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

We assessment the 2020 Mazda CX-3 and question about its upcoming. Does it have a single? Maybe…

The arrival of the CX-3 in the Mazda lineup for the 2016 product-yr was an predicted celebration. The fledgling sub-compact SUV phase was then absorbing portions of new goods, and the Japanese automaker was just signing up for the fray. What was extra astonishing was the model’s structure.

The new CX-3 slotted in down below the CX-5 – no surprise there. But Mazda gave it proportions that placed in among the Mazda2 and the Mazda3, which led lots of to question about the genuine variation among the newbie and the 3, in unique. Other than the former acquiring available AWD, not then achievable with the 3, it offered consumers pretty substantially the identical thing as the latter’s hatchback variation.

Any variation in cargo space, for occasion, was negligible. When seated within, you’d have been difficult-pressed to inform a single from the other.

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See our Review of the 2020 Mazda CX-thirty.

Inspite of that, the product proved preferred. Its adorable structure, the all-wheel drive and the appealing selling price issue all performed in its favour. The initially era was, for Mazda, a big achievements. Right now, nonetheless, this CX-3 is reaching the close of its existence-cycle, and the upcoming is cloudy.

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

Undeniable attractiveness
Inspite of the wrinkles displaying on the product, the CX-3 continues to be preferred, for the reason that it has plain attractiveness and satisfies the requires of lots of consumers. There’s the selling price, as outlined. The bidding commences at underneath $21,000, and you can get AWD setting up at underneath $twenty five,000 Mazda has items pegged proper here. Consumers do will need to be mindful about about-spending, for occasion on the GT. At about $31,000, the product is no for a longer time a discount.

2020 Mazda CX-3, inside

And so restraint is in get. Consumers need to thoroughly detect their requires to guide them in making the proper alternative. Know, for example, that with the GX base product, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Automobile integration and Bluetooth, the crucial features when it comes to connectivity. To get heated seats and steering wheel, you do have to shift up to the GS. This variation, which also comes with all-wheel drive, will set you back among $twenty five,000 and $26,000.

If basic safety is your precedence, you’ll have to climb another notch on the trim ladder to the extremely best, at which you issue you get a host of drive support capabilities.

Keep in thoughts that with the base product, set at $21,045, you’ll be acquiring a guide gearbox, and no risk of AWD. An extra $1,300 will give you the computerized transmission, nonetheless.

2020 Mazda CX-3, next row

Just ample
Less than the hood, Mazda places only the a single motor: a two.0L 4-cylinder excellent for 148 hp and 146 lb-ft of torque. Energy is suitable here, but only just. The slightest aggression on the accelerator turns the CX-3 into an indignant, squawking minimal mouse, and you’ll want to plan your passing and merging manoeuvres with treatment.

The two transmissions, guide and computerized, every have six gears and do skilled operate – other than inducing the afore-outlined squawking.
 
Sounds apart, they do lead to a beneficial driving expertise, which is a single of the strengths of the CX-3 in relation to its competition. Anything is relative, of program. This minimal Mazda mouse is no sports activities automobile.

Put another way, the expertise of driving this thing is reflective of its aspect list and selling price assortment, both equally dependent on the basic principle of compromise. And for the vast majority of prospective buyers in this phase, that is truthful ample.

The upcoming? Does it have a single?
Though the CX-3 nevertheless holds attractiveness and fulfills its mandate, it is, as we pointed out, growing older. And now that Mazda has rolled out the a little bit larger sized CX-thirty, lots of are predicting that the minimal mouse could disappear, as before long as the close of this yr. Which is definitely achievable, but it might be wise not to get forward of ourselves. For now, Mazda has supplied particularly zero indication it plans to jettison the product to make space for the CX-thirty.

In point, search to what is happening at other automakers, and you might get to a different conclusion. If Hyundai can come across space in its lineup for both equally the Kona and the Venue, why not Mazda with its CX-3 and CX-thirty? Appropriate now, public thirst for compact SUVs is this sort of that brands are tripping about them selves to accommodate them.

That stated, Mazda will have to revisit the CX-3, and do it fairly promptly. Just about every yr the existing variation will get creakier, and frankly, proper now it’s pretty difficult to differentiate a CX-3 from a CX-thirty from a CX-5 from 50 paces absent. If you’re going to promote goods that resemble a single another, they have to be, nicely, extra different.

2020 Mazda CX-3, a few-quarters rear

It’s also worth keeping in thoughts that, ultimately, the upcoming of the CX-3 is in the fingers not of Mazda but of consumers. If product sales of the product, renewed or not, continue to be sturdy together with individuals of the CX-thirty, both equally designs will continue being in the catalogue.

For the second, everyone on the lookout to Mazda for clues as to the path it’s arranging to take its minimal SUV in is performing so in vain. Radio silence from the company. Time – and upcoming product sales – will inform.

Summary
If you are imagining of acquiring a CX-3, you will never be making a bad alternative but know that for about $3,000 extra, you can get your fingers on a extra-contemporary, extra-spacious product in the CX-thirty. Then There is the Mazda3, now with all-wheel drive. i

At that issue, which a single you decide on will be a matter of desire.

2020 Mazda CX-3, a few-quarters entrance

We like

Interesting exterior design and style
Constructive driving expertise
Availability of all-wheel drive
Very affordable (other than for the best-close product)

We like considerably less

It can be growing older
Somewhat anemic motor
High priced best-close product
Not substantially cargo space

The levels of competition

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

2020 Mazda CX-3, on the road

2020 Mazda CX-3, headlight

2020 Mazda CX-3, taillight