DRIVING: The Mazda CX-3
I must confess, I’m typically the kind of test driver who will go online and check out interior pictures of the car I will be test driving before it actually gets dropped off. I LOVE car interiors. By the time the car arrives, I know exactly what to expect when I step in. I had the Mazda CX 3 during a rather hectic work week and I hadn’t taken a moment to go online and check out the interior, so when I finally stepped into it, to say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I was not ready nor was I expecting the interior to be as refined as it was. Pair that with an incredibly smooth drive, and we have one of my favourite weeks behind the wheel of a car, other than my own.
The Looks
The Mazda CX 3 is the kind of crossover car that deftly maintains a delicate balance between the SUV and a hatchback. I constantly found myself staring at it to try and work out if it was more of a compact SUV or a hatchback. Not that it matters because when surveying its good looks, it is made all the more sporty by strategic cuts and curves in its design. Add to that its shield like grille and you have one of the best looking cars in its segment.
Inside
As mentioned above, the interior was a treat to walk into. The model I drove had leather seats and clean minimal-design interior. Admittedly, taste is subjective, but I found its carefully minimal design to strike just the right notes of refinement. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of the kind of interior that features loads of buttons that I might never bother to put my fingers on. Not so with the CX 3. The two main areas you need to put your fingers on in order to interact with its media and navigation system are the multi-function commander in the middle, next to the centre console and the buttons on the steering wheel, or if you prefer you can tap directly on the infotainment touch screen.
The lover of gadgets, gimmicks and other novelties in me also loves the car’s heads up display, which pops up above the steering wheel when you switch the car on. The HUD allows you to view things like the speed you’re traveling, the speed limit and more while keeping your eyes on the road.
The Mazda also comes with the standard two cupholders in-between the driver and passenger seat, a sizable glove compartment, and storage compartments in the doors.
Up front the cabin feels far more spacious than it looks from the outside, however, although adults can seat comfortably on the rear seats for shorter drives, the legroom feel a little cramped for very long distance drives. I did drive for 45 minutes from Cape Town to Paarl with three adult passengers in the backset and received no complaints.
The Drive
The CX 3 is available across four variations, a 2.0L, all 6-speed: the Active in manual and automatic, the Dynamic in manual and automatic, the Individual Auto, and the Individual Auto Plus which comes with all the bells and whistles and then some, including a sun roof, auto folding mirrors, a reverse camera, blind spot monitoring, and that HUD that caught my attention.
Also read: Car Review: Mazda CX-3
The Individual Plus model that I drove offered an incredibly smooth and reactive drive. It’s no sports car by any means, and the driver looking to play chicken with taxi drivers might prefer a smaller, zippier ride, but it is an absolute pleasure to drive. That said, it hits the right notes for city driving, and the automatic version I drove will save you a lot of energy during your daily commute. And on weekends, it is perfect for those scenic drives. Match the refinement of the interior with the smoothness of the drive, and you’ll have a luxurious experience that feels a step above its class.
Need to know
Mazda promises fuel economy at 6.1L/ 100km.
Starting price for the Mazda CX 3 Active is R278,000. Visit mazda.co.za for more.
Although a tad smaller than some of its rivals, the CX 3 offers sufficient boot space, which can be improved by folding the rear seats down.
Some standard features across models:
- Cruise Control
- Keyless push-button engine start
- Bluetooth hands-free system
- 3 Year unlimited km Service Plan and warranty
- 7 inch infotainment screen (on all models except the Active and the Active Auto)
Conclusion.
If a good-looking vehicle is what you’re after, a minimal and refined interior, an unencumbered drive, versatile enough for your daily commute as well long scenic drives and you can live without the cabin room offered by a full sized SUV, you won’t go wrong with the Mazda CX 3. I would recommend getting your hands on the range-topping Individual Auto Plus for the full experience, but at the recommended retail price of R384, 500, that’s nearly a full R100k above the basic model, so that’ll depend on just how much you’re prepared to spend.