The love affair continues...

MAZDA: CX-3 2.0 INDIVIDUAL TICKS MOST BOXES IMPRESSION

Manufacturer delivers another beautifully designed, almost sculptured car.

Serious history and literature scholars have firm opinions about the greatest love affairs throughout time. At the top of the list they normally have Romeo and Juliet, Anthony and Cleopatra, Paris and Helen of Troy, plus Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

The scholars are, of course, wrong. The greatest love affair the universe has ever known is happening in SA, right now.

It is the incredibly deep, heart-melting, beyond measure, massive, indescribable, past religious, utterly consuming adoration that illegal cigarette smugglers have for Mama Zuma.

When not buying Ferraris or apartment buildings in Monaco, they are commissioning a 30m high statue of her, in 22-carat gold.

In comparison to the above, it seems rather tepid for me to say I have always loved Mazdas. But, I have, because, through the years, Mazdas tended to be different.

I just had to love their Capella Rotary and MX6 track cars, the triple rotary 323 “Mazda-Rati” that Ben Morgenrood raced here, plus the Mazda 787B Rotary that

Mazda took to the 1991 Le Mans 24-Hour race victory.

Then the Mazda RX8 – offering a rotary engine and rear-wheel drive up to 2012, when others deemed both those things unfashionable.

I own a 20-year-old diesel-engined Mazda bakkie which cheerfully clatters me from place to place without the slightest fuss.

And today, when most hatchbacks, crossover and SUV vehicles look pretty much the same, Mazdas stand out as beautifully designed, almost sculptured, cars. Like the CX-3 2.0 Individual we recently had as a house guest for a week.

Pitched as a small crossover, the CX-3 carries that vehicle category’s visual impairment of trying to be two separate cars at the same time. But, it does so in a manner that makes it look slightly cartoonish – like a Hot Wheels offering.

Adding much to that look are its all-new 18-inch spoked alloy wheels in 215/50R18 rubberware and Soul Red Crystal colour– look at the photographs herewith and decide for yourself.

Being old and old-fashioned, this writer favours Mazda’s penchant for large, naturally aspirated petrol engines, as opposed to almost everybody else’s current love affair with small, turbocharged units.

In the case of the CX-3, the powerplant is a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre unit, that produces 115kW of power at 6 000rpm and 206Nm of torque at 2 800rpm. It is married to a six-speed automatic transmission that transfers the grunt and twist to the front wheels.

Active safety systems include ABS brakes with electronic brake assist, traction and stability control, hill start assist, rear parking camera, lane departure and blind spot warning.

If, despite all of the above, you still crash it, the Mazda will try to keep you safe via front, side and curtain airbags.

Inside, the Individual tag ensures full leather upholstery, a multi-function steering wheel, an onboard computer with headup display touchscreen, a seven-speaker Bose audio system, Bluetooth, a USB port, a satellite navigation system, air conditioning, cruise control, electric windows all round, remote central locking, keyless entry, electric handbrake and rain sensor automatic wipers.

The CX-3 was easy to drive, with ample torque from the powerplant giving it smooth cruising ability – it would run at 120km/h on the highway in sixth gear, with 2 400rpm on the clock.

The gearbox can be utilised in full automatic mode, via the gearshift or using paddles behind the steering wheel, but this writer soon figured I could not ever do it smoother than the auto box itself, and left well alone while driving with the two pedals only.

Sadly, the gearbox was my one, biggest complaint. When cruising at the legal limit, any uphill would induce the gearbox to kick down a cog without real reason, which proved irritating in an otherwise near flawless driving experience.

Performance is adequate for a vehicle of this type – Mazda claim acceleration from standstill to 100km/h in under 10 seconds plus a top speed of close to 200km/h.

We did not get brave around corners, but the handling seemed smooth and undramatic – the CX-3’s target market customers would be unlikely to indulge in street racing. What they will be interested in is comfort and space, both of it vehicle provides.

The rearview camera and a turning circle of 10.6m makes it a doddle to park.

Finally, while not trying to save fuel, the CX-3 returned an average petrol consumption figure of 8.2l/100km.

At a price of R442 600, it comes with a three-year unlimited kilometre service plan, a three-year factory warranty, three-year roadside assistance and a fiveyear corrosion warranty.