2016 Mazda CX-3 GS
In March 2015, Mazda announced that it was delaying the launch of its 2016 subcompact Mazda2, originally planned for late summer 2015. The press release was terse, stating that Mazda was temporarily shelving the little hatchback in favour of two other 2016 models: the redesigned MX-5 (Miata) roadster and this car, the CX-3 subcompact crossover.
Pushing a new model into today's busy marketplace is a costly thing, so we're not surprised by Mazda's choice: the CX-3 will be a stronger seller and gets Mazda into a fast-growing segment, and the MX-5 is a "halo" car, one that will draw people into showrooms, an obvious first step to selling new cars. (Overall Score: 6.7)
Walkaround
The CX-3 looks sharp to our eyes, despite its distinct resemblance to a Mazda3 Sport with hitched-up suspenders. No doubt the 18-inch wheels that come bolted to GT-trimmed models fill the fenders better than the 16s on our GS tester, but this high-profile rubber likely improves ride quality; more on that shortly. (Score: 7.5)
Interior
Inside, the links to other Mazda models are as strong as on the outside. There's the tablet-style display atop the dash, and the good-looking gauge cluster anchored by an analog speedometer. Choose the top-end GT model and you get a central rev counter and digital speed display; if you want to know what the engine's doing in a GX or GS model, you're stuck with a small digital rev meter that's tough to read at a glance.
No surprise, the CX-3 is notably smaller inside than the larger CX-5. My six-foot-five brother in law has a base-model version of the 5 that he bought when he decided he was over folding himself into too-small cars. This smaller crossover didn't suit him well at all, but I had no trouble getting my five-foot-seven frame comfortable behind the wheel.
Later in the week, a guy driving a Toyota Matrix stopped me in a parking lot to ask what I thought of the CX-3. He had a baby seat in the back of his car, and while I am not a parent myself, I've watched friends squeeze their spawn in the back of cars compact and smaller, and told this dad he might be better off with a CX-5 (or one of its competitors) if he wants a car he and his spouse can keep for a few years as baby grows up.
Any way you slice it, like the Mazda2 subcompact, this is a car best suited to no more than a pair of people with only an occasional need to move stuff or other people around. (Score: 6.8)
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Tech
Bluetooth is here with streaming audio, and a USB input allows the requisite connection of music players with control through the stereo itself. Automatic headlights and wipers are included in the GS, but if you want much more than that, the GT is the CX-3 for you: it comes with navigation, steerable LED headlights, LED fog- and taillights, and automatic climate control, and can be optioned with a technology package that includes blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, active collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beam control, and satellite radio.
All three CX-3 trims come with a backup camera, a nice touch given the pinched view rearward. (Score: 6.1)
Driving
Not only does the CX-3 look like a Mazda, it drives like one, too. Sharp steering is joined by a firm ride that edged right up against my comfort threshold; in a perfect world, I'd make the suspension a bit more compliant – but then, Ottawa's roads are notable for their imperfections. On a twisty, nicely-maintained secondary highway, however, there's a lot to like about how little the CX-3 feels like a crossover.
Mazda says the 2.0-litre "SkyActiv" four-cylinder's 146 lb-ft of torque (horsepower is also rated at 146) peaks at a relatively low 2,800 rpm, but tall gearing means quick acceleration really only happens in the first three gears. Downshifts from the six-speed automatic require a good kick in the accelerator, but when you want to shift for yourself, Mazda's manual shift mode is one of the most satisfying to use. Kudos as well to the engineers who set up the shifter's pull-to-upshift, push-to-downshift action, which feels more intuitive than the opposite, which most automakers favour.
We know that more than a few Mazda fans will be disappointed at the lack of a manual transmission option.
Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimates for a FWD model are 8.2/6.7 (city/highway); my tester just about matched those figures in both settings, and I wasn't particularly gentle with the gas pedal. (Score: 7.8)
Value
Ultimately, the question is whether, at $24,195, this front-drive, mid-grade CX-3 is actually worth $2,100 more than a Mazda3 Sport (hatchback) in its similarly-equipped GS trim package. To my mind, all you're getting is a car that looks like a crossover from the outside, but feels an awful lot like a 3 Sport from the inside. There's a small advantage in forward visibility from the taller ride height, but it's not as pronounced as you'd expect given the crossover label. The difference is likely more noticeable next to a Mazda2, and you can't even get your hands on one of those for a direct comparison. (Score: 5.5)
Conclusion
The subcompact crossover class is a small one for now, with this Mazda going up against the equally-new Honda HR-V, as well as more established players the Nissan Juke and Chevrolet Trax. Should the CX-3 prove as popular as I think it will be, I predict it will steal enough sales of the Mazda3 Sport to prompt Mazda to cut the compact hatch from its line-up.
Were that to happen, this crossover would be a worthy successor, but for now, consider cars like this a pricier extension of the compact hatch class. That's not a condemnation, but a suggestion to drive CX-3 back-to-back with a 3 Sport to see if you could live with what you get for two thousand bucks less.
Autofocus.ca is a Canadian automotive website dedicated to making car shopping easier and driving more fun. Follow Autofocus on Facebook and Twitter.
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