We have tested a couple of vehicles from the Mazda stable, namely the Mazda 3 and the invigorating MX-5, both these vehicles offer a premium offering and cater to a diverse market in their various segments. This time around we had the privilege of testing out the award-winning CX-3.
The CX-3 competes with the likes of the popular Suzuki Jimny, Honda HR-V and the Nissan Juke. The glaring aspect of this segment is that all the above-mentioned products offer such great value for money that you begin to question why other segments exist. During our tenure with the CX-3, I discovered a lot of what the CX-3 offers and why it is so popular.
Aesthetics
The interior is once again very familiar across the Mazda family of vehicles, high-quality materials are the order of the day and innovative technology has set Mazda apart from the competition, this will see occupants wrapped in comfort and luxury.
The CX-3 comes equipped as standard with the below features.
• BOSE® Sound System with 7 Speakers.
• Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel.
• Electronic Park Brake (EPB).
• Paddle shift gear switches.
• Head-Up Display (HUD).
Mazda has managed to provide its clients with a superior audio system, the BOSE® sound system in their cars is far and beyond its rivals, it’s not often that you will experience such quality in a vehicle that is below the R400 000 price bracket, what makes it even more of an enticing product is that it’s not a special edition that concentrates on accentuating a particular aspect of the car, I really urge Mazda to continue their relationship with BOSE®.
The steering wheel is equipped with satellite controls that grant you access to the cruise, telephony and audio controls, you also have the ability to adjust the reach and rake which enables you to position the steering wheel to the most suitable position.
On the centre of the dash the CX-3 holds the interactive touch screen that provides you with various menus to control different configurations of the car’s settings. The 7’’ screen provides you with the following options.
• Bluetooth
• Integrated Navigation
• Radio – CD, AUX and USB
This is all pretty standard equipment across the segment but it helps that Mazda has not skimped on providing a competitive product that doesn’t have a lot of optional extras. I really do applaud manufacturers who provide you with a host of standard equipment.
Performance
The CX-3 is powered by a 2.0L engine that produces 115kW and a torque figure of 206Nm, this is more than sufficient for a vehicle of this type, you are not going to be setting any lap records, however, you are, on-demand, able to blast past a number of slow-moving vehicles, with ease. What makes the CX-3 special is how you are able to return a surprising consumption figure of below 7.5 litres per 100 km’s, and what really impressed me was how close I was to the manufacturers claim of 6.5 litres per 100 kms.
My previous experience of Mazda’s vehicles has always had me pondering on the cruise control system, this time around I am glad to announce that it has been fixed, the CX-3 manages the required speed intelligently, and I did not experience the unexpected gear changes and neither did I ever feel as though the gearbox was confused, this helped in providing a smooth and comfortable ride.
Summary
The model I had on test was just below the flagship spec 2.0L Individual plus, priced at R412 300,00. I would really recommend that you go for the flagship model, the additional features such as LED headlamps, smart city braking, lane keep assist are amongst the additional features you can expect to get as standard, this is really a no brainer.
A number of my readers often commented that the price tag was a bit too steep, I quickly quashed that argument by letting them experience the Mazda CX-3, and as expected, opinions changed. If you are looking for a vehicle that will easily give you peace of mind and the joy of trouble-free journeys, you are really going to do well by having the CX-3 as your number one choice.
Gottagged Rating
7.3 /10
Features
- Airbags SRS: Front (Driver, passenger, side and curtain)
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
- G-Vectoring Control (GVC)
- Cruise Control
- Smart keyless push-button engine start
- 6-Speed Automatic
Pricing
Starting at R397 200,00
Mazda Care
Service plan
- 3 Year/Unlimited km
Service intervals
- 15000km
Warranty
- 3 Year/Unlimited km
Roadside assistance
- 3 Year/Unlimited km
