My local Mazda dealer here in Canada just got their first 4 CX-3s on the lot today, so I walked over and took a look. I didn't test drive, but I sat in one and looked around. Disclaimer: as my wife will tell you, I'm not the most observant person; oblivious is the word she usually uses. Did my best to take a good look, but I make no warranties. First impressions:
Seemed really small, as soon as I walked in. That's not necessarily a knock, from my perspective: I'm really shopping for a comfortable hatchback, NOT a little SUV.
Hatch and trunk are not at all spacious... less than the Mazda3 with the seats up, a little more with them folded. Small in width and height, with a diminutive hatch restricting the opening. Not a bad size for a little hatchback, undoubtedly bigger than a Mazda2, but I bet the Ikea index is no better than my little Acura sedan.
Styling is very personal... and personally, not for me, yet. I say yet because I really disliked the Mazda3 when it first came out, but it's grown on me a lot in recent months. This just might too... though I doubt it. Seems cartoony, overblown, like a Mini but without the iconic precursor. Didn't like the high sides and narrow glass, oversized wheels and raised rear and cut-off front end. Very little I did like, actually... maybe the lights. But to quote my dad, de gustibus non disputandum est.
Cockpit was very comfortable. Good, supportive seat, though the hip-height wasn't as high as I was expecting, still felt like sitting down into the car. Very high-quality feel to the interior. Controls and switches all near to hand and seemed logical. Love the feel and idea of the HMI Commander switch for the infotainment unit, though I wasn't able to turn it on and play with it. Not crazy about the screen sticking up from the dash, but I don't hate it either. Really dislike the digital-only speedo... if they were going with only a single dial, is a tach really the best option in an automatic??
That, of course (auto-only) is my biggest knock on the CX3.
Visibility out the back and to the quarters was abysmal, as it seems to be with all new cars. And no, I don't think lots of fancy blind-spot monitoring systems make up for it.
For those that are disappointed in the lack of cubby space in the HR-V, prepare to be equally dismayed. I haven't seen an HR-V, but I found virtually no place in this car, other than the glove box, to put anything more than a cell phone and a coffee. I confess I haven't been too worried about that in the HR-V because I'm a pretty minimalist guy, but when I looked around this cockpit and thought about the few things I like close at hand in my car, I got worried.
Sat in the back seat, with the front at my driving distance (all the way back). Zero leg room... the only way to get in was to bury my knees in the back of the driver's seat, and they stayed buried when I was all the way in. At least the front seat back was soft... and the seat seemed okay otherwise. Way less room back there than in my '03 civic-equivalent Acura. Makes it a 2-seater for me; I never carry anyone that would be at all comfortable back there (i.e. kids).
Well, pretty negative review all in all. I will say it's a very well built and finished car, the driving seat and controls are very well thought out (except the speedo and visibility), and the overall impression, at least inside, is of quality and class.
I also spent some time looking at the Mazda3, and if I end up considering Mazda it'll be that one. Same sense of quality and finish, similarly nice cockpit, bigger trunk with the seats up and almost as much seats down (per the brochures). Little lower seating position, but the one thing I really want in a car... manual transmission.
Hope that's of interest. If you have any questions let me know and I'll try to answer them (from the brochure, if not memory). Didn't take any pictures because there are lots on the internet.
Cheers... Perry.
Seemed really small, as soon as I walked in. That's not necessarily a knock, from my perspective: I'm really shopping for a comfortable hatchback, NOT a little SUV.
Hatch and trunk are not at all spacious... less than the Mazda3 with the seats up, a little more with them folded. Small in width and height, with a diminutive hatch restricting the opening. Not a bad size for a little hatchback, undoubtedly bigger than a Mazda2, but I bet the Ikea index is no better than my little Acura sedan.
Styling is very personal... and personally, not for me, yet. I say yet because I really disliked the Mazda3 when it first came out, but it's grown on me a lot in recent months. This just might too... though I doubt it. Seems cartoony, overblown, like a Mini but without the iconic precursor. Didn't like the high sides and narrow glass, oversized wheels and raised rear and cut-off front end. Very little I did like, actually... maybe the lights. But to quote my dad, de gustibus non disputandum est.
Cockpit was very comfortable. Good, supportive seat, though the hip-height wasn't as high as I was expecting, still felt like sitting down into the car. Very high-quality feel to the interior. Controls and switches all near to hand and seemed logical. Love the feel and idea of the HMI Commander switch for the infotainment unit, though I wasn't able to turn it on and play with it. Not crazy about the screen sticking up from the dash, but I don't hate it either. Really dislike the digital-only speedo... if they were going with only a single dial, is a tach really the best option in an automatic??
That, of course (auto-only) is my biggest knock on the CX3.
Visibility out the back and to the quarters was abysmal, as it seems to be with all new cars. And no, I don't think lots of fancy blind-spot monitoring systems make up for it.
For those that are disappointed in the lack of cubby space in the HR-V, prepare to be equally dismayed. I haven't seen an HR-V, but I found virtually no place in this car, other than the glove box, to put anything more than a cell phone and a coffee. I confess I haven't been too worried about that in the HR-V because I'm a pretty minimalist guy, but when I looked around this cockpit and thought about the few things I like close at hand in my car, I got worried.
Sat in the back seat, with the front at my driving distance (all the way back). Zero leg room... the only way to get in was to bury my knees in the back of the driver's seat, and they stayed buried when I was all the way in. At least the front seat back was soft... and the seat seemed okay otherwise. Way less room back there than in my '03 civic-equivalent Acura. Makes it a 2-seater for me; I never carry anyone that would be at all comfortable back there (i.e. kids).
Well, pretty negative review all in all. I will say it's a very well built and finished car, the driving seat and controls are very well thought out (except the speedo and visibility), and the overall impression, at least inside, is of quality and class.
I also spent some time looking at the Mazda3, and if I end up considering Mazda it'll be that one. Same sense of quality and finish, similarly nice cockpit, bigger trunk with the seats up and almost as much seats down (per the brochures). Little lower seating position, but the one thing I really want in a car... manual transmission.
Hope that's of interest. If you have any questions let me know and I'll try to answer them (from the brochure, if not memory). Didn't take any pictures because there are lots on the internet.
Cheers... Perry.