In the fall of 2014, the long-awaited premiere of the Mazda CX-3 compact crossover took place in Los Angeles. This is the fifth car in the line, tried on the entire set of Skyactiv technologies and Kodo style. In the automaker's lineup, the novelty took place a step below the CX-5 crossover. The exterior of the CX-3 is made in the current corporate style of the company “KODO - Soulof Motion” with a characteristic massive grille and narrow lighting technology. The silhouette of the body is characterized by a long bonnet with a smooth, expressive line flowing onto the front fenders and running along the sidewall, up to the taut stern with a small overhang.
For the sake of cleanliness of the lines of the rear bumper, the designers pushed the license plate higher. One of the components of the image - blackened rear rack. And details such as LEDs in the head and rear optics give the car charm and aggressiveness. In general, the model's appearance intersects with both the older brother CX-5 and the "deuce" of the second generation. For the crossover used a new type of paint, which the company calls "ceramic metallic". It gives interesting effects when changing lighting.
The CX-3 crossover is built on the basis of the Skyactiv chassis, exactly the same as the Mazda 2. But the SUV has a length of 4,275 mm (dvushka - 4060), 1765 in width (70 mm wider), 1550 in height ( 25–50 mm higher, depending on the version). Ground clearance is 160 mm (Mazda 2 has 145 mm for the Hatch). Only the wheelbase remained unchanged - 2570 mm. This means that before us is a compact crossover, much smaller in size than its "older brother" CX-5. It is noteworthy that in the CX-3 body, high-strength steels account for 63%, for ultra-high-strength ones - 29%.
Four percent is allocated to advanced steels with a tensile strength above 1180 MPa. The salon received a classic 5-seater layout, and its design is almost entirely borrowed from the Mazda 2 hatchback. Here, the same steering wheel, the same instruments, the same front panel with three round wheels of the ventilation system and the screen of the multimedia system MZD Connect new generation above the center console. The glazing of the cabin is kept to a minimum, but this did not affect the visibility, it is still at a high level. The quality of the materials used is an order of magnitude better than that adopted in this class.
The combination of soft-touch plastic and soft materials creates a simple, and at the same time modern interior. On the spaciousness of the cabin we are not talking. In front, everything is good enough for two passengers, but behind here is cramped. To the layout of the internal space of the crossover, the Japanese approached very carefully. For example, the back row of seats is located slightly above the front, and the seats are shifted to the center, which should improve visibility from the back row.
As additional options, the Mazda CX-3 can be equipped with i-Activsense security systems, leather trim, projection display, dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, keyless access, panoramic sunroof and other features. The trunk of the Mazda CX 3, of course, is also compact. The volume of the luggage compartment with the standard position of the backs of the back row is 365 liters. In addition, the trunk is high, but access to it is very limited. There is no opportunity to get a flat cargo platform, although the back seat is folded in parts. The lack of functionality of the Mazda CX-3 is more than compensated for the dynamics and controllability.
This is the strategy chosen by the manufacturer. A proven and reliable two-liter atmospheric inline four-cylinder engine is installed on the crossover, familiar to us from other products in the company's model lineup and having at its disposal 150 hp. The six-speed automatic “Skyactiv-Drive” works in tandem with the motor. He has a Sport mode in which he readily shifts to downshift with active driving. He can even keep the momentum to the cutoff. The drive is either front or plug-in to choose from.
The CX-3 front-wheel drive model should consume about 8.1 liters per 100 km of the city and 6.72 liters on the highway. A model with all-wheel drive will consume a little more - 8.7 and 7.32 liters per 100 km, respectively. In Europe, the choice of modifications is wider. In addition to the Skyactiv-G 2.0 engine, the Skyactiv-D 1.5 diesel is available to the Old World. In addition, there are two transmissions at the disposal of Europeans - a six-speed “mechanic” and a 6-band “automatic” Skyactiv-Drive, which received a different torque converter and a number of other improvements.
Unlike other members of the Skyactiv generation, the CX-3 received a different suspension geometry. The front suspension of MacPherson as a whole has not changed much, except that it has become more compact. But the rear suspension is very different, because instead of a multi-link system here used a torsion beam. But since we are talking about Mazda, the use of more archaic elements did not adversely affect the driving performance of the car, and the CX-3 copes with the turns. Body rolls are minimal, as is the nod during a sharp slowdown. The brakes on all wheels are set disc, and the rack and pinion steering mechanism received as an assistant electric power.
The first model received the Japanese - in the spring of 2015, in the summer - the Americans. In Russia, the car will appear at the end of 2015.
