SYDNEY: Mazda CX-3 unveiled and now being on the roads of Australia 1with 09kW/192Nm 2.0 litre SkyActiv S-VT petrol (with i-stop), 77kW/270Nm 1.5 litre 16-valve intercooled turbo-diesel (with i-stop), With 2WD or AWD drivetrains with a starting price of $19,990.
Mazda CX-3 is also featured with cloth, leather and suede/leather interior trims, cruise control, satellite navigation, Mazda’s MZD 7-inch screen & infotainment system with USB, Bluetooth and iPhone connectivity, reversing camera, keyless push-button start, auto wipers, climate control, powered sliding and tilting glass sunroof
Mazda calls it “the first ever CX-3” and it will simply bust the small SUV segment apart.
And, because it is so convincing and drives so well, it makes a lot of its quirky tippy-toe competition suddenly look like toy cars.
There is a presence to its style and on-road stance – the way it sits on those big guards-filling alloy wheels, and the strength of its Roman nose and chrome-featured front – that projects quality and solidity.
And it gets noticed. We were flagged down by a driver in a late model Golf wanting to know when it was going on sale.
We drove all variants at launch bar the Neo (production of the entry model to the range does not begin until April), and also had opportunity to put an sTouring through its paces over gravel and secondary roads.
Mazda does not do poor interiors. Here, in the new CX-3, is a very appealing interior with a feeling of quality unique at this price point.
The smart soft-touch dash looks and feels good, the stitched instrument binnacle and stitched facing likewise. So too the piano-black highlights on up-spec models and the ‘cool’ metal rotary controls.
From the wheel, which is small and sporty with a stitched rim and multi-function controls, the style and robust feel to this interior conveys a sense that the appearance of quality is more than just skin deep.
Only the slightly naff faux-leather steering wheel trim, and the clunky plastic seat adjusters (across the range, no electric adjustment) are debits here.
Maxx and sTouring feature fabric, or ‘pleather’ and fabric, the up-spec Akari comes with full leather trim.
All models from Maxx and above feature a seven-inch display-screen sitting proud of the dash with reversing camera, sat-nav and Mazda’s impressive MZD-connect connectivity platform with Bluetooth, Pandora, Stitcher, Aha, and audio streaming with six-speaker sound system.
Its functions are accessed via a rotary controller between the seats; it is all intuitive and easily navigated first time.
The HUD, head-up display for speed read-out is also a welcome feature
Whichever model from across the range you’re seated in, the level of equipment and the quality and comfort of the fittings and trims, betters most in the segment – like the Juke, Trax, Captur and ASX.
The CX-3 feels more the modern car and less like it was built to a price.
We also found the seats well-shaped and padded right for long-distance travel (we drove from Canberra to Sydney).
The leather seats in the Akari are particularly good, certainly sumptuous-looking when trimmed in contrasting white, but my preference leans to fabric in the Australian sun.
Importantly, for families, the rear seats are 37mm higher ‘theatre-style’ for the benefit of back-seat passengers.
There is also reasonable legroom there; even with my ‘six-foot-one’ long-shanked driving companion at the wheel, although a little tight, there was still room behind his seat for young legs.
The boot space, while not as large as a small wagon, at 264 litres is adequate. It won’t fit golf clubs across its width, or a guitar case, but it easily accommodates travel bags and suitcases.
It also has a handy adjustable floor panel, a low-ish load-lip and a nice wide opening for larger objects should the split-fold rear seats be folded flat. With seats folded, the cargo space grows to 1174 litres.
