Mazda jumps into city SUV battle with new CX-3
HOLLYWOOD -- Mazda has jumped into the ballooning new category of small city-oriented SUVs, unveiling its all-new 2016 CX-3 at a Tuesday night event ahead of the L.A. Auto Show.
The new market segment barely existed and was barely defined in the U.S. a year ago -- with a few such disparate small crossovers as the Buick Encore, Nissan Juke, maybe you'd include a few others.
But it seems to be the big trend of the show here, as the segment takes shape with a batch of new entries being shown, including the CX-3, as well as Chevy Trax, Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X. Jeep will have its coming Renegade, the 500x's sibling, on display as well.
All are chasing U.S. urban buyers who want SUV ambiance and features in a package they can park. Whether there are enough of those people to support the number of vehicles joining the hunt remains to be seen. But the Encore both has gained sales and has shown that these buyers may want less bulk but are willing to pay premium prices for amenities.
The CX-3 that had its debut at Raleigh Studios here is one of the most stylish of the group, with its riff on the "Kodo -- Soul of Motion" design theme that runs through all of Mazda's current vehicles.
And it offers the full range of Mazda's Skyactiv powertrain and construction technology that has brought a generation of Mazdas that are lighter and significantly more fuel efficient while staying true to the automaker's reputation for products that are fun to drive.
CX-3 is, says Mazda, "a vehicle to suit the customer's creative lifestyle in any scene, from inner-city driving to enjoying the great outdoors."
The new SUV slides into the lineup under the successful CX-5 two-row compact SUV. And it is small: It's about 10 inches shorter than the CX-5 (no behemoth itself), about 3 inches narrower and gives up nearly 5 inches in height. The wheelbase is 101.2 vs. 106 for the CX-5.
Emphasizing again the intended market, Mazda says, "The body size makes the CX-3 easy to handle, even when driving in town or parking."
The new CX-3 is powered by Mazda's 2-liter Skyactiv naturally aspirated four-cylinder mated to a 6-speed automatic. A new, lighter all-wheel drive that can anticipate front wheel slip is optional.
Styling details, such as the sleek headlamps and LED accents on the versions shown here, convey an upscale feel -- this is not intended to be your econobox offering. And the interior is similarly upscale, with a driver-oriented layout, on the versions here and had the latest-generation Mazda infotainment and connectivity systems and a 7-inch screen. The rear seat sits higher than the front stadium-style and -- as in most of these vehicles -- is a cozy fit for two.
As in the CX-5, the windshield pillars are pulled back and the mirrors moved out on the doors, which provides admirably better front vision than in some of these SUVs and a lot of other vehicles these days.
The CX-3 is a global product for Mazda and will go on sale this spring, starting in Japan. U.S. sale date and pricing still are to be specified.