Taking the plunge
The CX-3 is Mazda’s entry into the growing compact crossover segment, and it’s a segment many carmakers are tripping over themselves to venture into.
The CX-3 is Mazda’s entry in the growing compact crossover segment, a segment carmakers are tripping over themselves to enter.
It’s not hard to see why: Compact crossovers offer command seating and visibility but in a short, nimble runabout perfect for city driving. Buyers, it seems, are lapping them up.
To further drive home the idea these are the small “cars” of the future rather than tiny SUVS, many are offered with front-wheel-drive models while some don’t offer allwheel drive at all.
The CX-3 sets itself apart as being one of only a few to offer a manual transmission, and a snickety fun one to drive, at that.
Getting the stick, unfortunately, means also getting a crossover pretender rather than contender: The all-wheel-drive system is only available with an automatic.
That auto is, however, a right proper automatic, part of the Skyactiv brand of efficiency enhancements. Indeed, at a dinner with a group of Mazda powertrain engineers, you could almost taste the revulsion in the chorus of “Nooooooo,” when asked if they had ever considered the use of a continuously variable automatic.
“That’s just not in our DNA,” said Jay Chen, one of those engineers at an event in January in Laguna Beach, Calif.
Good. If I want to drive something that sounds like a snowmobile, I’ll drive a snowmobile.
The CX-3 comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder Skyactiv gas engine. Buyers get a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed stick. The numbers on the engine are not promising — 146 in both peak horsepower and peak poundsfeet of torque — but the numbers don’t tell the whole story.
The CX-3 is not a pocket-rocket, but it does surprisingly well thanks to the gear ratio selections in the manual, and in automatic form comes with a Skyactiv automatic that is responsive and effi- cient as well.
Winter is fun in the CX-3, even with, or perhaps especially with, the stick and front-drive only. It gives up little in traction on starts and the lack of a rear drivetrain leaves the weight over the rear wheels a bit less, too. That translates into some fun and effective throttle steer when desired.
It was enjoyable to put it into a turn with just a bit of steering and then lifting the throttle and letting the rear end break just a bit to complete the turn. Fortunately, the stability control programming allows a bit of fun before kicking in.
When it comes to interior space, passengers are well accommodated. As for cargo room, I did say this was a compact crossover, yes? It’s got a smallish cargo area, expandable of course by folding the split rear seat backs. At 452 litres, it’s just a bit larger than a Toyota Camry trunk.
Mazda has been setting the benchmark for mainstream interiors lately, with vehicles such as the Mazda CX-9 and Mazda 6 having interiors that wouldn’t be out of place in comparable BMWS or Lexus models.
The CX-3 isn’t quite to that standard. It’s still quite nice, with a good layout, but the execution just isn’t quite on par with its siblings.
The suspension setup is Mac struts up front and torsion beam at the rear. It’s not a fully independent rear suspension, but it’s still effective.
A growing annoyance lately — and the CX-3 is no exception — is the use of weakling seatbelt retractors that fail to completely retract the belt. It wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t mean the buckle didn’t always end up resting against the door jamb, blocking the initial attempt to close the door. Springs, people! Springs!
Overall, however, the CX-3 is fun to drive, economical and nimble. If you’ve appreciated Mazda’s efforts at providing excellent handling in the past, you’ll appreciate them here, too.