SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVER STILL AVAILABLE IN CANADA
Drivers have been moving into the crossover/sport utility segment for a while now, and car sales are falling. That has prompted Mazda to discontinue its mid-size Mazda6 sedan in Canada and the U.S. at the end of model year 2021.
It's also dropping the its smallest crossover, the CX-3 — but only south of the border. Canadians still like their subcompacts enough, especially in Quebec, to keep it.
It's outsold by the slightly larger CX-30, which offers more cargo space and rear-seat legroom, and more engine choices. But in its favour, the CX-3 is a nimble little thing with a lower starting price.
It comes in three trim levels. The base GX comes only in front-wheel drive, with six-speed manual or automatic transmission and starts at $21,450. It's automatic only the rest of the way, starting with the mid-range GS in front- or all-wheel drive, priced from $23,800. I was in the top-line GT, strictly with allwheel drive, at $31,300. It comes fully loaded, and the only options are some extra-charge paint colours. I had Polymetal Grey Metallic for $200.
All CX-3 models are powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine. Mazda calls it “Skyactiv-g,” its proprietary name for fuel-efficiency technologies, plus “G” for gasoline. It makes 148 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque, and while those aren't huge numbers, this isn't a powerhouse segment. The CX-3 has more horsepower than its competitors the Nissan Kicks, Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR, Hyundai Kona and Chevrolet Trax.
The CX-3 feels just right with this engine, and only with the heaviest of right feet for passing power does it take a split second before it downshifts and then noisily catches up. The transmission
is an equally good fit, with paddles on the steering wheel to sequentially shift through the six gears if you prefer.
The CX-3 AWD is officially rated at 8.6 L/100 km in the city, 7.4 on the highway, and 8.1 in combined driving. I arrived in the middle, hitting 7.9 L/100 km. I was surprised at how little it took to fill it up, until I found it only has a 45-litre tank. Be prepared to visit the pumps more frequently than with some competitors.
The sharp and responsive handling really stands out, and this little machine is great fun in curves. Mazda uses a system it calls G-vectoring Control, or GVC. Using sensors and software, it reacts when you turn the wheel by ever-so-slightly reducing engine power. It's just enough to shift some of the car's weight to the front wheels, which improves grip.
But the CX-3 has a very firm ride, which will likely be appreciated more by the person behind the wheel than those in the other seats.
Speaking of seats, you won't hear much appreciation from those in the rear ones, where legroom is tight.
Cargo space is also in short supply, and this is where the CX-3 trails its competitors. The load floor can be set a bit lower for taller items, and the seats fold almost flat for longer ones, but make sure you can fit your gear back there. A hard cargo cover is standard on all trims.
All three trim levels also include such features as blind spot monitoring, push-button start, cruise control, automatic headlamps, and a seven-inch touch screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The GS adds heated seats and steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and automatic climate control, while the GT further piles on adaptive cruise control, emergency front braking, adaptive LED headlamps, sunroof, Bose stereo, navigation, wireless Apple Carplay, satellite radio, power driver's seat, leather upholstery, and auto-dimming mirror.
I found the infotainment system a bit clunky. Some touchscreen functions aren't accessible when you're driving, and you have to use the console-mounted controller. There's a head-up display, projected on a plastic screen that rises out of the dash, but you have to go through the infotainment screen to adjust its height. That's a pain if two differently-sized drivers regularly swap seats.
Pretty much my only other complaint was the single-zone climate control. My husband and I are far enough apart on a comfortable temperature — he thinks 18 C is somehow acceptable, when 23 C is my bare minimum — and for $31-grandplus, I'd want dual-zone controls to accommodate both of us. That said, I give Mazda credit for big, simple climate dials, and buttons for the heated seats and steering wheel.
Overall, I like the CX-3. I like its good looks, I like its compact footprint, and I really like the way it drives and handles. It's a four-seater that's best for two, and while it may lack cargo space compared to its rivals, its trims are intelligently priced. Canadians shopping for a subcompact crossover should put this one on the test-drive list.