Vision X-Compact is proof Mazdas can still make stylish hatchbacks

The Vision X-Coupe wasn't the only Mazda that wowed visitors at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Also wowing the crowd was the smaller Mazda Vision X-Compact, a small and stylish hatchback that's finished in a bright shade of red.

According to Mazda, the Vision X-Compact is a model that was “designed to deepen the bond between people and cars through fusion of a human sensory digital model and emphatic AI”. Thanks to the wonders of AI, Mazda says it has an onboard system that can engage in natural conversation and suggest destinations to help expand the driver's world.

Starting with its design, the Vision X-Compact appears to have been inspired by the Fiat 500 with its quirky exterior. The sloped roofline with the funky LED taillights and uniquely designed hatch immediately caught our attention. Meanwhile, the front fascia features sharp-looking headlights that appear to have been inspired by the Mazda2.

Combined with the frameless windows, large alloy wheels wrapped in low-profile tires, black body cladding, short overhangs, unique LED taillights, and a black roof, the Mazda Vision X-Compact combines elegant style with sportiness. Mazda did not say whether the Vision X-Compact previews an upcoming or new-generation model, but from the looks of things, perhaps Mazda has hinted that they will still continue making hatchbacks like the Mazda2 and Mazda3.

Hop inside, and the Vision X-Compact welcomes you into a high-tech and inviting cabin. Like the exterior, the interior is finished in shades of black and red, which give it a sporty look & feel. Just like the Vision X-Coupe, the hatchback concept gets a special steering column and a stylish steering wheel with a rally-style center marker and the Mazda logo proudly displayed in the center.

But what really caught our attention was the digital gauge cluster in front of the steering wheel. Its design evokes a motorcycle-inspired look that combines the tachometer and speedometer into round dials, along with the gear indicator. It also has what appears to be a smartphone that acts as the vehicle's onboard infotainment system, doing away with the now-common touchscreen media display.

For now, Mazda describes the Vision X-Compact as its representation for the future of smart mobility, where vehicles and people can form an emotional connection like a friend. With Mazda's belief that cars can form emotional bonds with their drivers, the Vision X-Compact is perhaps its best attempt yet in conveying that message.

The only questions now are, is the Vision X-Compact more of a design study, or is it our best look at the next-generation hatchbacks from Mazda?