Mazda CX-3 1.5 Skyactiv-D 105 CV AWD Auto, review and road test

Mazda has launched a crossover on the market that is enjoying notable sales success, boosted by the popularity of SUVs, by its design and by the quality it offers, placing it above SUVs from mainstream brands. The Mazda CX-3 is a car that surprises, even more so in combination with the newly launched 1.5 Skyactiv-D engine with 105 CV. We road test it in a version of the CX-3 with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Exterior design

Carrying over the lines of the CX-5 while creating a car with its own personality and a very eye-catching look is not easy, but Mazda has achieved it with the CX-3. Externally it has a design that the Japanese firm calls “Kodo” and that is inspired by the animal world, specifically the moment just before a movement begins.

In practice, all this translates into a car with sharp lines, personality and a certain sporty touch, especially at the front, which shares elements with the rest of the Mazda models (such as the grille) and where the Full-LED headlights on our test car stand out.

From the side, like any good SUV, it has pronounced wheel arches along with generous alloy wheels, which on our car were 18 inches. You can also see the sloping line at the rear, with the black D-pillar adding to the sense of sportiness and flowing lines. At the back, the huge tailgate and the LED rear lights stand out. The sporty touch comes courtesy of the twin exhaust outlet.

Interior design

Behind the wheel of the Mazda CX-3 we find a simple but high-quality driving position; the seating position is similar to that of a saloon (slightly raised) with good visibility both to the front and sides, while rear visibility is somewhat poorer for design reasons. The seats, in leather on our test car, offer good lateral support and the controls are well placed, with the whole navigation and multimedia system operated from the controller on the centre console (although when stationary it can be operated from the touchscreen). The only drawback is the lack of an armrest for the front seats, although it can be added as an accessory.

The dashboard design (which takes the Mazda 2 as its reference) is driver-oriented with comprehensive instrumentation, highlighted by the head-up display, while the passenger’s side is free of buttons and controls. The quality of the materials is notable: well-fitted plastics, a carbon fibre finish and leather-trimmed areas on the doors, the lower part of the dashboard and the centre console. The perceived quality inside is above what SUVs from mainstream brands offer and gets much closer to premium brands.

In the rear seats legroom is adequate and two people will travel comfortably, while three will be more cramped because of the width and the raised centre console. If an adult taller than 1.80 m travels in the rear seats, headroom is somewhat tighter, and the same goes for legroom.

Storage spaces and boot

The CX-3 has several storage pockets in the doors, although they are small. The front doors take a small bottle of water and a small item, while the rear door pockets only take a small bottle of water. The centre console, on the other hand, has several places to leave different objects (a recess in the centre console, two cup holders and a recess at the back of the centre console). The glovebox is medium-sized, although one detail that could be improved is the lack of an interior light.

The boot has a capacity of 350 litres, with a high loading lip but regular, very usable shapes. It also has a false floor, ideal for storing small items underneath.

The star engine in this road test is the only diesel available in the Mazda CX-3, the new 1.5 Skyactiv-D engine with 105 CV, an engine that uses the Skyactiv technology Mazda debuted in its two-litre diesel and petrol engines and which is now carried over to this much-awaited 1.5. In petrol, the CX-3 range is available with a two-litre engine in two power outputs: 120 or 150 CV.

Before getting behind the wheel, its 105 CV may seem modest, but the engine nevertheless moves the CX-3 with ease. The 270 Nm of torque is available from 1,600 rpm, giving it a good response at low revs, with strong push around 3,000 rpm and carrying on beyond 5,000 rpm, always progressively and without harshness.

The version we tested comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox (torque converter), which surprises with how well it works. The automatic gearbox is brand new, with smooth shifts in particular; it normally tries to engage the tallest gear, although we liked its engine braking on descents, as a light touch on the brake pedal makes it downshift.

Handling

The Mazda CX-3 uses the Mazda2 platform, something you notice behind the wheel, since it isn’t as precise as the Mazda 3, but even so, it is a car with a good response that above all seeks comfort. The firmness of the suspension is designed for interior comfort, proving quite effective on poor road surfaces while retaining more than enough agility on somewhat more demanding roads.

On motorways and fast roads it moves with ease, the engine lets you merge in complete safety, and on board it is a comfortable car with adequate sound insulation. In the city is where the gearbox is most noticeable, and its dimensions also make it practical in urban areas for manoeuvring or parking, with the gearbox adding a touch of comfort.

Our car had the all-wheel drive system, although it is geared more towards good on-road response at all times and in any kind of situation than towards off-road use. The system is automatic and seeks the greatest possible traction in any situation, making it a good ally on twisty roads. That said, it does not come with M+S tyres. The steering has a correct feel, quite heavily assisted but fine, as does the braking system, which meets expectations.

Consumption

The Mazda CX-3 with this combination of automatic gearbox, all-wheel drive and generous wheels means the consumption is not as economical as the same engine can be in other conditions. On motorways the average consumption was around 6.4 litres per 100 km, a normal figure, but one that, for example, in the 4×2 manual version we were able to test at the European launch in Barcelona, was around 5.5 litres per 100 km.

On A-roads the average consumption is around 6 litres per 100 km, while in the city the figure rises to 7.5 litres on our usual urban route. I stress that the consumption figures are entirely normal, since our test car was fitted with the automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Diesel versions with a manual gearbox or without all-wheel drive record lower consumption.

In the equipment section we always review the safety features fitted as standard on the Mazda CX-3. From the base trim it comes with front, side and curtain airbags, stability and traction control, hill-start assist, a city emergency braking system and a tyre pressure sensor as standard. The equipment is divided into three very complete levels from the base trim: Style, Luxury and Luxury Premium.

The Style trim includes dual-zone climate control, a sound system with radio, CD and 6 speakers, USB, Bluetooth connectivity, alloy wheels, electric mirrors, cruise control and push-button start. Our car had the MZD Connect system with a 7-inch touchscreen, combined with the seven-speaker BOSE sound system (standard on the Luxury trim), with built-in satellite navigation and with digital radio standing out among its features.

Another item that comes as standard on the Luxury trim is the LED headlights: the daytime running lights, the dipped and main beams and even the fog lights are all LED, which translates into excellent visibility. With this trim one more safety feature is added to the CX-3, the lane departure warning, something Mazda introduced in its models years ago and which is highly recommended. Nor can we forget the head-up display (standard on Luxury), which adds safety by not having to take your eyes off the road for speed or navigation information.

Mazda CX-3 prices

The Mazda CX-3 starts at 20,345 euros for the Style trim with the 120 CV petrol engine, not counting discounts or promotions. The diesel starts at 21,795 euros in Style trim, while the Luxury trim costs from 22,980 euros (120 CV petrol) up to 28,030 euros (diesel AWD and automatic). Finally, the Luxury Premium starts at 23,780 euros (120 CV petrol) and goes up to 28,830 euros (diesel AWD and automatic).

Overall verdict

On the Mazda 2 platform, the Japanese firm has managed to create an SUV with a very distinctive design and a quality above its mainstream rivals. It also debuts a new diesel engine: the small 1.5 Skyactiv offers 105 CV, more than enough to move the CX-3 with complete ease, and the car also has a fairly low weight, a lightness you notice behind the wheel.

This version we tested with the automatic gearbox is perfect for city dwellers or for those looking for greater comfort; it is not a dual-clutch gearbox, but you won’t miss one, since it works very well, both in smoothness and when downshifting, for example.

It also impresses with its equipment, both the standard items and the various safety and comfort features available depending on the trim level. That said, rear space is where you can tell it derives from the Mazda 2, and compared with a Mazda 3, for example, it has less room in the rear seats and the access is narrower.

All in all, the Mazda CX-3 has many elements that confirm the sales success it is enjoying; we particularly liked the feel of the diesel engine and the perceived quality of its interior, together with the amount of equipment available, some of which is hard to find in other mainstream SUVs.

Photos | Test team