Author Topic: Long-Term Test Arrival: 2016 Mazda CX-3 (Read 22546 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** May 27, 2015, 06:27:11 am »

Passion: Ignited.
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OliverD · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2015, 08:20:17 am »

I'm confused about the comments regarding the leather steering wheel and dash. From the first drive review:

Quote

The leather is surprisingly high quality, with tight, genuine stitching and handsome eye-catching burgundy leather on the steering wheel, shifter, armrests and across the dash for GS trim and above.

Weels · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2015, 09:00:46 am »

~~That thing looks hot~~.. dang, that's already taken.

It is a looker, and yes that should be some major competition for the Crosstrek, even though the Subaru's have multiplied like rabbits around here, seeing a lot of them around now.
$32K seems a good deal for an absolutely stuffed loaded model.
If this little rig was around a year or so ago, we'd probably be driving one. When we shopped it was down to the CX5 and Crosstrek, and the Mazda was ruled out because it was a bit too big.

I'd prefer the CX3's 6 spd auto as well. The CVT makes me curse on occasion... yesterday being one. I am sitting waiting to turn left on a very busy road...finally a small opening.. have to mat the throttle....CVT responds with a muhhhwwwwAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH and slooowwwly gathers some speed, with the driver white-knuckling the wheel shouting COME ONNNNNNN!!!!... and ending with Mrs Weels yelling at me. Pretty sure that wouldn't have happened with a CX3.

JacobBlack · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2015, 09:56:18 am »

Quote from: OliverD on May 27, 2015, 08:20:17 am

I'm confused about the comments regarding the leather steering wheel and dash. From the first drive review:

Quote
The leather is surprisingly high quality, with tight, genuine stitching and handsome eye-catching burgundy leather on the steering wheel, shifter, armrests and across the dash for GS trim and above.

That leather on the dash JY spoke of refers to the insert in the dash (not the dash top), as for the steering wheel, I might be wrong, I'll check when I get back from this event (on thursday).

OliverD · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2015, 09:57:13 am »

Ah ok. Honestly though, I wouldn't expect any car anywhere near this price range to have a leather dash.

JacobBlack · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:00:06 am »

Yeah, you're right, but it's funny that she noticed.
Anyway, for now I've edited the line in the article to, "My wife noticed immediately that the dashboard top is not leather" - until I can get back and check the steering wheel.

mlin32 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:11:50 am »

Quote from: Weels on May 27, 2015, 09:00:46 am

I'd prefer the CX3's 6 spd auto as well. The CVT makes me curse on occasion... yesterday being one. I am sitting waiting to turn left on a very busy road...finally a small opening.. have to mat the throttle....CVT responds with a muhhhwwwwAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH and slooowwwly gathers some speed, with the driver white-knuckling the wheel shouting COME ONNNNNNN!!!!... and ending with Mrs Weels yelling at me. Pretty sure that wouldn't have happened with a CX3.

Admittedly, the transmission programming, while very good, tends to be a bit overprotective of itself in some critical situations. A couple times I hit the kickdown at about 25km/h, asking for a drop to 1st gear and it refused to do so. Similarly, the kickdown doesn't do a 1st gear downshift in manual mode; have to click it down manually. But perhaps this is improved by now.

I hope they fixed the suspension squat that happens under hard braking and acceleration; lot of weight shift in my Mazda3.
Do all the interior pieces really feel quality? They look nice but in my Mazda3, I have quibbles with the cheapness of things like the temperature knobs, turn stalks, even the manual shift gate for the automatic. Not enough resistance or weight.
My mother, being short, hates the lack of adjustability in the passenger seat. No height or lumbar adjustment. Fixed in the CX-3?
How is the outward visibility? Road noise? I thought I would get used to these, but frankly, it pisses me off still. Every. Single. Day

belikemike · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:34:25 am »

The hatch opening seems cut quite high off the ground. How difficult would it be to get a 75lb Boxer whose best days are behind her, back there. One big advantage for the HR-V is the magic seats. She could just walk into the space created when the seats are flipped up.

Jaeger · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:41:11 am »

Too bad no stick, but otherwise wow, what a terrific looking little rig! My money would be on something close to a base model for max value. Compare this to that fuhgly blowfish of a Buick Encore, and well... there's no comparison.

Wildsau · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2015, 11:58:19 am »

Looking forward to seeing how this one holds up. I agree - it looks fantastic, and it offers everything in terms of performance and utility that a certain subset of buyers is after. I think it will do very well. Considering I only put 58 kms on my own vehicle last year, out of the roughly 56,000 km I drove, I am loathe to spend money on a vehicle for myself. But this one has me considering it, as it would be a great fit for my kid who will be driving in a few years - and it should still have low mileage on it.

Loudpedal · « **Reply #10 on:** May 27, 2015, 12:55:38 pm »

What a great looking CUV, arguably the best out there currently. The HR-V exterior looks almost frumpy compared to the CX-3--at least to my eyes.

I'll be interested if the lack of a centre armrest for the front seats (which I seem to recall reading) will be a comfort issue. The HR-V looks to have a great centre armrest/cup-holder combo.

random006 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 27, 2015, 01:12:37 pm »

Definitely good looking.

I do have a question regarding cargo space. It might be small but it still has a hatch which means that it should have some useful space for stuff. How much less than the CX-5 is it? For that matter, how does it compare to its rivals:
- Honda HR-V
- Mitsu RVR
- Subaru Crosstrek
- Kia Sportage*
- Hyundai Tucson*

*: I am including those two here simply because they never seemed to appear in any of the other comparos of smaller SUVs. They have to fit somewhere, don't they?

Note: I said "useful space". Sometimes the numbers don't really tell the story; I know of one guy who switched from an early generation CR-V to the newer Forester (2010 I think) simply because the newer CR-V of the time could not hold his golf clubs like his old CR-V did.

Speaking of comparisons, I would like to see a multi-vehicle comparo with all the above mentioned CUVs plus of course the CX-3.

Can do?

EDIT: Looks like I'm going to have eat my words at least partially:
http://www.autos.ca/car-comparisons/comparison-test-mini-crossovers/

jamesautos · « **Reply #12 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:49:34 pm »

Isn't this a bit overpriced for less than 150hp and based off the Mazda 2 platform?

OliverD · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2015, 02:52:17 pm »

Quote from: jamesautos on May 27, 2015, 02:49:34 pm

Isn't this a bit overpriced for less than 150hp and based off the Mazda 2 platform?

The price is in line with similar cars like the Honda HRV and Nissan Juke. If you want to see overpriced check out the Buick Encore. That thing starts at $30k with AWD.

RoadRageous · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:42:08 pm »

Quote from: jamesautos on May 27, 2015, 02:49:34 pm

Isn't this a bit overpriced for less than 150hp and based off the Mazda 2 platform?

I'm not sure the newest Mazda2 is a separate platform - I was under the impression it was developed from the Mazda3 platform.

mlin32 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:49:34 pm »

Quote from: RoadRageous on May 27, 2015, 10:42:08 pm

Quote from: jamesautos on May 27, 2015, 02:49:34 pm
Isn't this a bit overpriced for less than 150hp and based off the Mazda 2 platform?

I'm not sure the newest Mazda2 is a separate platform - I was under the impression it was developed from the Mazda3 platform.

The CX-3 is more closely related to the Demio (Mazda2). Even a quick glance at the interior will tell you this. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the Mazda 3 BM (Axela) is a larger or stretched variant of similar underpinnings.

jaari · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2015, 10:57:33 pm »

Styling is suggestive but I'm not digging it, to little green house, to much doorheight, front's to long in the nose, to many waves , wavy way to much black wheel trim.
I'm sure others like it though..

jyarkony · « **Reply #17 on:** May 28, 2015, 01:40:42 am »

Quote from: RoadRageous on May 27, 2015, 10:42:08 pm

Quote from: jamesautos on May 27, 2015, 02:49:34 pm
Isn't this a bit overpriced for less than 150hp and based off the Mazda 2 platform?

I'm not sure the newest Mazda2 is a separate platform - I was under the impression it was developed from the Mazda3 platform.

the Mazda2 and CX-3 were developed from the 3/CX-5 parts and engineered from the previous skyactiv platforms, but it is a significantly different platform now, with different number of cross members, floor pan and rear end structure - at the launch event I was digging the fact that they stamped the floor pan to wrap around the longitudinal rails, allowing them to end the interior longitudinal rails at the C Pillar cross memeber and distribute the load through the floor pan instead of connecting the rails right through to the cross-member at the back. on top of that are parts-bin chassis and drivetrain components, each with packaging tweaks to scale them down but deliver similar dynamic qualities.

Jaeger · « **Reply #18 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:14:45 am »

^^^ Good info right there.

OliverD · « **Reply #19 on:** May 28, 2015, 08:45:01 am »

Quote from: jaari on May 27, 2015, 10:57:33 pm

Styling is suggestive but I'm not digging it, too little green house, too much doorheight, front's too long in the nose, too many waves , wavy way too much black wheel trim.
I'm sure others like it though..

Sorry, but that post drove me a little crazy.