Mazda CX-3 2020: a review, ahead of a future post-mortem? | Car Reviews

We evaluate the 2020 Mazda CX-three and wonder about its long term. Does it have 1? Maybe…

The arrival of the CX-three in the Mazda lineup for the 2016 product-12 months was an anticipated function. The fledgling sub-compact SUV section was then absorbing portions of new items, and the Japanese automaker was just becoming a member of the fray. What was far more stunning was the model’s format.

The new CX-three slotted in beneath the CX-five – no shock there. But Mazda gave it proportions that positioned in amongst the Mazda2 and the Mazda3, which led many to wonder about the actual change amongst the newbie and the three, in certain. Other than the former acquiring offered AWD, not then possible with the three, it available individuals rather a great deal the very same point as the latter’s hatchback version.

Any change in cargo house, for instance, was negligible. When seated inside, you’d have been hard-pressed to notify 1 from the other.

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See our Review of the 2020 Mazda CX-30.

Inspite of that, the products proved common. Its adorable format, the all-wheel drive and the appealing price level all played in its favour. The first technology was, for Mazda, a significant success. These days, however, this CX-three is reaching the conclusion of its lifetime-cycle, and the long term is cloudy.

Is it condemned to go absent, though? What could Mazda do with it?

Simple enchantment
Inspite of the wrinkles exhibiting on the product, the CX-three continues to be common, simply because it has plain enchantment and satisfies the requires of many individuals. There’s the price, as described. The bidding commences at under $21,000, and you can get AWD commencing at under $25,000 Mazda has factors pegged right listed here. Customers do have to have to be watchful about over-paying, for instance on the GT. At over $31,000, the product is no extended a cut price.

And so restraint is in buy. Consumers should properly establish their requires to guide them in creating the right alternative. Know, for instance, that with the GX foundation product, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and Bluetooth, the critical elements when it arrives to connectivity. To get heated seats and steering wheel, you do have to shift up to the GS. This version, which also arrives with all-wheel drive, will established you again amongst $25,000 and $26,000.

If protection is your priority, you are going to have to climb a further notch on the trim ladder to the extremely leading, at which you level you get a host of drive help capabilities.

Hold in mind that with the foundation product, established at $21,045, you are going to be acquiring a guide gearbox, and no chance of AWD. An further $1,300 will give you the automatic transmission, however.

Just sufficient
Below the hood, Mazda places only the 1 motor: a 2.0L 4-cylinder superior for 148 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. Electric power is acceptable listed here, but only just. The slightest aggression on the accelerator turns the CX-three into an angry, squawking minimal mouse, and you are going to want to program your passing and merging manoeuvres with care.

The two transmissions, guide and automatic, every have six gears and do competent operate – other than inducing the afore-described squawking.
 
Noise aside, they do add to a optimistic driving practical experience, which is 1 of the strengths of the CX-three in relation to its rivals. Every little thing is relative, of program. This minimal Mazda mouse is no sports activities vehicle.

Put a further way, the practical experience of driving this factors is reflective of its aspect listing and price array, each primarily based on the basic principle of compromise. And for the vast majority of purchasers in this section, which is fair sufficient.

The long term? Does it have 1?
When the CX-three nevertheless holds enchantment and fulfills its mandate, it is, as we pointed out, ageing. And now that Mazda has rolled out the slightly bigger CX-30, many are predicting that the minimal mouse could vanish, as soon as the conclusion of this 12 months. That’s absolutely possible, but it could possibly be intelligent not to get in advance of ourselves. For now, Mazda has given exactly zero indicator it designs to jettison the product to make space for the CX-30.

In fact, look to what is going on at other automakers, and you could possibly arrive at a diverse conclusion. If Hyundai can come across space in its lineup for each the Kona and the Location, why not Mazda with its CX-three and CX-30? Correct now, community thirst for smaller SUVs is these that brands are tripping over by themselves to accommodate them.

That stated, Mazda will have to revisit the CX-three, and do it fairly quickly. Every single 12 months the present version will get creakier, and frankly, right now it’s rather hard to differentiate a CX-three from a CX-30 from a CX-five from 50 paces absent. If you are likely to promote items that resemble 1 a further, they have to be, properly, far more diverse.

It is also value maintaining in mind that, in the end, the long term of the CX-three is in the fingers not of Mazda but of individuals. If sales of the product, renewed or not, carry on to be strong along with individuals of the CX-30, each types will stay in the catalogue.

For the minute, any individual searching to Mazda for clues as to the course it’s preparing to choose its minimal SUV in is executing so in vain. Radio silence from the producer. Time – and long term sales – will notify.

Conclusion
Si vous êtes intéressés par un CX-three, sachez que vous ne faites pas une mauvaise affaire, mais que pour environ 3000 $ de in addition, vous mettez la most important sur un produit in addition moderne et in addition spacieux avec le CX-30, sans oublier la Mazda3 à traction intégrale.

À partir de là, ça devient une concern de choix et de priorités.

We like

Interesting exterior layout
Good driving practical experience
Availability of all-wheel drive
Very affordable (besides for the leading-conclusion product)

We like significantly less

It is ageing
Somewhat anemic motor
High-priced leading-conclusion product
Not a great deal cargo house

The level of competition

Buick Encore
Ford EcoSport
Honda HR-V
Hyundai Kona
Kia Niro
Mitsubishi RVR
Nissan Kicks
Subaru Crosstrek
Toyota C-HR