The 2016 Mazda CX-3. |
2016 Mazda CX-3. |
Were it not for ride height, you might think these are simply four-door hatchbacks, not crossover SUVs, but the combination of available all-wheel drive (which both our Mazda and Honda testers had) and true utility set them apart.
The CX-3 we drove was the top-of-the-line Grand Touring Model. Equipped with a 2.0-liter engine making 148 horsepower (seven more than the HR-V) teamed to a six-speed automatic (versus the Honda's Continuously Variable Transmission), it delivers the same EPA estimated 27 mpg city and 32 highway as the Honda. Base price for the top trim is $26,240....$400 more than the HR-V's fanciest.
As always, Mazda nails it on the fun-to-drive quotient. Their vehicles are drivers' cars...simply more engaging than the competition. It may have roughly the same power as the Honda, but the combination of a true automatic rather than a CR-V and Mazda's devotion to sports car-like handling make a huge difference.
2016 Mazda CX-3 interior. |
There were three extra-cost options on our tester: The Soul Red paint costs $300, Mazda Mobile Start is $550 and the GT-IACTIVESENSE package (radar cruise control, smart city brake support, variable rain-sensing wipers, lane departure warning, automatic on/off headlights and high beam control) is $1,920. Bottom line: $29,890.
Both the CX-3 and the HR-V are fine examples of the new breed of small crossovers. Neither would be a bad choice, and the Honda, based on the marque's history, is likely to last a lifetime. But if you want or need the connection with the road...if you want an MX-5 but need a crossover, the CX-3 is the way to go.