CX-3 Debuts, Already Owns All Other Tiny Crossovers

7454 Views 58 Replies 34 Participants Last post by eaton53, Dec 18, 2014

nadepalma

Discussion Starter · Dec 16, 2014

2016 Mazda CX-3 Debuts, Already Owns All Other Tiny Crossovers
Damn, this thing looks good.
NOVEMBER 2014
BY ALEXANDER STOKLOSA

The reveal of an all-new subcompact crossover typically elicits reactions from us that border on comatose. We look up, shrug, and then pour a beer and fantasize about all the bolt-ons we want to buy for our track cars. Or that classic Ford Bronco we could totally bring back from the brink of death.

That is more or less how we approached the unveilings of Chevrolet’s 2015 Trax, Kia’s newest Soul, and Fiat’s 500X. Even the Honda HR-V, which, being Fit-based, might have an iota of sportiness, hasn’t raised pulses around here. Nissan’s Juke, one of the first into the fray, and Jeep’s Renegade are marooned on an island of curiosity bordering on actual interest. To this bleak landscape comes Mazda, bursting in with its all-new CX-3, talking up a storm about driving pleasure and Jinba-Ittai at the 2014 L.A. auto show. Hold that beer a sec, will ya?

CONTINUE AT CAR & DRIVER

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sfbreh

· #2 · Dec 16, 2014

I like the HR-V and the CX-3.

HR-V looks like the last gen CR-V (the best CR-V) and looks like a great "utility crossover" for moms or daughters or whatever.
CX-3 is long and sexy.

Trax is ugly.
Renegade looks like Frankenstein.
Soul is a Kia.
500X is a 500.

Juke, I also dig. It's interesting in a category dominated by largely just uninteresting cars.

Reactions: 3

mjd1001

· #3 · Dec 16, 2014

From the looks of it, the CX-3 is my favorite of the group (Renegade a close second)

Owning a recent Mazda and knowing some co-workers that do, reliability is not a concern for me any longer (plus we normally only keep cars 2-3 years with 70-90k highway miles on them.)

The fuel economy should be stellar, with Mazdas 2.0 and 6 speed auto. Not as good as the 3 (due to height and the fact it is a hatchback), but with similar gearing, I'd expect this in the 26-27city, 36 or MAYBE 37 highway range with class competitive performance.

This is one we will surely be looking at next summer.

steve333

· #4 · Dec 16, 2014

This is the perfect counterpoint to GM's ineptness.
Mary Barra is more of the same - lazy, uncompetitive, clueless, and not fit for the job.
The Trax was a lazy attempt to get the mainstream of the market. Didn't bother bringing production to the U.S., didn't update the front clip, didn't improve the cheap abomination that is MyLink, didn't improve the dash or offer a engine upgrade.
I root for the Mets, Jets, Islanders, Knicks and GM. All losers.

ne_one

· #5 · Dec 16, 2014

steve333 said:
This is the perfect counterpoint to GM's ineptness.
Mary Barra is more of the same - lazy, uncompetitive, clueless, and not fit for the job...

Seriously? The vehicle was introduced at the same time as she was appointed.

Reactions: 1

dslay04

· #6 · Dec 16, 2014

That slanted Fog light design element is getting boring already.

Slideways

· #7 · Dec 16, 2014

I still don't get it.

goatgary

· #8 · Dec 16, 2014

dslay04 said:
That slanted Fog light design element is getting boring already.

And horizonal, vertical, and diagonal are not? Can I assume you have a more innovative orientation?

Slideways

· #9 · Dec 16, 2014

goatgary said:
And horizonal, vertical, and diagonal are not? Can I assume you have a more innovative orientation?

Diagonal is much more innovative than slanted, it's a known fact.

zl-1

· #10 · Dec 16, 2014

Like all recent Mazdas it looks really good.

Reactions: 1

Ambalanche

· #11 · Dec 16, 2014

Easily the best looking in the catagory. Trax is ugly and Encore isn't that much better IMO but it sells...

steve333

· #12 · Dec 16, 2014

ne_one said:
Seriously? The vehicle was introduced at the same time as she was appointed.

Was it out for sale when she was introduced? If you were CEO would you say OK to it as is or would you say 'this is just not good enough'-improve the dash and infotainment system at the very least?

eaton53

· #13 · Dec 17, 2014

zl-1 said:
Like all recent Mazdas it looks really good.

And probably won't sell worth a crap for whatever reason.

paul8488

· #14 · Dec 17, 2014

In my last visit to Canada (last summer) I noticed TONS of late-model Mazdas with rusty tailgates, often around the licence plate bracket / surround, and some around the wheel wheels. It is just anecdotal, but it was obvious enough that it really caught my attention. Is this a known problem with recent Mazdas? I love their designs, and the bit of experience I have with them lead me to think that there are no major problems, but I was shocked to see so many rusty, not-that-old Mazdas...

fm442scr

· #15 · Dec 17, 2014

CX-3 is def best looking in its class, but thats not saying much when RAV4s and CR-Vs, and the Trax all are pretty boring and look more or less the same and the Juke and Soul are just god awful ugly!

0fxxk0

· #16 · Dec 17, 2014

This thing is all nose and no ass. I'd take a used Infiniti FX35/45 over this homely little Mazda

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1957wildcat

· #17 · Dec 17, 2014

I think that the Buick Encore looks fine and is doing very well in this segment. (Though I hope that GM gives it a more powerful engine and better front-seat armrest in 2018.)

The Mazda is nothing special to me; I prefer the Buick.

Reactions: 1

Rocket 88

· #18 · Dec 17, 2014

steve333 said:
This is the perfect counterpoint to GM's ineptness.
Mary Barra is more of the same - lazy, uncompetitive, clueless, and not fit for the job.
The Trax was a lazy attempt to get the mainstream of the market. Didn't bother bringing production to the U.S., didn't update the front clip, didn't improve the cheap abomination that is MyLink, didn't improve the dash or offer a engine upgrade.
I root for the Mets, Jets, Islanders, Knicks and GM. All losers.

You're right on all counts, except the Islanders seem to be turning it around. My Devils are going the other way.

johnstarnes

· #19 · Dec 17, 2014 (Edited)

I don't like that slap-sided, front side treatment...it seems so unrelated.

SierraGS

· #20 · Dec 17, 2014

Owns other Small Crossovers???

Be very surprised if the HR-V and Renegade don't rock the sales charts and totally dominate this segment within 24 months.

The CR-V's approx 330,000 sales for 2014 will move a lot of HR-V's for Honda for those who still liked the original CR-V's smaller size.

The fact the Renegade is almost the exact size of the "old" Cherokee the made it's debut in 1984 will make it quite popular and sell to many buyers attracted to the "new" Cherokee that is now Jeep's best seller.

The CX-3 will do well enough but doubt it is the sales leader of the segment.

GM needs to answer with the Granite as a CUV with styling cues that lean more towards the Renegade and completely different than the Encore, similar the the Enclave/Acadia that has proven quite successful (and profitable) for Buick/GMC with most selling to "new to the Brand" conquest buyers.

Problem is GM's management is not that market savvy and will continue to be "owned" by Jeep and Honda, not to mention Subaru in the hot small CUV market when it is sitting on a brand (GMC) that every other automaker outside of FCA would give anything to have as a brand for this segment and that includes Honda and Toyota. Give Honda, Toyota or VW GMC as a brand and they will show GM how to make some serious money. Jeep will sell 1 million units in 2014 and is really taking off in Europe where GM should be offering GMC product to help it sell 1 million GMC CUV/SUV, and another 1 million+ trucks globally by 2020 if not by 2018. GMC only needs the product.

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