Looks pretty cool in blue doesn’t it, in fact it looks great in any colour, and in
my opinion this is the best-looking compact crossover SUV currently on sale.
But is that all it is, stylish?
Well, crossovers have a tendency to be a bit hit and miss when it comes to embodying what
makes its brands great.
And as Mazda is known for its style, plush interiors and the big one, driving dynamics,
it will be interesting to see if the CX-3 ticks all of these boxes.
And I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how important it is to stand out in this segment,
I mean there’s tons of competition - the Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Ford EcoSport,
Skoda Yeti, Honda HR-V – that’s just a few.
I know the colours blue and red aren’t exactly a match made in heaven – unless you’re
Spiderman – but it really works in the CX-3, with these maroon leather highlights really
setting the cabin off, great when you consider that a lot of Mazda’s’ interiors tend
to be quite dark.
Now, if you are after tech-savvy kit to match its stylish exterior, you can go for this
Sport Nav trim which gets you a reversing camera, heated seats, a HUD display and of
course sat-nav, which comes integrated into this seven-inch touchscreen.
And in fact, this touchscreen comes as standard, along with this ingenious rotary dial down
here.
Although there is plenty of space up-front with loads of little cubby compartments, the
style aspect of the CX-3 does makes for small windows that can make it feel quite claustrophobic
at times.
And those small windows are in the back as well…
Small rear windows are quite common in the crossover segment though, so the CX-3 is not
alone here, same goes for its supermini-esque leg and headroom.
Coming around to the boot, the CX-3 should have 350 litres of space – which is on par
with most rivals - but due to our premium BOSE sound system, space is reduced to under
300 litres.
The seats still fold pretty flat though, always a bonus, and this loading lip shouldn’t
give you too much trouble.
The CX-3 is heavily based on the Mazda2 supermini, which should mean it’s pretty fun to drive.
So is it?
Well, there’s no denying that it does feel like a Mazda, with light but sharp steering,
great grip and a ride that is slightly on the firm side, but results in brilliant body
control.
You do get a sense that the CX-3 has been domesticated a bit though when compared to
other Mazda’s, which is fair enough really, especially when you consider the stylish yet
easy-to-drive expectations of the crossover market.
It is still available in 4WD though if you’re after something a bit more substantial, although
it’s not a very popular option.
The 2WD 1.5-litre Skyactiv diesel we’ve got mated to this six-speed manual suites
this slightly sensible character as well with low CO2 of just 105g/km and a claimed combined
figure of 70.6mpg, which is totally achievable, I mean around town we’ve been getting over
50mpg.
This diesel’s no slouch though, it may only have 104bhp, but it pulls well with 270Nm
of torque and it feels much faster than its sprint time of 10.1 seconds suggests.
Okay, the 2.0-litre petrol CX-3 will offer higher levels of fun, but the diesel is definitely
worth a look if you’re after a great all-rounder.
In
a way, the CX-3 represents exactly what the crossover segment has been aspiring to become
over the last few years, but you’ll have to pay a premium for this privilege, because
at £17,500, it’s about £3,500 more expensive than its competition.
But the CX-3 is definitely the standout model when it comes to fun in the compact crossover
market – because let’s be honest, a lot of the crossovers do suffer from style over
substance.
Yes, the CX-3 does lack a bit of practicality, but it’s not just families buying crossovers
remember, there’s also younger drivers who want a bit of SUV flair, and if you are one
of them then the sportier, well-equipped, great to drive CX-3 is very tempting.
But would you consider buying a CX-3?
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