OHSCrifle
OHSCrifle GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/19/19 9:16 a.m.

I wandered Carmax this week and sat in a CX-3. Didn’t drive it. 

If you have one, how do you like it?

Opti
Opti HalfDork
1/19/19 3:03 p.m.

Free bump with completely unrelated content.

 

I like the hell out of the cx5

aircooled
aircooled MegaDork
1/19/19 7:35 p.m.

RX Revin is planning on purchasing one soon, seems to hit all his marks.  

Not a common car, most seem to go for the bigger stuff (probably a kid thing for most).  Not based on the 3 platform from what I am told.

 

dculberson
dculberson UltimaDork
1/19/19 9:30 p.m.

I’ve seen them with a stick. Really interested me. 

aircooled
aircooled MegaDork
1/19/19 9:32 p.m.

I think stick is EU only... 

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
1/19/19 9:46 p.m.
dculberson said:

I’ve seen them with a stick. Really interested me. 

Not available with a stick in the US :(

OHSCrifle
OHSCrifle GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
1/19/19 10:09 p.m.

2017 grand touring ergonomics seemed remarkably good for my 6’-5” self. Reviews say they are annoyingly noisy at highway speed. I’m just hoping for some testimonial(s). Seems like a cool runabout. I don’t need AWD.

I also liked the Juke and the QX30 Infiniti- all similar size but differing budgets. 

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
1/19/19 10:16 p.m.

The CX-3 is basically an AWD version of the new Mazda 2 we don't get here.

They are neat little cars but if you don't need AWD, the 3 has better fuel economy, more space, and a broader range of engine/transmission options, usually for less money.

spacecadet
spacecadet GRM+ Memberand Reader
1/19/19 11:10 p.m.

Not going to win any power races and they give up a LOT to be a CUV instead of a car with some of the styling. 

They ride poorly over anything but glass, the solid axle rear suspension is very limited in travel. 

Unless your requirements include AWD, go look at a Mazda 3, 6  or a CX-5 if it's in your budget. literally anything else in the line. 

Unless someone wanted a CX-3 I rarely steered them towards one when I was with Mazda. Better ways to spend money with the brand and get better value. 

Rotaryracer
Rotaryracer Reader
1/20/19 3:45 a.m.

We test drove both when we were shopping for my wife’s new ride in 2017...we brought home a CX-5 Grand Touring.  More power, better handling, much better ride quality.  She loved the size and general concept of the CX-3, but the CX-5 is just that much nicer.

dculberson
dculberson UltimaDork
1/20/19 5:47 a.m.

Nope they sold manuals here. I saw one for sale locally. Maybe they only sold them here for a year or something but at least one made it here with a stick!

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
1/20/19 8:07 a.m.
dculberson said:

Nope they sold manuals here. I saw one for sale locally. Maybe they only sold them here for a year or something but at least one made it here with a stick!

There's no EPA cert for a stick CX-3 - they sold stick CX-5s here for a few years, but never CX-3s - so it was probably a visitor from Canada. They exist, but the one you saw would have been tough to register in the US as an orphan without EPA certification!

Here's a review of the Canada-only FWD stick CX-3 GX, Mazda USA has no interest in selling this apparently:

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/10/2018-mazda-cx-3-gx-manual-review-three-pedals-enhance-cx-3s-best-characteristics/

John Welsh
John Welsh Mod Squad
1/20/19 9:26 a.m.

Here is a graphic that I am sure I first ever saw on GRM but it seems to be from Autotrader.  

https://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2016-mazda-cx_3-first-review-small-stylish-sporty/2000012002/

pappatho
pappatho New Reader
1/20/19 10:04 a.m.

When I looked at CX-5 and 3 a couple of years ago (I think before the last CX-5 redesign or refresh, but current 3), the 3 had more useable space with the rear seats folded down for the stuff I haul around like skis and bikes. The image above seems to indicate otherwise.

aircooled
aircooled MegaDork
1/20/19 11:06 a.m.
pointofdeparture said:

The CX-3 is basically an AWD version of the new Mazda 2 we don't get here.

They are neat little cars but if you don't need AWD, the 3 has better fuel economy, more space, and a broader range of engine/transmission options, usually for less money.

The CX-3 is available as FWD (it might even get a bigger fuel tank).

pointofdeparture
pointofdeparture GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
1/20/19 11:25 a.m.
aircooled said:
pointofdeparture said:

The CX-3 is basically an AWD version of the new Mazda 2 we don't get here.

They are neat little cars but if you don't need AWD, the 3 has better fuel economy, more space, and a broader range of engine/transmission options, usually for less money.

The CX-3 is available as FWD (it might even get a bigger fuel tank).

Yep, I'm aware - but the FWD CX-3 is essentially pointless considering the existence of the 3 which does everything better except for ground clearance.

Brett_Murphy
Brett_Murphy GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
1/20/19 11:59 a.m.
pointofdeparture said:

Yep, I'm aware - but the FWD CX-3 is essentially pointless considering the existence of the 3 which does everything better except for ground clearance.


This. Buying a Mazda3 will save you a bunch of cash, too. Right now they are offering $4000 on any leftover 2018s nation wide, I think.

And if you want ground clearance, just put a CX-5 suspension on  your Mazda3.

Snrub
Snrub HalfDork
1/20/19 6:11 p.m.

The ground clearance on the CX-3 is within .1" of the Mazda3.

Flynlow
Flynlow HalfDork
1/20/19 8:41 p.m.

I had one as a rental car for a week in phoenix.  It was a good little car.  I liked it better than the mazda3 i drove from an interior design and packaging standpoint.   

 

The air conditioning struggled to keep the cabin temp below 78-80, but it was 115-120 outside, so that wasnt really the cars fault.  And it was a little light on power.  Those were my only complaints.  I liked it better than most CUVs.  

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