[fbergski]

So I've been looking for a FWD CX3 in So Cal and only come up wih AWD vehicles. Are FWD vehicles in short supply? Don't need an AWD in California, it will never see snow.

Thanks

 

[Slev]

Why a CX3 over a Mazda 3 hatch in this case? I like my CX3, but I bought it for the AWD. The 3 hatch gives better cargo room for less money in this case.

 

[Snoogie]

I agree with Slev there on if you are wanting a FWD hatch I would go straight for the 3. You can get more cargo room, better rear seating space, bigger engine, manual trans if your so incline, better gas mileage, and better center console everything. A s GT 3 is roughly $1k+ than a GT CX3 FWD. To be honest you may want to sway yourself to the 3 just because of the better benefits than the CX3 overall since you don't need the AWD which in my opinion is the biggest selling point of the CX3.

 

[Playthru1]

One reason is it doesn't look as good as the cx 3 and it's not even close.The 3 is nice looking but the cx3 and 3 are entirely two different cars.
I wanted the cx3 and did not have a interest in the 3 for whatever reason..

 

[fbergski]

One reason is it doesn't look as good as the cx 3 and it's not even close.The 3 is nice looking but the cx3 and 3 are entirely two different cars.
I wanted the cx3 and did not have a interest in the 3 for whatever reason..

Mazda 3 is too low, I don't like stepping down to get out of a car. I like the CX3. So I did a search on cars.com and see that there are plenty of FWD in the US but they are not in California. Doesn't make sense since we don't have inclement weather here.

 

[greaseman85]

Why a CX3 over a Mazda 3 hatch in this case? I like my CX3, but I bought it for the AWD. The 3 hatch gives better cargo room for less money in this case.

I would get a FWD CX-3 over the shitty 3 any day.

 

[Slev]

If you're talking about looks, yes, the CX3 wins hands down. But in nearly every other department, the 3 wins. It has the same engine, but is lighter so it's peppier and gets better fuel economy. It has better cargo room. More usable rear seats. The CX3 is great, but when you do FWD model, it really doesn't make sense to buy the CX3 over the 3.

 

[DJ9999]

The 3 and CX3 have nearly identical ground clearance so if the seating position is the factor, adjust the 3's to compensate some of the perceived difference. The revised center console of the 17 Mazda3 would actually be enough to sway me if I were in the FWD market and torn between the two.

 

[greaseman85]

If you're talking about looks, yes, the CX3 wins hands down. But in nearly every other department, the 3 wins. It has the same engine, but is lighter so it's peppier and gets better fuel economy. It has better cargo room. More usable rear seats. The CX3 is great, but when you do FWD model, it really doesn't make sense to buy the CX3 over the 3.

It makes sense to me, I don't care about the other departments like more cargo. I'm a single man, not a mother lol. The CX-3 is hands down a better looking car, the 3 is ugly and has an interior from 20 years ago.

 

[greaseman85]

The 3 and CX3 have nearly identical ground clearance so if the seating position is the factor, adjust the 3's to compensate some of the perceived difference. The revised center console of the 17 Mazda3 would actually be enough to sway me if I were in the FWD market and torn between the two.

I saw pictures of the 2017 3, the exterior still looks too weird to me, especially the hatchback version. Interior though is so much better than the current ones. I'm glad they've finally updated that 1990's looking interior. Hopefully the 2018 CX-3 sees a similar interior update.

 

[DJ9999]

Hopefully the 2018 CX-3 sees a similar interior update.

I expect that will be the case, bringing the CX3 in line with their latest updates and enhancements. Doing away with the manual parking brake creates a lot of space to rework the console. And the color HUD is much nicer.

 

[Playthru1]

I agree with Slev there on if you are wanting a FWD hatch I would go straight for the 3. You can get more cargo room, better rear seating space, bigger engine, manual trans if your so incline, better gas mileage, and better center console everything. A s GT 3 is roughly $1k+ than a GT CX3 FWD. To be honest you may want to sway yourself to the 3 just because of the better benefits than the CX3 overall since you don't need the AWD which in my opinion is the biggest selling point of the CX3.

To each there own but I have the FWD and I did not even consider the 3.If there was not a cx3 I would have bought the Subaru Crosstrek.

 

[funambulistic]

I agree on the looks department. The 3 is nice enough, but the CX-3 spanks the 3 aesthetically (exterior and interior). When I got mine the dealer was not budging (finally did, though) and tried to sell me a fully loaded '15 3 (with a manual - I wanted an automatic because of my stop and go daily drive) or a lower level 6. Nope. I loved my '13 MS3 because of its character; a beefed up 3 with a broken nose (that, and it was really fast). When the dealer tinted my windows, they gave me a 3 loaner and the day with that car justified (to me) my decision.

 

[Stevecrz2cx3]

Storage space is very low on my list of priorities for a car. However, the looks of a car is #1 or 2 on my list of needs. Next would be reliability, but that's pretty much the case for all Mazda's. The Mazda 3 hatchback is just too weird looking and out of proportion in my opinion. There is no way I could own it. The only other Mazda I would consider is the CX-5.

 

[Sarah]

I looked at both the 3 and the CX-3. Try closing the hatch on the 3, then go over and close the hatch on the CX-3. They are different experiences.

With the Mazda 3, I closed the hatch and it felt kind of light and not terribly sturdy. It didn't feel like it would stand up to anyone rear-ending you at low speeds.

When I shut the hatch on the CX-3, however, I felt a heavier, more satisfying THWUMP. It felt like there was going to be something substantial between me and the tailgating masses.

It just felt tougher. My dogs will be in the back seat when I finally get one. I like the feeling that there's something a bit more solid between them and whoever's driving behind us.

 

[Playthru1]

I looked at both the 3 and the CX-3. Try closing the hatch on the 3, then go over and close the hatch on the CX-3. They are different experiences.

With the Mazda 3, I closed the hatch and it felt kind of light and not terribly sturdy. It didn't feel like it would stand up to anyone rear-ending you at low speeds.

When I shut the hatch on the CX-3, however, I felt a heavier, more satisfying THWUMP. It felt like there was going to be something substantial between me and the tailgating masses.

It just felt tougher. My dogs will be in the back seat when I finally get one. I like the feeling that there's something a bit more solid between them and whoever's driving behind us.

I fold the back seats down for my dogs and lay a heavy blanket over the back area to protect it from wear and tear from the dogs.