2016 Mazda CX-3 Touring AWD-2.0L 4 cyl w/6spd auto & 215-60-16 wheels/tires(not the Grand Tourings 215-50-18s)$25,500
Well, I finally got around to actually road testing a new 2016 Mazda CX-3! The sales consultant was reluctant to let me test as they're only letting customers who are seriously interested in a CX-3 purchase, road test this new vehicle. I assured him that I am interested!?!?...what ever that means!
So, he get the FOB and unlocks the doors and hands me the FOB. I first check out the interior of the car(back seat/hatch area). Both kind'a small but, usable for sure. I won't give any dimensions on either.
I jump into the driver seat and start'er up. Adjusting the seat, mirror and steering wheel, I can tell you right now that this already has me liking the CX-3 over the Honda HR-V. The HR-V is comfortable for sure and it's rear seat area and cargo room are plenty but, the CX-3 already has soul and I haven't even put the shift lever in gear yet!
The CX-3 doors close with a positive thunk(HR-V feels kind'a tinny) and the steering wheel is niiiiice and THICK! I was able to get a comfortable driving position without much fuss and this isn't something I could say about many of the mid size family sedans that I test drove in Mar-Apr(prior to buying my Altima).
Heading out on the busy highway of car dealerships(auto blvd), I took it easy at first(never really beating the car), the 2.0 feels waaaaay more responsive than the gutless HR-V. With less noise too! This road starts out bumpy but, smooths out nicely.
Driving up hill to the first signal light, the brakes feel positive. And another takeoff from the light, I gun it and this little Mazda pulls nicely(especially in SPORT mode).
Handling is what you'd expect from Mazda but, the 16" 60 series tires helped with the road imperfections. It definitely has a better everyday ride than the Mazda3 that I recently test drove from the same dealership on the same loop.
Turning down a road that had some twisties, the little CX-3 felt secure and solid. On this test drive, I didn't feel anything cheap about the car...with the HR-V, almost everything felt cheap!
Hopping on the hiwy, the Mazda picks up speed nicely to merge with traffic and tracks wonderfully straight. You'd never know that this car is built on the Mazda2 chassis as it feels more like a Mazda3 but, BETTER everydayness, IMHO! Better ride, better comfort. I only drove the CX-3 for about 30 minutes and this only tells me so much!
Driving back to the dealership, I was able to WOT the engine and I can tell you it's quick! It even has it's sweet spot where it actually feels powerful! This was in Normal mode. SPORT mode hangs on to the REVs longer and I really like that!
I could[could] buy this car for it's good looks, nicely done interior & nimbleness. This is a car is done well, IMHO! Outward view was good except through the rear hatch as are all vehicles today but, not bad just the same! Rear seat room(sitting behind my own driving position(5'10") was decent. I wouldn't want to sit in the rear for 5 hours but, I could definitely go out to lunch sitting back there, maybe sit there for an hour!
Hatchback space is "hatchback space" and not CUV space!
This is a "Personal" vehicle for young adults and empty nesters as, I believe Mazda is marketing it!
Things that I don't like are:
*the lack of bins & cubbies
*the "raised up HUD glass
*the center analog Tach w/digital speedometer. I'd rather have a center analog speedometer & tach and other guages off to the side
*the black cladding around the wheel wells and lower rockers as I can't wait to see how fast it all fades in the sun!
*PRICE!!
Other things escape me for now as I was only driving the car for about 30 minutes and looked it over for another 30 min. I really liked driving this car!
This would be a really nice Personal Vehicle in 2WD($ave the money on AWD) and put the extra money into the Grand Touring model with some extras Pkgs. Chrome strips & trim pieces! My .02 cents!
Well, I finally got around to actually road testing a new 2016 Mazda CX-3! The sales consultant was reluctant to let me test as they're only letting customers who are seriously interested in a CX-3 purchase, road test this new vehicle. I assured him that I am interested!?!?...what ever that means!
So, he get the FOB and unlocks the doors and hands me the FOB. I first check out the interior of the car(back seat/hatch area). Both kind'a small but, usable for sure. I won't give any dimensions on either.
I jump into the driver seat and start'er up. Adjusting the seat, mirror and steering wheel, I can tell you right now that this already has me liking the CX-3 over the Honda HR-V. The HR-V is comfortable for sure and it's rear seat area and cargo room are plenty but, the CX-3 already has soul and I haven't even put the shift lever in gear yet!
The CX-3 doors close with a positive thunk(HR-V feels kind'a tinny) and the steering wheel is niiiiice and THICK! I was able to get a comfortable driving position without much fuss and this isn't something I could say about many of the mid size family sedans that I test drove in Mar-Apr(prior to buying my Altima).
Heading out on the busy highway of car dealerships(auto blvd), I took it easy at first(never really beating the car), the 2.0 feels waaaaay more responsive than the gutless HR-V. With less noise too! This road starts out bumpy but, smooths out nicely.
Driving up hill to the first signal light, the brakes feel positive. And another takeoff from the light, I gun it and this little Mazda pulls nicely(especially in SPORT mode).
Handling is what you'd expect from Mazda but, the 16" 60 series tires helped with the road imperfections. It definitely has a better everyday ride than the Mazda3 that I recently test drove from the same dealership on the same loop.
Turning down a road that had some twisties, the little CX-3 felt secure and solid. On this test drive, I didn't feel anything cheap about the car...with the HR-V, almost everything felt cheap!
Hopping on the hiwy, the Mazda picks up speed nicely to merge with traffic and tracks wonderfully straight. You'd never know that this car is built on the Mazda2 chassis as it feels more like a Mazda3 but, BETTER everydayness, IMHO! Better ride, better comfort. I only drove the CX-3 for about 30 minutes and this only tells me so much!
Driving back to the dealership, I was able to WOT the engine and I can tell you it's quick! It even has it's sweet spot where it actually feels powerful! This was in Normal mode. SPORT mode hangs on to the REVs longer and I really like that!
I could[could] buy this car for it's good looks, nicely done interior & nimbleness. This is a car is done well, IMHO! Outward view was good except through the rear hatch as are all vehicles today but, not bad just the same! Rear seat room(sitting behind my own driving position(5'10") was decent. I wouldn't want to sit in the rear for 5 hours but, I could definitely go out to lunch sitting back there, maybe sit there for an hour!
Hatchback space is "hatchback space" and not CUV space!
This is a "Personal" vehicle for young adults and empty nesters as, I believe Mazda is marketing it!
Things that I don't like are:
*the lack of bins & cubbies
*the "raised up HUD glass
*the center analog Tach w/digital speedometer. I'd rather have a center analog speedometer & tach and other guages off to the side
*the black cladding around the wheel wells and lower rockers as I can't wait to see how fast it all fades in the sun!
*PRICE!!
Other things escape me for now as I was only driving the car for about 30 minutes and looked it over for another 30 min. I really liked driving this car!
This would be a really nice Personal Vehicle in 2WD($ave the money on AWD) and put the extra money into the Grand Touring model with some extras Pkgs. Chrome strips & trim pieces! My .02 cents!
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