This is the Mazda CX-3. It's a city-sized, five-seat SUV priced under 40,000 dollars,
which means it competes with around 35 other vehicles vying for your attention
and your money. We are spoilt for choice. The CX-3 alone has around
15 different variants to consider, but which one is the pick of the pack? Let's find out.
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With Australia's love of SUVs holding strong, buyers are spoilt for choice as manufacturers
continue to expand their offerings. Small, medium, large, five, six or seven-seaters, there's a lot
to consider. Mazda's smallest SUV, the CX-3, offers four model variants, being Neo Sport,
Maxx Sport, sTouring and Akari, and at the moment, a 100th-anniversary special edition.
We've rounded up three of these variants to give you a good idea of what's on offer and how they
differ. With around 15,000 dollars separating your entry-level from your top-spec variant,
there's a bit of work to do to figure out what you do and don't want,
what you might be willing to pay extra for, and where the best value exists. So let's get started.
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The CX-3 range is powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine,
so there are no decisions to make there. You can choose between a manual or automatic transmission,
but the auto comes at a price. And at Maxx Sport or above, you can choose
between front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, but again, that extra grip will cost you.
Obvious exterior differences come in the form of 16-inch steels found on the Neo Sport,
16-inch alloys on the Maxx Sport, or step up to 18s on the sTouring and Akari. But don't forget,
while big wheels look good, they're not the best choice for everybody. Consider the greater
replacement cost for starters. Mid and top-spec sTouring and Akari add LED daytime running lights,
LED fogs, front and rear lights, as well as high beam control. So there are not huge differences
outside, but it's once you get inside, you start to see where your money's going.
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Jumping in the Neo Sport, and it is indicative of an entry-level model, the key giveaways here being
a lot of hard plastics, cloth trim, manual-adjust seats, and a pretty basic air con system. But the
good news is you get this seven-inch touchscreen, which is common across all CX-3 models,
and that is home to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, standard across the range.
Your entry-level, budget-friendly CX-3 is not short on safety equipment. Autonomous emergency
braking with night-time pedestrian detection, a rear view camera, rear parking sensors and six
airbags are standard. Next, we step up to the Maxx Sport, which currently accounts for around 50% of
CX-3 sales. Okay, inside the Maxx Sport, it feels different immediately. Leather steering wheel,
leather gear knob, climate control, leather seats, and nice Alcantara finishes. It feels like this is
the point at which your value for money is really starting to come into play. On top of the base
grade, it also gains blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert and rain-sensing wipers.
The top-spec Akari all-wheel drive ups the ante again in every respect,
but is it worth the extra 5000, 10,000 or 15,000-dollar premium? Let's take a closer look.
Okay, I immediately notice I've got heated seats, electric-adjusted driver's seat with two-position
memory and a sunroof. But I've got to say, it doesn't scream, "I'm better", to the extent that I
thought it would. However, there are some important differences that you can't see.
As could be found in sTouring, you'll also find a head-up display, advanced keyless entry, driver
attention alert, front parking sensors, traffic sign recognition and lane departure warning.
Akari goes one better with adaptive cruise control with idle stop function
and a 360-degree camera. The napa leather upholstery,
pure white metallic air vent rings, door and dash trims add a subtle point of difference.
Second-row space and comfort are identical across the range.
All second rows get two ISOFIX positions and three top tether anchor points.
When you get to Maxx Sport and above you gain an armrest with
two cup holders. Other than that, it's really just the trim levels that separate these guys.
All CX-3s feature 60/40 split-fold seats, and the boot, while small, is fit for a weekend away.
All Mazdas come with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty, five years roadside assist,
and a five-star ANCAP safety rating. So if it was our money on the line, which one would we pick?
The same as the majority of buyers apparently, the Mazda CX-3 Maxx Sport. The combination of
great user-friendly technology, good safety equipment and driver assist technology, a lovely
interior fit and finish, and still at a reasonable price point, make it our pick of the pack.