MOTORING


New Mazda SUV is a class apart


Vehicles in the small SUV market have rarely really oozed any class, but the Mazda CX3 looks to have re-written the rule book. We sent motoring journalist Nick Jones to try out the latest incarnation in what looks to be a fiercely competitive market.


As well as offering buyers a good choice of engine options, I can’t quite put into words how good this little SUV looks – it oozes style. It had a refresh not so long ago, but in 2019 this new version looks better still. You can opt for two 2.0-litre petrol engines, a diesel version manual or automatic transmission and, unlike most of its competitors, you can have four-wheel drive. So, the petrol versions boast 120 and 150 horsepower


respectively, with the 1.8-litre diesel stirring 105; both the entry-level petrol and diesel are front wheel drive, the higher-powered petrol being the only version with four-wheel drive. Performance is adequate, the Mazda has to be


revved quite hard in order to get anywhere near what I would describe as sprightly as it doesn’t come with a turbocharger. If it’s a bit more oomph you want, then choose the diesel as it has a fair amount of punchy torque once the needle starts swinging round to the red line. My choice would also favour the lower powered


petrol CX3, as the four-wheel drive is quite heavy in such a small car. I’d like to compliment the ride also – it absorbs


bumps and undulations in the road rather well, despite the small wheelbase, and the steering is nicely weighted. There are lots of versions you can opt for in your CX3, so choose wisely as it can get a tad silly towards the top-end of the range. I’d definitely opt for the larger wheels as they fill out the arches nicely, and


80 business network April 2019


specifications include options such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to link with your smart phone. It’s quite spacious in here also, with good visibility


and everything’s to hand with a quite brilliant infotainment system. The rear hatch isn’t perhaps as large as some of the rivals, but this is a small SUV so don’t expect it to be cavernous. Overall, I loved the way it looks and the easy-to-


operate touchscreen technology it housed; on the downside was the lack of urgency compared to rivals (most of them use whizz bang wallop turbos) under the bonnet.


FACTFILE


MODEL Mazda CX3


PRICE OTR From £18,995


PERFORMANCE Top speed: From 110 – 124mph 0-60 mph: 8.7 – 10.1 seconds Power: 105 - 150 horsepower


CO2 EMISSIONS 105g/km (diesel)


COMBINED MPG 70.6 mpg


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