Recently, there has been a lot of hype about Mazda’s new CX-3, so we decided to get our hands on one for a week. The CX-3 is the one of latest additions to Mazda’s range and they are new to the ever-growing small SUV segment. It was inevitable that the Japanese manufacturer would step into this segment.
Exterior
The CX-3 is a sporty-looking machine and from far away you would be forgiven for thinking that you were looking at its bigger brother, the CX-5. Both SUVs look extremely similar, and for many this can only be a good thing. The sides of the car dons some very exciting lines and the KODO designed front really adds a touch of aggression to the vehicle.
It has a long line of competitors including the Skoda Yeti, Nissan Juke, Jeep Renegade, Peugeot 2008, Fiat 500X, Renault Captur, Opel Mokka, and if you wanted you could even compare it to the BMW X1. The CX-3 is a good looking car and personally I would say it’s second only to the Jeep Renegade in the looks department (in its segment).
Interior
Mazda seems to have taken a few design techniques from Audi in the interior styling department. The air vents are laid out in the same way, and even the centre console sits in a similar position on the dash. I’m not knocking the likeness, just pointing it out! Their interior styling is of very good quality and cheap plastics aren’t easy to come by in here.
The seating is raised and the space is good to the front. The rear was spacious enough for my near-6-foot frame, but the car seems a bit narrow - it would be just enough for two adults. Recently I reviewed the Jeep Renegade, and I have to say that it offers a bit more in the space department. The Jeep only offers one litre more in terms of boot space, but it’s laid out better than that of the CX-3.
Drive
This is where the CX-3 really excels. The car feels closer to the road than it actually is and it grips it tightly. I found that the likes of the Mokka and the Renegade would roll a little more on corners. The CX-3 corners well, and the steering is light and responsive. It wouldn’t soak up bumps as well as the Renegade, this would be one of the few things that I’d complain about in the performance of the CX-3.
This 4,275mm long machine offers maximum torque of 270Nm between 1,600 and 2,500rpm. The direct injection SKYACTIV-D with 105PS will bring you from 0-100km/h in 10.1 seconds and it has a top speed of 177km/h.
Fuel Economy
The CX-3 is an efficient machine. When I picked it up I had no intention of spending too much time focusing on fuel economy, but after 770km I was amazed to see that this car with a 1.5litre diesel engine had managed an average of 4.7l/100km. In old money this means that I returned a little over 60mpg – not bad at all! On paper Mazda says that the average combined fuel economy is 4.0l/100km. The CX-3 has a 48 litre tank and when I handed the car back I reckon I could’ve done another 100km.
The Renegade that I test drove averaged 6.3l/100km. I’ve also driven the Opel Mokka with the new 1.6 litre engine - during the first two days I drove it hard. On day three with the Mokka I decided to focus more on fuel economy and it returned an average of 5.3l/100km – I would think that it would return as good a fuel economy than the Mazda had I driven it under the same conditions.
Price
Mazda offers a premium car, but at the moment their name among potential customers isn’t as prestigious as the likes of Audi and BMW – it’s getting there though. Their strategy is to become a more premium brand, which is one of the reasons for their prices being a little higher. Prices for the CX-3 stretch between €20,695 (2WD 2.0G SE) and €31,595 (4WD 1.5D GT SL 6AT).
The model I drove was their 2WD 1.5D EXECUTIVE SE (other trims include; SE, EXECUTIVE, GT & GT SL). Starting price for this is €26,195. In terms of road tax you will pay €190 per annum because the CO2 emissions are just 105 g/km.
Summation
Mazda has always had a good name in Ireland. They’re a very-respected brand and people perceive them as being highly reliable. However, they need to get more bums in seats to test drive what’s on offer. The CX-3 is a great car and if you’re in the market for a small SUV I would certainly give it a look.
