
We are starting to have the very first reviews trickle in on the 2015 Mazda CX-3, and as they come out we are getting a better picture of what the strengths and weaknesses are of the vehicle. Here I've gathered together what reviewers are saying about the CX-3 so far -- the good and the bad. Although I will say that there is far more good things to be said than bad at the moment.
The Good
The first thing that anyone will notice about the CX-3 is that it is a great looking vehicle. Its C-pillar reminds of the Evoque, and that is meant in a good way. Mazda describes the headlights as being inspired by a tiger that is about to pounce. The styling is both interesting and youthful, yet accessible.
The CX-3 also gets good marks when it comes to driving. The CX-3 uses a 2.0-lire petrol engine which sets it apart from its competitors that use smaller engines generally. It makes 109kW of power at 6000rpm and 192Nm of torque at 2800rpm. The diesel engine gets 77kW at 4000rpm but a greater 270Nm between 1600rom and 2500rpm. It is worth noting that the petrol version has a sport mode while the diesel version does not.
The infotainment system also is worth mentioning. It is described as the "class benchmark for integration of phone, nav and apps connectivity. The system will likely be an option and not standard on the base CX-3 model.
The Bad
One thing that is clear with the CX-3 is that styling has been prioritized over cargo space. The CX-3 has a shallow trunk with just 264 litres of volume. This compares to 350 litres for the Trax. A similar issue is raised when considering the rear leg room. Backseat passengers do not have ample amounts of leg room, that is for sure. Head room is also affected by the slanted roofline.
The other main criticism is of some of the interior materials used with the CX-3. At a price of $22k (in Australia) some of the materials do not feel premium enough. Mainly these materials are hard black plastic.
Feel free to add to list from you r own experience or other reviews that come out.