[anchorman]

As requested, I am pinning this thread so that you place your feedback regarding this car. Its a place to debate opinion and share your wish list for forthcoming model updates. Remain civil and we’re not interested in fans of other marques expressing their preference for something else.

 

[mainemanx]

Wish List:

1. Dispense with the 30s-style parking/emergency brake lever ... it consumes far too much console space ... e.g. Honda's HR-V electronic Brake/Brake Hold System.

2. Likewise with the gear change, out with the mechanical, in with a space conserving electronically activated system ... already halfway there with the steering wheel paddle shifters.

3. Of course what I'm really looking for is simply more cubby space in the front cabin.

4. Greater adjustment/travel, vertical and horizontal, of the front seats ... maybe even tilt ... sounds like power seats doesn't it.

 

[DJ9999]

Im certain the manual handbrake will disappear during the mid cycle refresh.

 

[greaseman85]

1) Overhaul the interior to make it similar to the new Mazda 3 (which is similar to the Mazda 6).
2) Cabin is too loud, make it quieter (both road and engine noise).
3) A little more power.
4) Android Auto.
5) A few more convenience features like power seats.


Is this too much to ask for?

 

[plepak]

Not to be a Negative Nancy, but those might be too much to ask :/

1) Certainly possible, but space constraints might be an issue for some parts.
2) Sound-absorbing material adds weight, which is a problem because...
3) The engine is already tuned down to fit, so more power isn't likely :/
4) Android Auto should be pretty easy to implement. Unknown if CarPlay hardware is present, since the two seem to be deployed together by other makes.
5) Convenience features add weight, which wouldn't help with the already limited power.

 

[greaseman85]

Mazda engineers could certainly come up with a way to add more power, the engine is already big at 2.0 liter. Perhaps a small turbo? Heck, they could even make it smaller with a turbo, like the Hyundai Tucson which has a 1.6L turbo and produces more power if I'm not mistaken.

I don't believe for a minute that this is the best Mazda engineers could do on the CX-3, especially considering how good they normally are. My personal opinion is that this car was rushed to market to compete in the new and growing CUV segment and they didn't have the time/resources to make it as good as it could be. All they could do was make some modifications to engines they already had rather than build one specifically for the CX-3. Don't get me wrong, I still think they did a very good job considering they don't even have a 10th of the resources of the likes of Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, etc.

 

[anchorman]

We know that power seats are imminent.

The CX-5 got more sound deadening so I wouldn’t write it off and as for power, will most cars of this size in Europe have a 1.6 or 1.4 engine so I think its quite well endowed in that respect.

Apple and Android systems must be around the corner surely???

 

[NotAPreppie]

If I were head of product development, I would deliberately decontent the first few model years. It will look like it's rushed to market to a select few people but most won't care. They'll see new and interesting car and buy it. Then, in a few years, they add a few features (power seats, CarPlay/A.Auto, 5-10% more power, etc), call it a refresh and gain a new round of purchasers while minimizing engineering cost. This is your face-lift.

Three years after that, you do the refresh where you make more significant changes without significantly changing the platform as a whole. Tweak the sheet metal, make some interior design changes, add a few features that weren't fully cooked during the initial roll-out. You gain a new round of purchasers who think it's a new car or were waiting for the early-model-year-bugs to be worked out.

Follow it up 3-ish years later with a platform redesign using newer drivetrains and what-not and repeat the process.

So long as you don't wait too long to do the redesign (like VW did with the B5 platform and Saturn with the SL/SC/SW-series), you're good to go.

Here's my face-lift wish list:

1. Apple CarPlay. Apple CarPlay. Apple CarPlay. Apple CarPlay. (and Android Auto, I suppose)
   And make it retroactive to 2016 models, damnit! If that means buying a $500 hardware upgrade, it'd be worth it since that's the going rate on most aftermarket CarPlay head units is. Heck, $750 would be reasonable if it came backed with the factory warranty.
   
2. Give us a real center arm rest solution in the USA. The one provided is a piece of crap. Make it a drop-in replacement for the current one and I'll pay dealer MSRP for the part.
   
3. More power. Not a ton, just a bit more. Maybe detune the 2.5?
   
4. Memory seats would be nice. This is the size of an urban runabout in the US which means that urban couples will be sharing it as their only car.
   
5. Power-folding for the wing mirrors in the US. Again, urban runabout, lots of on-street parking and these mirrors are HYUUUGE!
   
6. A factory or dealer Homelink mirror option on vehicles equipped with iActivSense. Heck, just take the unit from the Mazda 3 and lengthen the arm a bit.
   
7. Keep the parking brake lever. I don't what an electronic interlock for what should be an important mechanical system. (Crap, I'm turning into an old man, not trusting these new-fangled electronic things. *shakes fist*That Internets will never last! Just a fad, I tell you!)

 

[santa]

Mazda engineers could certainly come up with a way to add more power, the engine is already big at 2.0 liter. Perhaps a small turbo? Heck, they could even make it smaller with a turbo, like the Hyundai Tucson which has a 1.6L turbo and produces more power if I'm not mistaken.

I don't believe for a minute that this is the best Mazda engineers could do on the CX-3, especially considering how good they normally are. My personal opinion is that this car was rushed to market to compete in the new and growing CUV segment and they didn't have the time/resources to make it as good as it could be. All they could do was make some modifications to engines they already had rather than build one specifically for the CX-3. Don't get me wrong, I still think they did a very good job considering they don't even have a 10th of the resources of the likes of Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, etc.

Mazda has chosen a different path than the other car manufactures, by sticking to larger non-turbo engines (except the diesel enginges, which of course has a turbo).
I actually like the 2.0, even in the 120HP version I have. It pulls great and is quite fast. It lacks the low down torque of a turbo, but haven driven a 1.4 turbo for 4 years prior to the CX-3, I'm pleased to be driving a non-turbo again (fewer parts that can break) and combined with the auto transmission it happily strolls along at 1200-1300 rpm.
It's easier to drive economically than a smaller turbo engine.
I don't think we'll see a small engine turbo from Mazda, as Skyactiv 2 is coming in a couple of years, using HCCI (homogenous-charge compression ignition) using compression to ignite (like a diesel) rather than a sparkplug.

Wish list for me:

1. Power seats with memory (also for HUD)
2. The colour HUD from the 3 and 6
3. Dual-zone climate control
4. Fully adaptive LED headlight like the new 3, 6 and CX-5
5. MRRC with queue assist (driving all the way down to zero and accellerate again without cancelling)
6. Updated trip computer and an in-dash information screen (like the 6 and CX-5)
7. Being able to use leaving-home lights when lights are in Auto-mode

 

[DJ9999]

If I were head of product development, I would deliberately decontent the first few model years. It will look like it's rushed to market to a select few people but most won't care. They'll see new and interesting car and buy it. Then, in a few years, they add a few features (power seats, CarPlay/A.Auto, 5-10% more power, etc), call it a refresh and gain a new round of purchasers while minimizing engineering cost. This is your face-lift.

This is a very common practice and one that Mazda implements already. Manufactures are forced to do this to an extent as a way to keep the model fresh until the next major revamp.

I usually buy a first year model knowing more content will be added later as I prefer to drive a new body style and am less concerned with things like a rear seat center armrest that will be added later.

 

[anchorman]

Mazda has chosen a different path than the other car manufactures, by sticking to larger non-turbo engines (except the diesel enginges, which of course has a turbo).
I actually like the 2.0, even in the 120HP version I have. It pulls great and is quite fast. It lacks the low down torque of a turbo, but haven driven a 1.4 turbo for 4 years prior to the CX-3, I'm pleased to be driving a non-turbo again (fewer parts that can break) and combined with the auto transmission it happily strolls along at 1200-1300 rpm.
It's easier to drive economically than a smaller turbo engine.
I don't think we'll see a small engine turbo from Mazda, as Skyactiv 2 is coming in a couple of years, using HCCI (homogenous-charge compression ignition) using compression to ignite (like a diesel) rather than a sparkplug.

Wish list for me:

1. Power seats with memory (also for HUD)
2. The colour HUD from the 3 and 6
3. Dual-zone climate control
4. Fully adaptive LED headlight like the new 3, 6 and CX-5
5. MRRC with queue assist (driving all the way down to zero and accellerate again without cancelling)
6. Updated trip computer and an in-dash information screen (like the 6 and CX-5)
7. Being able to use leaving-home lights when lights are in Auto-mode

I like the idea of the big lazy naturally aspirated engine too. With regular oil changes it'll last forever.

 

[rockposer]

Personally don't understand this incessant need for more and more hp, the car is plenty powerful for my needs with decent mpg.

What I'd like to see on refreshed models in the UK is auto locking doors, slightly longer seats with tilt. Removal of Gracenote database as it just cripples a half decent system. Interior more like Mazda 3 but being picky here and a sunroof option.

 

[raven]

I started a thread on this and was advised that it be moved here...
The Adaptive Driving Display (HUD) when turned "off" is not programmed to return to the horizontal state. This results in another plastic "window" with nothing projected on it being in the drivers view. I do enjoy using the display, but i would prefer for this feature to be implemented in a software update!

 

[st3v3cx-3]

Of the top of my head :-

1) The ability to adjust the sensitivity of the parking sensors

2) If the dealer fitted optional (in the UK anyway) 4 front parking sensors are fitted, change the wiring and supply a 3 position switch allowing all 4 on, just the inside pair on, or all 4 off. The middle position would allow using the front sensors when parking in a garage to be practical and a lot less noisy!!

3) Deeper sun visors

4) Electronic parking brake

 

[mainemanx]

Personally don't understand this incessant need for more and more hp, the car is plenty powerful for my needs with decent mpg.

What I'd like to see on refreshed models in the UK is auto locking doors, slightly longer seats with tilt. Removal of Gracenote database as it just cripples a half decent system. Interior more like Mazda 3 but being picky here and a sunroof option.

Just a little more HP, seats just a little longer, and maybe just a little wider also

 

[Vipre77]

I like my most things about my 2016 model as it is, but here would be my suggestions:

1. More robust armrest.
2. Prefer the infotainment display in the dash rather than on top of it. The CX-5 and 6 setups look much less obnoxious.
3. Ditch the CD player and move commander controls to the dash betwen the display and HVAC controls. Then move the cupholders forward to make room for #1 . I could live with a single cupholder in the center console if the door pockets were changed a little bit.
4. Fix the rattling issues in various places in the dash. Seems to be a fairly common issue on the 2016's. Not sure about the 2017's yet, but seems likely.
5. USB 3.0 to better support larger music collections and improve indexing speeds.
6. More amps from the USB ports for faster device charging or to support devices that require a higher minimum.
7. Improve the cowl over the gauge cluster to better shield it from sunlight. Can be a little hard to read at times.
8. Make auto-wipers and headlights separate from the rest of the iActiveSense system and make it standard on all but the bottom trim levels.
9. Powered/auto folding mirrors available for all markets.
10. Get rid of vinyl seating material. Just go cloth or real leather.
11. Any way to make the rear seats fold all the way flat? The slight incline can be a bit annoying at times when I need to put the seats down.
12. Is the sub-floor panel in the cargo area necessary? I'd argue it isn't and one floor panel is adequate.
13. I'd like a little quieter cabin, but it's not a deal-breaker for me.
14. A tad more power would be nice. 20 bhp (approx. 15% increase) would be appreciated when needed. Our FWD CX-5, to me, feels quicker despite being much bigger and heavier. Again, not a deal breaker.
15. Wish we had the same extensive accessories collection available in the US that other markets get.
16. I personally like the mechanical parking brake. I'd say keep it. My wife's CX-5 has the electronic brake and while it works, I'm not a huge fan of it. I use it sometimes in the snow to help get the rear end around quicker when I want/need to. It's not often I use it for that, but it's nice to have when I do.

 

[Levi3xt]

I'm very much with rockposer in not understanding the incessant need for more power.

I've been reading that many manufactures are now saying it was/is not a good idea going with small turbo engines. Many will return to the large capacity engines. If that turns out to be true it speaks well of Mazda for retaining the larger capacity.

 

[greaseman85]

My main point about the different engine that can produce more power was to counter the point that Mazda can't do anything to fix the issues with this car because it will add weight and slow the car down or decrease fuel economy or whatever. Sorry I don't accept that excuse, this is 2016 not 1980.

 

[remorej]

After owning my vehicle for 15 months, these are what I'd want available to add to mid level trims (I have the cx-3 GS)

- electronic braking (and fatigue braking when at stop lights just like the Honda Civic). I notice my leg twitching sometimes because I have to hold it down more firmly.
- I-activ sense package
- STANDARD ARM REST
- incorporate more sound deadening in the cabin.
- electronic seat adjustments with lumbar support
- some more front seat storage space
- digital speedometer *shrugs*
- standard roof rails ffreal.
- STANDARD climate control
- folding electronic side mirrors
- STANDARD Apple CarPlay and android auto!

I feel these additions should come standard in all vehicles in the coming years. I hope Mazda reads these testimonials and takes them in high consideration.

 

[anchorman]

After owning my vehicle for 15 months, these are what I'd want available to add to mid level trims (I have the cx-3 GS)

- electronic braking (and fatigue braking when at stop lights just like the Honda Civic). I notice my leg twitching sometimes because I have to hold it down more firmly.
- I-activ sense package
- STANDARD ARM REST
- incorporate more sound deadening in the cabin.
- electronic seat adjustments with lumbar support
- some more front seat storage space
- digital speedometer *shrugs*
- standard roof rails ffreal.
- STANDARD climate control
- folding electronic side mirrors
- STANDARD Apple CarPlay and android auto!

I feel these additions should come standard in all vehicles in the coming years. I hope Mazda reads these testimonials and takes them in high consideration.

They’d mean a lot more to Mazda if they could see where you were located ;-)