By EWAN KENNEDY
The stylish new Mazda CX-3 takes an interestingly different tack in small SUV design.
Whereas its many competitors have produced tall vehicles that cry out that they are SUVs, the Mazda is only a little higher than a typical small-medium hatchback.
A crossover between a hatch and an SUV might be just what many buyers are asking for – indeed, Mazda CX-3 has selling its wheels off since it was launched in March.
Styling is obviously a major factor in the big sales numbers, but the interesting size could also be playing their part.
The familiar Mazda model names of Neo and Maxx are used for the CX-3, but are joined by two new ones.
The upper-middle CX-3 sTouring and topline Akari complete the range.
Pricing is highly competitive, starting at just $19,990 (plus on-roads) for the 2WD petrol manual and going up to $37,690 for the topline Akari with AWD diesel with auto.
We tested two autos, a 2WD Maxx petrol and an AWD Akari turbo-diesel.
The CX-3 carries the latest iteration of the highly successful Mazda Kodo design language, with the usual large vertical grille and long bonnet.
The front guards sweep up and over the wheels almost to the end of the front doors, where the wave-like shape is then picked up by the guards of the rear wheels.
There were admiring glances aplenty during the two weeks we spent driving around our home area of the Gold Coast.
People in these parts like a bit of style in their lives and anything out of the ordinary is greeted with interest.
Even the more conservative Brisbane people seemed to like it as well.
Inside there’s the latest Mazda instrument layout of a large central dial with rectangular pods on either side of it.
It’s neat, compact and works well, but doesn’t have the sort of sporting twin-dial style of most in the segment.
Information on the seven-inch centrally mounted display screen is accessed through a control knob handily placed on the centre console.
Voice commands can be used to control audio functions, Bluetooth hands-free phone operation and reception of short text messages.
There’s internet radio that can receive something like 100,000 broadcasters.
A head-up display, not on all models, shows vehicle speed and navigation directions.
Mazda CX-3 offers the option of petrol or diesel power.
The four-cylinder petrol has a capacity of 2.0 litres.
The turbo-diesel is interesting in that it displaces just 1.5 litres and follows the latest European engineering trend of using small capacity, low friction engines aided by complex turbochargers for added power and torque.
The power output of the petrol is 109 kW, the diesel puts out just 77 kW.
But, it’s torque that talks and the diesel has an impressive 270 Nm between 1600 and 2500 revs.
The petrol has 192 Nm, impressive for a non-turbo engine of this size, even better the petrol reaches its best torque at a very usable 2800 rpm.
Mazda Australia is offering both 2WD (front drive) and AWD CX-3s to Australia.
This is increasingly unusual in this SUV class as many are now coming with drive only to two wheels.
Six-speed manual or automatic transmissions are offered, but the manual only comes with the front-wheel-drive petrol-engine combination.
The local importer feels that some owners will still want the added traction of all-wheel-drive for use in slippery conditions, such as in snowfields.
Some may even tackle mild off-road areas such as forestry trails.
But don’t get too ambitious, though…
Australasian crash testing has yet to be carried out, but Mazda is confident its new CX-3 will receive the maximum rating of five stars.
Mazda CX-3’s seats are well shaped and there’s a fair amount of space in the back seat for a vehicle in this class.
However, children rather than adults will be the more comfortable in the rear.
Keep in mind this is a smallish SUV and something has to be compromised in interior space.
Luggage space is good for a car of this size and the two-level-floor option is clever.
A simple design of head-up display is fitted on upmarket models and works reasonably well, but isn’t as good as the full-on HUD systems being used by others.
Having said that, the Mazda readout doesn’t disappear as soon as you put on polarising sunglasses. A big plus from my point of view.
Mazda CX-3 is particularly quiet and smooth on good road surfaces, especially on motorways.
On typical Aussie backroads it still has a degree of comfort that’s not always the norm in this class.
Handling is good with a reasonably neutral feel till you try to attack corners in a sporting manner, when safe understeer settles down the driver’s ambitions.
The little Mazda’s slightly higher than average seating position makes for easier ingress and egress than a lowset hatchback, but getting in and out isn’t as simple as in competitors like Ford Kuga and Holden Trax.
Similarly, while there’s a better view of the traffic ahead from the Mazda, you don’t get the same benefits as are offered by taller wagons.
The CX-3’s petrol engine is responsive and is never intrusive.
Its fuel consumption around town was in the eight to 10 litres per 100 kilometres range during our test.
On country roads and motorways getting it below seven litres was pretty easy with a bit of care in driving.
During our initial drives at the media launch of the Mazda CX-3 out of Canberra we commented that the turbo-diesel was a little slow off the line.
Our test car this week was noticeably better, perhaps because it had more miles under its wheels and was run in.
The strong diesel torque and responsive automatic transmission made for easy hillclimbing and safe overtaking.
Diesel fuel usage was about six to eight litres per 100 in suburban and city use, dropping to high fours to mid fives in the country.
Mazda CX-3’s strong styling and good pricing have seen it jump to the front of the field in its class.
We expect it to stay there or thereabouts for many years to come.
The Mazda range is available for test drive at Berwick Mazda, Prestige Place, Narre Warren on 8796 6222 or at Bruce Clough Mazda, Princes Highway, Nar Nar Goon, on 5942 5584.
Model range
Neo 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $19,990 (manual), $21,990 (automatic)
Neo Safety 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $21,020 (manual), $23,090 (automatic)
Maxx 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $22,390 (manual), $24,390 (automatic)
Maxx Safety 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $23,420 (manual), $25,420 (automatic)
Maxx 2.0-litre petrol AWD: $26,390 (automatic)
Maxx Safety 2.0-litre petrol AWD: $27,420 (automatic)
Maxx 1.5-litre turbo-diesel AWD: $26,790 (automatic)
Maxx Safety 1.5-litre turbo-diesel AWD: $27,820 (automatic)
sTouring 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $26,990 (manual), $28,990 (automatic)
sTouring Safety 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $28,020 (manual), $30,020 (automatic)
sTouring 1.5-litre turbo-diesel AWD: $33,390 (automatic)
sTouring Safety 1.5-litre turbo-diesel AWD: $34,420 (automatic)
Akari 2.0-litre petrol FWD: $31,290 (manual), 31,290 (automatic)
Akari 1.5-litre petrol AWD: $35,290 (manual), 37,690 (automatic)
