to-heads across the 2020 and 2021 model years, side by side. At default weights the record is level, 1–1. Each verdict below is the one its own page prints — price, fuel, safety, space, performance, tech and warranty from EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer data — and the weights are yours to change on any of them.

2 Head-to-heads scored at default weights

1 CX-3 wins clear wins and edges

1 V60 wins clear wins and edges

0 Toss-ups under 2 points apart

2020–2021 Years on file

The 2021 pair, in full →Pick your own weights All CX-3 head-to-heads All V60 head-to-heads

Mazda CX-3 — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Mazda CX-3 · Photo: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Year by year

2 head-to-heads · verdicts at default weights

2021 CX-3 vs 2021 V60 The Volvo V60 edges it, 90.6 to 88.1, on performance. The Mazda CX-3 is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips. V60 +2.5 2020 CX-3 vs 2020 V60 The Mazda CX-3 wins clearly, 91.8 to 85.2, on safety, fuel & range. The Volvo V60 is ahead on performance. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.8 and it flips. CX-3 +6.6

Clear win 6+ points · Edge 2–6 · Toss-up under 2

Across the years, category by category

2 scored head-to-heads

The CX-3 leads on fuel & range in 2 of 2, safety in 2 of 2; the V60 on performance in 2 of 2. Category scores are 0–100 from the data on each pair page; a lead here means that model year scored higher in the category, whatever the weights.

Category	CX-3 leads	V60 leads	Level
Fuel & range	2	0	0
Safety	2	0	0
Space & cargo	0	0	2
Performance	0	2	0

Common questions about the CX-3 vs V60

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Which is better, the Mazda CX-3 or the Volvo V60?

In the newest scored pairing, the 2021 CX-3 against the 2021 V60: The Volvo V60 edges it, 90.6 to 88.1, on performance. The Mazda CX-3 is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 4.8 and it flips. Across the 2 head-to-heads scored, the record is level, 1–1. Open the 2021 pair to change the weights.

Does the answer change from one model year to the next?

Yes. At default weights the verdict went 2021 CX-3 vs 2021 V60: V60; 2020 CX-3 vs 2020 V60: CX-3. The weights on each pair page say what tips it.

Where is the biggest difference between the Mazda CX-3 and the Volvo V60?

The CX-3 leads on fuel & range in 2 of 2, safety in 2 of 2; the V60 on performance in 2 of 2. Every count comes from the category scores on the pair pages linked above, which use EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press-kit data.

How does WhichTrim decide which vehicle wins?

Each of seven categories — price, fuel and range, safety, space and cargo, performance, tech and comfort, warranty — is scored 0–100 from the data on the page. Relative measures give 100 to the better vehicle and a proportional share to the other; NHTSA stars and the Safety Signal use their own scales. The overall score is the weighted mean at the default weights (price 4, safety 4, fuel 3, tech 3, space 2, performance 2, warranty 2). A margin of 6 points or more is a clear win, 2 to 6 an edge, under 2 a toss-up. Every pair page has sliders to change the weights.