Mazda is enjoying a Renaissance in SA, with overall sales increasing by over 60% year-on-year.
Already their compact SUV, the MX-5, is a best seller and now its smaller sister the CX-3 joins the fray. I think we can expect to see a lot of CX-3s on our roads very soon.
It looks different to its direct competition, the result of what Mazda called ‘KODO – Soul of Motion’.
It is unashamedly more crossover than SUV, more car than truck. A highlight of the CX-3 is the really very good body supporting, comfortable front seats.
The best on a car I have tested in 2016, at any price. The rest of the interior is well thought out and has all the things you would want, especially in the top two trim levels.
The command controls for the audio and information system work well and are easy and quick to grasp. With just the right amount of soft and bright trim to make it pleasant and plenty of storage the cabin matches the promise of the outside. You can fit two prams in the boot if you squeeze a bit.
The CX-3 crossover comes in three trim levels, manual or auto and with the excellent Mazda 2.0 skyactive petrol engine. This gem of a car has a sport mode which spices things up immediately.
A 2,0 litre four cylinder engine has rarely sounded better. And it goes, due to its 115 kW and 204 Nm of torque; using as little as 6,5 litres of fuel every 100 km. I got 6,9 litres / 100 km on my usual route, which is very good.
But beware that sport button. Mazda has produced a sublimely smooth six speed dual clutch automatic gearbox which make the paddles almost superfluous. Working with the paddles in sport mode is fun but they are rarely really needed. This Mazda feels good on the road.
Needless to say it has all the safety and roadholding kit expected of a topnotch car. I got the impression the car is well put together and should give many years of trouble free motoring.
After 90 years of making cars Mazda should know a thing or two about making good cars.
The Mazda CX-3 2.0L Dynamic automatic is R310 700 as listed. CX-3 prices range from R274 400 to R351 000.
A 3-year unlimited kilometre factory warranty, a 5-year Corrosion Warranty and a 3-year service plan is included.
