2017 Mazda CX-3 by Vauxford — CC BY-SA 4.0 It’s become the general consensus that you need an SUV to enjoy proper off-roading. Mazda is here to show you that isn’t necessarily the case. As you’ll learn in our guide to Mazda CX-3 ground clearance, you can get both off-road performance and capability in a hatchback. While it might not be the perfect off-road machine, the CX-3 certainly has a place among the rough terrain.