Eager to capitalize on an expanding trend, Mazda added a third crossover to its lineup for 2016 called the CX-3. Smaller than the compact CX-5 and the three-row CX-9, this newest entry has a name that might suggest that it’s a high-riding version of the Mazda 3 compact. But that’s not exactly the case; the CX-3 is more closely related to the subcompact Mazda 2 hatchback. In fact, it has become the de facto replacement for the 2 in the United States, as Mazda’s smallest hatch is no longer sold here, due to the CX-3’s greater potential for sales and profitability. Plastic body cladding and optional all-wheel drive ($1250) are meant to lure SUV-leaning buyers, but the CX-3’s carlike driving experience and sharp interior design are the elements that helped it earn a comparison-test victory against other small crossovers, including the Jeep Renegade and Honda HR-V.
What’s New: Not much. For its second model year, the 2017 CX-3 benefits from just a few minor trim and equipment changes. There’s been some fancy-wheel democratization, as the mid-level Touring trim now receives the snazzy 18-inch wheels that were previously included with only the top Grand Touring model. Active safety technology became a bit more accessible, too, as Mazda dropped the cost of the i-Activsense package offered on the Grand Touring (adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, automated emergency braking, and more); it now costs $1170, $750 less than before. As with the beautiful MX-5 Miata roadster and the sharp CX-9, the CX-3 shows Mazda is on a roll design-wise, with its sharply creased sheetmetal, tight proportions, and upscale detailing. Inside and out, it looks much more expensive than it is, giving off a sort of budget Porsche Macan vibe. That descriptor also could be applied to its driving dynamics, as the CX-3 combines tautly controlled body motions, precise and perfectly weighted steering, and a responsive powertrain to make for class-leading handling.
The sole 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine makes 146 horsepower, enough to motor the CX-3 to 60 mph in a reasonably quick 8.1 seconds. (That’s with all-wheel drive; a lighter front-wheel-drive CX-3 might be a bit quicker, but we’ve yet to test one of those.) Combined with the CX3’s relatively low curb weight, this engine also earns competitive EPA fuel-economy numbers of 29/34 mpg city/highway with front-wheel drive, or 27/32 mpg with all-wheel drive.
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