Call me ridiculous, but every day I am reminded of how stylish this little crossover really is. The competitors have nothing on it. They’re plain. This is contemporary. Few compact crossovers offer such minimalist dimensions in an attractive form that melds a sports car-esque raked profile and 18-inch wheels. It’s a fashion accessory suited for the most discerning of urbanite drivers. Inside it’s just as impressive. The high-grade materials and their aesthetically pleasing placement catch the eye, enough to elicit comments such as “Wow, this is a Mazda?” from riders.
I’ve adjusted to the CX-3’s unique attributes, such as the location of the infotainment’s volume/on-off knob. It’s located down below the gearshift, not on the dash as you’d expect. I’ve reached toward the dash countless times only to find a swatch of soft faux leather. By the time I’ve realized my mistake, I’ve decided it’s easier to adjust volume via the steering wheel’s handy controls. Our Grand Touring’s fast navigation system is also simple; inputting addresses with the touchscreen function undoubtedly has saved me time.
There isn’t much in the way of covered cubby space. My keys, wallet, and mobile phone get stacked in the tiny space ahead of the gearshift and under the CD slot, and the two centrally located cupholders are filled by my water bottle and coffee cup. Other small trinkets go straight into the capacious door panels. Unfortunately, the glove box doesn’t lock. Cargo space behind the second row is also slim at 12.4 cubic feet. I can fit two weekender duffel bags, and that’s about it. Of course, I can fold down the 60/40 folding second row to accommodate extra-large things. I decided to call up Thule and politely request use of their Aeroblade roof rack system (which includes crossbars, Rapid Traverse Foot Pack, and fit kit; total: $499) and Sonic M 634S ($570) cargo box. The combination provides an extra 13 cubic feet of covered and locked space. Thus far, it’s been awesome.
As for passenger room, the cabin is surprisingly airy. Nissan’s Juke, a former long-termer tester of mine, can’t compare in that regard. Nor can it come close when driving feel is considered. Never mind that it’s a crossover—Mazda ultimately decided that it should drive well. And guess what? It does. For a little machine with only 155 horses and all-wheel drive, it moves in ways that would make some sporty cars jealous. Its helm returns a nicely weighted pull. Shifts are quick. Hate to use the label “zippy,” but that’s exactly what the CX-3 is. And despite having my heavy right foot to contend with, our Mazda regularly returns commendable fuel economy; I’ve averaged more than 30 mpg on a consistent basis. It’s no rocket, mind you. And I expect my miles-per-gallon and performance to dwindle with the addition of my Thule carrier system.
I can only hope that a smidge of my self-imposed negative effects in mile-per-gallon and aero efficiency are offset by the lighter (18.4 pounds each) 18-inch-tall by 8-inch-wide OZ Racing Leggera HLT ($349 each) wheels. When winter started, I wrapped Continental Tire’s ExtremeContact DWS all-season rubber (sized in a meatier-than-stock 225/45R18; $126 each). I must admit, I’m digging the look of our little adventure mobile.
Tire Rack’s recommended setup has hopefully prepared me for the predicted rounds of El Niño storms. So far, all is well. Traction hasn’t been an issue, and I’ve gotten to carry more junk on short road trips.
More on our long-term Mazda CX-3 GT AWD here:
The post 2016 Mazda CX-3 GT AWD Update 1: New Wheels and the Airy Cabin appeared first on Motor Trend.
from Motor Trend http://ift.tt/1qrdRAR
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire