Corner with ease in this sweet Mazda CX-3

THE ROAD to Potchefstroom from Johannesburg is a winding stretch of more than 100km – and on the route you can learn a lot about the car you’re driving.

First, the road can be bumpy, curvy and narrow, which requires balance and good handling around the bends, with some comfort to complete the driving experience.

Secondly, along with the dramatic change of scenery from city to the south-western mine dumps and sleepy agricultural sprawl, comes the nuisance of long-haul trucks and trailers snarling the road to Kimberley and back.

I recently took a one-day round trip on the N12 in a Mazda CX-3 SkyActiv – a mid-sized and compact family SUV with a touch of modernity.

I counted at least a dozen trucks on the road I had to pass before the road narrowed suddenly to a single lane – yet the CX-3 didn’t seem to mind a bit as it quietly and smoothly whipped past the long trailer-trucks and other cars.

I kept my eye on the fuel throughout the trip, filling up before starting on the excursion of just over 200km.

Using cruise control, the fuel was just above the half-tank level on my return, which I thought wasn’t too shabby in this segment of car. I’ve been considering buying a midsized car to accommodate my fam- ily in our scheduled four-times-ayear travels to Lesotho, when we pack in almost everything imaginable including my son’s toys.

So this was an opportune time to find out what the Mazda CX-3 had to offer. My wife, who would be its regular driver, loved it on first sight. With its keyless start-up, the engine turns immediately, with a pleasant hum.

I appreciated how the car handled the bends with ease, without me even noticing them.

Given the notoriety of the N12 (North West) – and those metro cops hiding behind trees with speed cameras – I am amazed that I didn’t come back clutching a handful of fines.

The sunroof afforded an airy welcome to the driver’s seat and the infotainment system was so good that it made it easy to let your mind drift while behind the wheel.

I didn’t need to fumble blindly for things I needed as everything I needed was laid out nicely before me within easy reach. (And that might not be a huge deal for others.)

It’s a driver’s car in an era of technology that allows you to see the outside world from an elevated view while taking calls via Bluetooth instead of having to take your hands off the steering wheel.

Just like any new car has at least one USB port these days, so does the Mazda CX- 3, which also boasts many other modern-car cosmetics inside.

It has leather seats which under- score the comfort and quietness of the vehicle. One flaw for me was the shape of its front grille.

Then there was a terrible sound the vehicle emitted when pushed hard uphill or spurred into sudden action. Perhaps this is because of the automatic gearbox.

I would buy one, without a moment’s hesitation, given that I am shopping in this segment.

But there are two things that will hold the Mazda CX-3 back from asserting itself in the SUV class.

It has little legroom in the backseat – for when I need to ferry the family with their luggage on the long haul or for adult friends.

And it also has very little boot space – even less than many other sedans I have seen.

BIT OF A SQUEEZE: The Mazda CX-3 SkyActiv has all the comforts, but lacks boot space.