I admire that you appreciate cars at all prices, from lots of different makes. No snobbery at all and its one of the things that makes ST a joy to watch.
I've watched allot of reviews on the CX3. And surprisingly even though I know this car isn't really your thing, this review is the most fair and honest I've seen! Thanks Matt. Well played.
oh man oh man, fancy seeing this here in my feed. I was just at the Memphis Auto Show on Sunday, saw this thing, and immediately sent my wife a few pics of it. Now we want one BAD to replace her 96 Corolla with 278K miles that she's been driving since HIGH SCHOOL in the late 90's! Neither of us have bought a new car before. And I'm usually one who hates a car payment. But man, like Matt said it's got SO MUCH for the 24K-25K price!! The LED lighting package is my favorite feature. I've been something of an automotive lighting connoisseur over the years.
"Who cares about throttle response when there's just not much power behind the throttle?" That's when you need throttle response most. It provides the feeling of more power, and I'm sure everyone who buys it and enjoys driving will appreciate it.
stopped by a mazda dealership to check out the ND miata when they first came out and ended up falling in love with the cx3, purchased one used 3 or 4 years later and i have nothing but good things to say. i think you nailed the review, low on power but for the price they're a great option for a daily car. i am a biased mazda fan boy tho
Agree, but to me they have always driven very well. My wife has been a mazda can her whole life because she liked the way they steer and don't flop over in the corners. They are great to drive, our 2016 mazda6 GT is a blast with the paddles on a canyon road. Our mazdaspeed3 was just brilliant on track days and daily driving too.
+Raymond Newbill so true man....my family and I have only purchased Mazdas since 2000 (not including my brother's FD RX7, Precidia or my Camaro) and we loved them all....currently we have a 2010+ Mazda 6 V6, CX5, CX9 and Mazda 5. Great cars, IMO nothing in their classes compares as far as sportiness and driving dynamics go....and then there's the styling :D
Mazda has always been about balance. Their engines are underpowered so that they don't overpower the chassis, which is turned to for crisp, light-footed handling without any harsh ride penalties. I love the look of this car but I would've liked it better as a standard height Mazda 2. It's a shame that Americans won't buy a hatchback or a wagon without 100 lbs of plastic cladding and a lift kit.
I bought a 2014 Mazda2, but man, if I could have grabbedthe restyled newer model I would have loved to. Was super disappointed they weren't bringing it back to the US. That Scion iA just isn't as cool with the fish face & sedan format. Oh well. :(
I was working in Peru for a few weeks and saw the new Mazda2 in hatch and sedan form and thought, why the hell isn't this car sold in the US??? I think they are facing pressure from Ford since they sell its platform-mate Fiesta, which in sedan form looks rather goofy.
Also to give an idea of size, surprisingly this CX3 at 168 inches long is about 4 inches SHORTER than my 94-01 Acura Integra 2-door coupe or my wife's 96 Corolla (both 172 inches). Being able to fit in our garage is very important and I was very surprised at its relative small size and weight. 2800 lbs is only about 275 lbs heavier than my Integra which is amazing.
Glad to see matt appreciate Mazda for what it is. The brand has been very consistent on making good handling and good feeling cars. Some people just talk shit because they are not the fastest out there.
After watching this video a few times I made my choice in 2020 and I bought my 2017 "Wazda" cx3gt great little car. Good on gas ! Small enough to fit anywhere I live in LA parking sucks . 100000 miles later no issues what so ever. It does come with a hidden sport mode if you want a little more zoom zoom power .
+Greig300 has nothing to do with being busy and everything to do with the UK being the most expensive possible place in the world to travel from LA. I couldn't possibly film enough videos there that would make it worthwhile, which is too bad because I love visiting.
Listen for a few seconds with your eyes closed.....sounds like an econobox with a fart tube. Anyways, I love the way they're (Mazda) going with the looks and quality of the vehicles. But with this and the miata, the 'missing something' is (for me anyways) a minor increase in power that could be the deal MAKER for many people. Great episode as always, Keep em coming!
I like that they still use the torque converter automatic, I'm not a fan of dual clutch because of the few annoying things about them and reliability issues...another great thing is that with no turbo, it has one less thing to break.
Nice video. I will stick with my CX7. While not screaming fast, It is lowered 2 " and has some basic engine mods and a mild tune on the turbo 2.3 engine. Best part of the tune was eliminating most of the nanny restrictions Mazda put on the Turbo Engine. As I am 6'4" and 230lbs many of the newer cars and I do not get along. I just do not fit in them. You can relate I am sure. I do fit much better in the CX7 than in my Turbo Baja. Love the way it handles and stops. Now with the engine mods it goes fast enough for me and has the room inside for big dogs, kids and stuff the wife requires... I have had it since 2006 and am still loving it and do not see letting it go. Maybe a few more engine mods/hotter tune in the future. Thanks for the great car videos.
Lightweight, good chassis, brakes and steering. Underpowered and you have to flog it to have fun. So basically what you're saying is that is the 5 door, family version of a BRZ, with nicer interior amenities?
+Peder Hansen CX-5 AWD 2.5L (because the 2.0 version feels underpowered) would cost a lot more than a CX-3 AWD 2L. CX-3 weighs like 300-400 pounds less too. Price is a lot lower. It all depends.
Absolutely love Mazdas. Not a whole ton of power or torque but really light and great handling. I'm on my second Mazda and already looking forward to my third :)
I was really surprised by the CX-3. I took one for a test drive the other day and it was more fun than I thought it would be. I think Mazda could have made the 2.5 liter motor an option which has 184Hp and 185 lbft of torque. CX-3s or something like that. Another 40Hp would make this little pokey car a real blast for an every day driver. Matt hits it right on - the CX-3 is a great all around car that can be surprising fun in the twisties without getting you in serious danger (either too fast and crash or getting nailed by a cop).
+Nick S Yeah I just saw another review where they mentioned even fitting this 2.0 in the CX-3 required a different exhaust manifold to get it to fit. Figures the bigger 2.5 wouldn't fit which is too bad; +40Hp and torque would make this a killer option. Either way I think it's fun.
+Ryan II You can gain at least half of that power and torque with just a tune. Look up Orange Virus Tuning. These Skyactiv engines are seeing great gains with tunes.
If there were higher demand Mazda would put a manual in these which would be great I imagine. You can get the cx5 with one. I'll likely be opting for the cx5 with a manual for that exact reason.
FYI Matt, from what I have heard from other reviewers (not sure on the accuracy), the CX3 is a Crossover based on the defunct Mazda2 not the 3 hence the Subcompact size. ;-)
Mazda 2 isn't defunct. Just not being sold in the US anymore. It's still sold lots of places outside the US. I wonder what would happen if the did a Mazdaspeed 2 to compete with the Ford Festiva ST?
Its small - but it's meant to be - and part of a new segment of sub-compact SUV's. Fast becoming the leader when compared to the HR-V, Trax, and others. I like it, and I know - I'm biased
Really great video of the CX-3 from strictly a driver's point of view. I own a CX-3 Grand Touring model, which I love, and I can definitely agree on the need for a little more power for spirited driving.
My 2018 CX-3 has Corksport SRI, Remus Exhaust, Corksport springs, Hardrace rear sway bar, 17lbs OZ wheels, Pilot Sports, JBR catch can, and a 93+ OV tune. I would love to have Matt drive it too bad he's moved on to bigger things.
". . . I don't really call that a crossover. . . " shhh, don't tell them it's a wagon, if you tell them these cars aren't SUVs people will stop buying them. you see everybody secretly wants a wagon but here in america wagons have a negative connotation for some reason, so we're progressively making more and more wagon like SUV "crossovers".
Its basically just a TALL compact hatchback car. Think of a 1990's Honda civic hatchback, but taller. With NO CVT, and a regular geared automatic transmission, it is one of the few small tall hatchbacks that is not DOG-SLOW with an automatic (like the Honda HR-V is.)
Hey Matt, you ever think TST will get ahold of Larry's 964? Unless you've already reviewed it which could very well be the case because, well, I'm lazy and didn't really look.
I have genuinely been looking at these as a budget "keep me awake on the commute to work but still be useful when I'm calling in sick". My current 2013 V6 MT Accord is really annoying as a daily. I've been thinking about relegating it to show car use and weekend fun. My 2004 SVT Focus has been completely stripped and pretty much only used for track and can only carry two at this point. I've been wondering about this CX-3 AWD for a long time. Never really thought much about the current Mazda line up other than "wow, pretty". Then my fiance got a 2015 Mazda3 base model automatic and holy cow that car is a blast to drive in a way that makes me miss the stock SVT Focus. It handled extremely well on Ortega canyon with a few other legit "fun" cars, it was comfy AF, and got 40 something MPG to LA. Now that I learned that this CX-3 is certified okay it seems like a fun purchase. 2800 lbs CX-3 vs 2800 lbs SVT Focus. 146hp/146lb-ft CX-3 vs 149hp/134lb-ft SVT Focus AT AWD CX-3 vs MT FWD SVT Focus Fully Independent Suspension CX-3 vs Fully Independent Suspension SVT Focus 30+ MPG CX-3 vs ~20 MPG SVT Focus Great Interior CX-3 vs Recaro Seats SVT Focus Mazda Legendary Chassis Tuning CX-3 vs Legendary Platform SVT Focus ~11" Front Brakes CX-3 vs 11.8" Front Brakes SVT Focus While I know it's not going to be the buckets of fun that the SVT Focus has been over the years, it seems like it's spec sheet is closer to the Focus than I originally thought. Plus it isn't a 2000 era Focus. It looks like the CX-3 would be a fun to own, take it to the mountains for snowboarding and enjoy the trip there kind of car. Maybe it could even survive a track day or two but would be great for the commute there and back.
Another suprisingly fun and well sorted crossover is the Kia Sportage. An Uber driver i used had one and was a really neat package in and out. Sounded almost race car'ish too.
I think the problem with this car is that it's clearly designed for the Europe market where handling is needed more than power. I think it's well suited to the UK for example but for the US market it isn't really even going to make a dent in the car market
I believe that Mazda has the torque converter lock itself out at higher speeds. They started this with the Mazda6 so its actually a lot better than most auto's with the paddles.
+jaynen Yeah I've been reading their sites for the SkyActiv auto transmissions and they really maximized the threshold at which the torque converter is locked out, and I think they even use two clutch packs for even and odd gears like DCTs do. I love a good manual but the autos that come in Mazdas these days are compelling.
I don't quite get why Matt keeps emphasizing that the car has little power. It's a family car used for getting people from A to B. 150bhp is more than enough for that IMO. I don't know about the US, but here in Europe a lot of cars in that price range have between 90-120bhp, diesel cars in particular. Smaller city cars go all the way down to 60bhp.
+525Roger Here in the EU cars with that small power are in that price range because of the retarded socialist policies that require taxes, so they take money from people that can afford a more powerful car. He keeps saying it has little power because 150HP is nothing, it actually wouldnt matter that its nothing if stupid little kids wouldnt drive it like theyre in a Ferrari.
+525Roger yeah 150 hp is enough if you've never driven anything with real power. If you've driven a whole bunch of cars in your life with real power, (or, ahem, own a Fiesta ST with the same price tag that makes nearly 100 HP more than this), 150 HP feels slow.
Call it what you want, Matt, but this CX-3, like the Juke, HRV, Renegade etc. are all sub-compact SUV's. A Mazda2 would be a small car, this is an SUV version of the Mazda2 like a CX-5 is an SUV version of the Mazda3 and the CX-9 is a version of the Mazda6.
A juke, renegade, or HRV is noticeably bigger than the CX3. The CX3 stands less than 3 inches taller than our Fiesta. It may look like a CUV in photos, but this is a compact car on slightly oversized tires with body cladding.
+Brandon Friesen I would agree it's part of the mini-suv segment, something similar to what Chevy, Buick and a few others offer. Regardless on how you classify if, it's a neat little vehicle, not something I would want, but for the price it's pretty decent.
TheSmokingTire I worked for Mazda up until 2 months ago. It's a sub compact. That's the class Mazda even said it competes in, that's the class Motortrend and Car and Driver classify it as, and that's the class the EPA classifies it as. The Juke, HRV etc are all in the same segment. Trust me, I spent 1 straight week of training for this stuff, I know what I'm saying.
+Brandon Friesen I do not listen to manufacturers when it comes to classifying cars. I couldn't give less of a fuck what they call it or what they think we should call it. I call cars what they are based on common sense, excluding buzzwords or employee training programs. Mercedes calls the CLS a coupe, and it's not a fucking coupe because it has four doors. Ditto the 6-series "Gran Coupe" from BMW, which is also, not a coupe. Mazda can call this thing whatever it wants, but when the seat height is about at my knees and I have to duck to get in the thing, that's not a crossover, or a compact SUV it's a hatchback.
Always had a soft spot for Mazda since my 1989 '121 LS Suntop' I had when I was about 13 to learn to drive/destroy on the farm. It was a well spec'd 1.3 with a good handbrake and an electric sunroof which went front to back. Needless so say they make much better cars these days.
+xkrnxboix For about the same money you can get a Mazda3 which has about the same or better interior space and cargo room, has the option for a 2.5L engine with considerably more power, and the manual transmission. You get this car if you want a tall driving position and AWD, basically.
+zxbc That's definitely something to think about. Might be better to upgrade to a CX-5 if you want more room also. I wonder what are ground clearance of the CX-3 is compared to the Mazda3.
+Jeff K Of course I cross shopped the mazda 3 hatchback and the GTI and there is just no comparison when it comes to interior, handling, and performance. The mazda looses in every category including price if you get the sporty 2.5L version, still a nice car though.
Hey Matt there is a tuner called orangevirustuning and they tuned my 2014 mazda 6 for 91 octane. I got 30whp and 30 lbs of torque! with the 2.0l in this car they can do the samething and raise the rev limiter to 7500rpm! the tune really wakes up this engine and with something that has a 13:1 compression you would think they would get more power stock. with a tune its a totally different car
+TheSmokingTire if you drive it without knowing theres a tune its the same if not better, but if you drive it like you stole it theres a noticeable loss in fuel consumption, but then again I doubt someone drives 10\10 all the time. if you have the time check out some of the videos I posted. my mazda 6 went from 15.7 1/4 mile @ 87mph to 14.9 @ 92mph on winter tires! 1.99 60ft time after the tune
hey Matt would you recommend this for a young guy that has 25k to purchase as a gateway into liking cars? I'm trying to convince my friend this would be a good car for him. Also, if this is the skyactiv-g how come it makes less than the 2.0 in the Miata?🤔
I wonder how hard would it be to transplant the Mazdaspeed3's engine package into the 4wd version of this? Lower it and you'd have a Mazda version of the Subaru WRX wagon. With a nicer interior package. The downside would be that awesome transmission probably couldn't take more power than the current engine produces now.
Hey Matt have you ever done a rx8 review or driven one? I've been wanting one for awhile now and it might be my next car. I'd like your feedback on it though, thanks!
24 Grand for a car that loaded is great. I've driven my friends Mazda 3 Grand Touring, and it almost feels like a luxury car. Mazda definitely punches above its weight class. I bet the CX-9 will give the luxury SUV establishment a run for its money.
+YakoffShmirnoff And on top of that, the new CX-9 will bring with it the first turbocharged Skyactiv engine. 2.5L turbo with 250hp and 300lb/ft of torque.
2016 Mazda CX-3 or 2016 Subaru Crosstrek... I've been looking into the crostrek for a few months, still haven't had the time to go test drive, but I think it's going to be the one...
I'm due for tires on my 2016 mazda cx 3 grand touring. Aside from the Yokohama tires(which are pricey) what other brand tires to you recomend(economic)??
+MrSlowestD16 I drive a 2007 ford focus zx3 se 3 door hatchback, I would love to buy a new focus or fiesta but ford only sells 3 door models in Europe now. I will have to get over it eventually unless I want a foreign car, being a ford guy my whole life that is unlikely.
+Max Spoon best thing to do is to go on a test drive cars you're interested in. Definitely check out the Focus ST or VW GTI if you want a more driver oriented hatch with plenty of power for the everyday driver. If you're looking for something more economical, the Mazda 3 and the VW Golf are both great options!
I was kinda disappointed to see this lil guy. . BUT, that was a damn good review. I was kinda routing for it by the end. can we get a fire breathing Hennessy Venom next plz? I'm sure everyone would
as a soon to be graduate needing a small car. this car was on my list, and ranked pretty high for a cheap, reliable, economical, nice looking, "fun" daily driver. but it misses one HUGE mark for me which I am surprised being a Mazda. No manual transmission. Definitely a downer especially since most of all cars Mazda's lineup are available in a manual. The CX-5 is but this isn't? Doesn't make sense to me
+TheMainMan318 The 3 and the 6 were the same way at first though. There's a chance a manual could be offered on this still. But, like Matt said, the Skyactiv-Drive auto transmissions really are the best torque converter based autos on the market. I'm a manual snob, and I'd be content with daily driving one of these autos.
yeah you're right i guess its nice for it to have a really nice auto, but still for me. with something that has so little power and mazdas spirited driving focus it would be a nice little car i think to have in a manual.
![[UA] NAVI vs MOUZ | BO5 | IEM Rio 2024](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/CMBYk0cbGoA/mqdefault.jpg)
You should do more of these reviews with "normal" cars. This one was amazing, good job
I admire that you appreciate cars at all prices, from lots of different makes. No snobbery at all and its one of the things that makes ST a joy to watch.
I've watched allot of reviews on the CX3. And surprisingly even though I know this car isn't really your thing, this review is the most fair and honest I've seen! Thanks Matt. Well played.
Mazda is really trying here, I give props.
are they?
oh man oh man, fancy seeing this here in my feed. I was just at the Memphis Auto Show on Sunday, saw this thing, and immediately sent my wife a few pics of it. Now we want one BAD to replace her 96 Corolla with 278K miles that she's been driving since HIGH SCHOOL in the late 90's! Neither of us have bought a new car before. And I'm usually one who hates a car payment. But man, like Matt said it's got SO MUCH for the 24K-25K price!! The LED lighting package is my favorite feature. I've been something of an automotive lighting connoisseur over the years.
"Who cares about throttle response when there's just not much power behind the throttle?"
That's when you need throttle response most. It provides the feeling of more power, and I'm sure everyone who buys it and enjoys driving will appreciate it.
stopped by a mazda dealership to check out the ND miata when they first came out and ended up falling in love with the cx3, purchased one used 3 or 4 years later and i have nothing but good things to say. i think you nailed the review, low on power but for the price they're a great option for a daily car. i am a biased mazda fan boy tho
Mazda drive so well these days
Agree, but to me they have always driven very well. My wife has been a mazda can her whole life because she liked the way they steer and don't flop over in the corners. They are great to drive, our 2016 mazda6 GT is a blast with the paddles on a canyon road. Our mazdaspeed3 was just brilliant on track days and daily driving too.
+Raymond Newbill so true man....my family and I have only purchased Mazdas since 2000 (not including my brother's FD RX7, Precidia or my Camaro) and we loved them all....currently we have a 2010+ Mazda 6 V6, CX5, CX9 and Mazda 5. Great cars, IMO nothing in their classes compares as far as sportiness and driving dynamics go....and then there's the styling :D
+Ian Townsend I remember my -99 626 that i felt more comfortable in than in many new cars that have stability control etc.
+Raymond Newbill Mazda 6 what a beautiful car & so comfortable. My dads got a Mazda 3 he's on his 3 rd one & I'm looking into getting a new Mx5
+Towel1e Like I said in a different reply, my dads had 3 Mazda 3s they also had a 626 back in the late 80s
Only 2800 pounds? Go Mazda.
It actually sounds good! Very impressed by this thing
Mazda has always been about balance. Their engines are underpowered so that they don't overpower the chassis, which is turned to for crisp, light-footed handling without any harsh ride penalties. I love the look of this car but I would've liked it better as a standard height Mazda 2. It's a shame that Americans won't buy a hatchback or a wagon without 100 lbs of plastic cladding and a lift kit.
I bought a 2014 Mazda2, but man, if I could have grabbedthe restyled newer model I would have loved to. Was super disappointed they weren't bringing it back to the US. That Scion iA just isn't as cool with the fish face & sedan format. Oh well. :(
I was working in Peru for a few weeks and saw the new Mazda2 in hatch and sedan form and thought, why the hell isn't this car sold in the US??? I think they are facing pressure from Ford since they sell its platform-mate Fiesta, which in sedan form looks rather goofy.
lower the cx3 and you're good to go hahaha
Also to give an idea of size, surprisingly this CX3 at 168 inches long is about 4 inches SHORTER than my 94-01 Acura Integra 2-door coupe or my wife's 96 Corolla (both 172 inches). Being able to fit in our garage is very important and I was very surprised at its relative small size and weight. 2800 lbs is only about 275 lbs heavier than my Integra which is amazing.
Glad to see matt appreciate Mazda for what it is. The brand has been very consistent on making good handling and good feeling cars. Some people just talk shit because they are not the fastest out there.
I like that you showed more or the interior.
I enjoy an occasional regular car one take like this that's affordable for the masses. Keep them coming:)
After watching this video a few times I made my choice in 2020 and I bought my 2017 "Wazda" cx3gt great little car.
Good on gas ! Small enough to fit anywhere I live in LA parking sucks .
100000 miles later no issues what so ever. It does come with a hidden sport mode if you want a little more zoom zoom power .
We all know matts a busy guy... But one takes in the UK would be something I'm sure everyone would like to see one day.
+Greig300 has nothing to do with being busy and everything to do with the UK being the most expensive possible place in the world to travel from LA. I couldn't possibly film enough videos there that would make it worthwhile, which is too bad because I love visiting.
the paint on the mazda changes in sun..thats cool
You nailed it with the Mazda stuff...
Surprisingly good automatics paired up to loud, coarse, strained "skyactiv" engines.
they need a mazdaspeed version, i could see it being decently popular! also congrats on 500k i'm sure you'll hit that in the next day or so
Listen for a few seconds with your eyes closed.....sounds like an econobox with a fart tube.
Anyways, I love the way they're (Mazda) going with the looks and quality of the vehicles. But with this and the miata, the 'missing something' is (for me anyways) a minor increase in power that could be the deal MAKER for many people.
Great episode as always,
Keep em coming!
I think some Mazda's have looked great for years. Some more than others but generally they have always been fantastically styled Imo
I like that they still use the torque converter automatic, I'm not a fan of dual clutch because of the few annoying things about them and reliability issues...another great thing is that with no turbo, it has one less thing to break.
Nice video. I will stick with my CX7. While not screaming fast, It is lowered 2 " and has some basic engine mods and a mild tune on the turbo 2.3 engine. Best part of the tune was eliminating most of the nanny restrictions Mazda put on the Turbo Engine. As I am 6'4" and 230lbs many of the newer cars and I do not get along. I just do not fit in them. You can relate I am sure. I do fit much better in the CX7 than in my Turbo Baja. Love the way it handles and stops. Now with the engine mods it goes fast enough for me and has the room inside for big dogs, kids and stuff the wife requires... I have had it since 2006 and am still loving it and do not see letting it go. Maybe a few more engine mods/hotter tune in the future.
Thanks for the great car videos.
Congratulations on half a million subscribers!!!!!!!!
Lightweight, good chassis, brakes and steering. Underpowered and you have to flog it to have fun.
So basically what you're saying is that is the 5 door, family version of a BRZ, with nicer interior amenities?
+LordAthens Or a 5 door Miata with a roof LOL
i'm seriously considering one of these. 4wd though, as i live in finland. Gray with gray rims would be nice
i have never liked how the 5er looks for some reason. the seating position in it is pretty awkward too, feels like you're falling forward
+Peder Hansen CX-5 AWD 2.5L (because the 2.0 version feels underpowered) would cost a lot more than a CX-3 AWD 2L. CX-3 weighs like 300-400 pounds less too. Price is a lot lower. It all depends.
Did you get one? we have meteor grey with the 18 inch wheels, very nice
not yet! gonna work some more now in the summer and get me some money. thinking white and then wrap it matte grey
Absolutely love Mazdas. Not a whole ton of power or torque but really light and great handling. I'm on my second Mazda and already looking forward to my third :)
very cool car, mazdaspeed trim looks even sicker.
I was really surprised by the CX-3. I took one for a test drive the other day and it was more fun than I thought it would be. I think Mazda could have made the 2.5 liter motor an option which has 184Hp and 185 lbft of torque. CX-3s or something like that. Another 40Hp would make this little pokey car a real blast for an every day driver.
Matt hits it right on - the CX-3 is a great all around car that can be surprising fun in the twisties without getting you in serious danger (either too fast and crash or getting nailed by a cop).
+Nick S Yeah I just saw another review where they mentioned even fitting this 2.0 in the CX-3 required a different exhaust manifold to get it to fit. Figures the bigger 2.5 wouldn't fit which is too bad; +40Hp and torque would make this a killer option. Either way I think it's fun.
+Ryan II You can gain at least half of that power and torque with just a tune. Look up Orange Virus Tuning. These Skyactiv engines are seeing great gains with tunes.
i like your show. i get to watch nice car reviews as well as guess which beard style you will have each episode.
It seems like Mazda is the ultimate driving machine for its price
2800 pounds is very impressive for a new car
Best looking, best driving small crossover on the market IMHO..
I love to see those kind of videos. Very informative.
I would be sooo stoked to swap out the 2.0 for the 2.5 turbo in my 2016 cx3 sport,,, now that would be FUN... 👍
If there were higher demand Mazda would put a manual in these which would be great I imagine. You can get the cx5 with one. I'll likely be opting for the cx5 with a manual for that exact reason.
FYI Matt, from what I have heard from other reviewers (not sure on the accuracy), the CX3 is a Crossover based on the defunct Mazda2 not the 3 hence the Subcompact size. ;-)
Mazda 2 isn't defunct. Just not being sold in the US anymore. It's still sold lots of places outside the US. I wonder what would happen if the did a Mazdaspeed 2 to compete with the Ford Festiva ST?
Yeah my bad. I meant for the US Market. ;)
those seats look beautiful
Its small - but it's meant to be - and part of a new segment of sub-compact SUV's. Fast becoming the leader when compared to the HR-V, Trax, and others. I like it, and I know - I'm biased
This is a neat car but my fav crossover of all time was my 2003 Matrix XRS. 2800 lbs. 180hp and 8,000+ rpm 2zz.
Really great video of the CX-3 from strictly a driver's point of view. I own a CX-3 Grand Touring model, which I love, and I can definitely agree on the need for a little more power for spirited driving.
My 2018 CX-3 has Corksport SRI, Remus Exhaust, Corksport springs, Hardrace rear sway bar, 17lbs OZ wheels, Pilot Sports, JBR catch can, and a 93+ OV tune. I would love to have Matt drive it too bad he's moved on to bigger things.
". . . I don't really call that a crossover. . . " shhh, don't tell them it's a wagon, if you tell them these cars aren't SUVs people will stop buying them. you see everybody secretly wants a wagon but here in america wagons have a negative connotation for some reason, so we're progressively making more and more wagon like SUV "crossovers".
Oh so true. Hahaha my wife is that way. Been looking at older legacy or wrx wagons. In order for her to consider it we have to call it a hatch back
It's a cross-over in every other country except the one that has parking spaces that would fit tanks in their local super market.....
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Its basically just a TALL compact hatchback car. Think of a 1990's Honda civic hatchback, but taller. With NO CVT, and a regular geared automatic transmission, it is one of the few small tall hatchbacks that is not DOG-SLOW with an automatic (like the Honda HR-V is.)
Hey Matt, you ever think TST will get ahold of Larry's 964? Unless you've already reviewed it which could very well be the case because, well, I'm lazy and didn't really look.
CX-3 looks really good, I am beggining to see them in Europe and they are great for the city. Maybe the price should be a bit lower
I have genuinely been looking at these as a budget "keep me awake on the commute to work but still be useful when I'm calling in sick". My current 2013 V6 MT Accord is really annoying as a daily. I've been thinking about relegating it to show car use and weekend fun. My 2004 SVT Focus has been completely stripped and pretty much only used for track and can only carry two at this point. I've been wondering about this CX-3 AWD for a long time. Never really thought much about the current Mazda line up other than "wow, pretty". Then my fiance got a 2015 Mazda3 base model automatic and holy cow that car is a blast to drive in a way that makes me miss the stock SVT Focus. It handled extremely well on Ortega canyon with a few other legit "fun" cars, it was comfy AF, and got 40 something MPG to LA. Now that I learned that this CX-3 is certified okay it seems like a fun purchase.
2800 lbs CX-3 vs 2800 lbs SVT Focus.
146hp/146lb-ft CX-3 vs 149hp/134lb-ft SVT Focus
AT AWD CX-3 vs MT FWD SVT Focus
Fully Independent Suspension CX-3 vs Fully Independent Suspension SVT Focus
30+ MPG CX-3 vs ~20 MPG SVT Focus
Great Interior CX-3 vs Recaro Seats SVT Focus
Mazda Legendary Chassis Tuning CX-3 vs Legendary Platform SVT Focus
~11" Front Brakes CX-3 vs 11.8" Front Brakes SVT Focus
While I know it's not going to be the buckets of fun that the SVT Focus has been over the years, it seems like it's spec sheet is closer to the Focus than I originally thought. Plus it isn't a 2000 era Focus. It looks like the CX-3 would be a fun to own, take it to the mountains for snowboarding and enjoy the trip there kind of car. Maybe it could even survive a track day or two but would be great for the commute there and back.
It's a fun somewhat practical AWD hatchback that goes well with my Miata. I'm a happy camper with almost 3k so far.
Another suprisingly fun and well sorted crossover is the Kia Sportage. An Uber driver i used had one and was a really neat package in and out. Sounded almost race car'ish too.
I think the problem with this car is that it's clearly designed for the Europe market where handling is needed more than power. I think it's well suited to the UK for example but for the US market it isn't really even going to make a dent in the car market
When they sell it with the Mazdaspeed6 powertrain, I'll be interested. Snobbery aside, not too bad for a $24k compact people carrier.
I believe that Mazda has the torque converter lock itself out at higher speeds. They started this with the Mazda6 so its actually a lot better than most auto's with the paddles.
+jaynen Yeah I've been reading their sites for the SkyActiv auto transmissions and they really maximized the threshold at which the torque converter is locked out, and I think they even use two clutch packs for even and odd gears like DCTs do. I love a good manual but the autos that come in Mazdas these days are compelling.
I don't quite get why Matt keeps emphasizing that the car has little power. It's a family car used for getting people from A to B. 150bhp is more than enough for that IMO. I don't know about the US, but here in Europe a lot of cars in that price range have between 90-120bhp, diesel cars in particular. Smaller city cars go all the way down to 60bhp.
+525Roger Here in the EU cars with that small power are in that price range because of the retarded socialist policies that require taxes, so they take money from people that can afford a more powerful car. He keeps saying it has little power because 150HP is nothing, it actually wouldnt matter that its nothing if stupid little kids wouldnt drive it like theyre in a Ferrari.
+525Roger yeah 150 hp is enough if you've never driven anything with real power. If you've driven a whole bunch of cars in your life with real power, (or, ahem, own a Fiesta ST with the same price tag that makes nearly 100 HP more than this), 150 HP feels slow.
Matt.. Any new modified smart cars you can review? Live in Manhattan and unfortunately may need one of them.
Very detailed review. Excellent. Great Job!!
Call it what you want, Matt, but this CX-3, like the Juke, HRV, Renegade etc. are all sub-compact SUV's. A Mazda2 would be a small car, this is an SUV version of the Mazda2 like a CX-5 is an SUV version of the Mazda3 and the CX-9 is a version of the Mazda6.
A juke, renegade, or HRV is noticeably bigger than the CX3. The CX3 stands less than 3 inches taller than our Fiesta. It may look like a CUV in photos, but this is a compact car on slightly oversized tires with body cladding.
+Brandon Friesen I would agree it's part of the mini-suv segment, something similar to what Chevy, Buick and a few others offer. Regardless on how you classify if, it's a neat little vehicle, not something I would want, but for the price it's pretty decent.
TheSmokingTire I worked for Mazda up until 2 months ago. It's a sub compact. That's the class Mazda even said it competes in, that's the class Motortrend and Car and Driver classify it as, and that's the class the EPA classifies it as. The Juke, HRV etc are all in the same segment. Trust me, I spent 1 straight week of training for this stuff, I know what I'm saying.
***** Too bad I actually know what I'm talking about...got any proof otherwise? Because I have at least 10 solid sources to prove it.
+Brandon Friesen I do not listen to manufacturers when it comes to classifying cars. I couldn't give less of a fuck what they call it or what they think we should call it. I call cars what they are based on common sense, excluding buzzwords or employee training programs.
Mercedes calls the CLS a coupe, and it's not a fucking coupe because it has four doors. Ditto the 6-series "Gran Coupe" from BMW, which is also, not a coupe. Mazda can call this thing whatever it wants, but when the seat height is about at my knees and I have to duck to get in the thing, that's not a crossover, or a compact SUV it's a hatchback.
Always had a soft spot for Mazda since my 1989 '121 LS Suntop' I had when I was about 13 to learn to drive/destroy on the farm. It was a well spec'd 1.3 with a good handbrake and an electric sunroof which went front to back. Needless so say they make much better cars these days.
I thought the CX-3 was based on the Mazda2? Seems like a well thought out car that might be a fun daily.
+xkrnxboix
For about the same money you can get a Mazda3 which has about the same or better interior space and cargo room, has the option for a 2.5L engine with considerably more power, and the manual transmission. You get this car if you want a tall driving position and AWD, basically.
+zxbc That's definitely something to think about. Might be better to upgrade to a CX-5 if you want more room also. I wonder what are ground clearance of the CX-3 is compared to the Mazda3.
+zxbc
Yes you buy this car if you want the "image" of an SUV. The 3 hatchback is basically better in every way.
+Jeff K
Of course I cross shopped the mazda 3 hatchback and the GTI and there is just no comparison when it comes to interior, handling, and performance. The mazda looses in every category including price if you get the sporty 2.5L version, still a nice car though.
+xkrnxboix The CX-3 is based on a Mazda 2 platform.
Hey Matt there is a tuner called orangevirustuning and they tuned my 2014 mazda 6 for 91 octane. I got 30whp and 30 lbs of torque! with the 2.0l in this car they can do the samething and raise the rev limiter to 7500rpm! the tune really wakes up this engine and with something that has a 13:1 compression you would think they would get more power stock. with a tune its a totally different car
How's the fuel economy affected?
+TheSmokingTire From what I've seen, it's the same, if not better in some situations. It's been awhile since I've checked up on it though.
+TheSmokingTire if you drive it without knowing theres a tune its the same if not better, but if you drive it like you stole it theres a noticeable loss in fuel consumption, but then again I doubt someone drives 10\10 all the time. if you have the time check out some of the videos I posted. my mazda 6 went from 15.7 1/4 mile @ 87mph to 14.9 @ 92mph on winter tires! 1.99 60ft time after the tune
hey Matt would you recommend this for a young guy that has 25k to purchase as a gateway into liking cars? I'm trying to convince my friend this would be a good car for him. Also, if this is the skyactiv-g how come it makes less than the 2.0 in the Miata?🤔
I wonder how hard would it be to transplant the Mazdaspeed3's engine package into the 4wd version of this? Lower it and you'd have a Mazda version of the Subaru WRX wagon. With a nicer interior package. The downside would be that awesome transmission probably couldn't take more power than the current engine produces now.
Hey Matt have you ever done a rx8 review or driven one? I've been wanting one for awhile now and it might be my next car. I'd like your feedback on it though, thanks!
24 Grand for a car that loaded is great. I've driven my friends Mazda 3 Grand Touring, and it almost feels like a luxury car. Mazda definitely punches above its weight class. I bet the CX-9 will give the luxury SUV establishment a run for its money.
+YakoffShmirnoff And on top of that, the new CX-9 will bring with it the first turbocharged Skyactiv engine. 2.5L turbo with 250hp and 300lb/ft of torque.
2016 Mazda CX-3 or 2016 Subaru Crosstrek... I've been looking into the crostrek for a few months, still haven't had the time to go test drive, but I think it's going to be the one...
+Erick Morales Crosstrek is stuck with a CVT trans, whereas the CX-3 has a really nice automatic.
The weight is amazing, I DO wish they would put that 2.5 turbo motor that's in the cx9 in the cx3 though.
Its really great for the price, I really love mine.
I believe the heads up display takes has that awkward design because it's made to work with polarized glasses.
mazdas paint jobs are the best now...
i wonder how fast fun this car could be if it has that 2liter 4 cylinder from the 228i
Pretty amazing value
I love Mazda ... 2012 Mazdaspeed, and 2015 Mazda3 5 door.
Is there any chance the US will get the manual option? I'd love an AWD base model in stick.
good platform can't wait to see the mps mazda 3&6, heard they gonna make them awd 😎
when will you get your hands on a Hellcat Charger or Challenger for one of these one takes. Keep up the good work!
+DevPack I've already done a Hellcat Challenger one take.
yea i just searched and found it lol
I'm due for tires on my 2016 mazda cx 3 grand touring. Aside from the Yokohama tires(which are pricey) what other brand tires to you recomend(economic)??
Great Review, it would be cool to see you do more reviews of "everyday cars "
LONG LIVE MAZDA
Nice
Used to sell Mazdas. Amazing cars for the money.
How cool would a Sport Model be with a 6spd manual and wider/better tires. I would buy that for say... 26K?
If I'm ever in SoCal I'll have to bring you my Saab.
When are you gonna do a mazda3 hatchback
what would you recommend for a new 3 door hatchback? not that there is many on the market right now.
+Max Spoon I don't even know what's out there besides the Golf.
+Max Spoon Not quite 3 door, but I'd recommend the Focus or Fiesta ST. Talk about fun little vehicles with a good chunk of performance for the price!!
+Max Spoon Got an audi a1 for 22,000 AUD by haggling so maybe you can get it for the low too
dual clutch gearbox is amazing
+MrSlowestD16 I drive a 2007 ford focus zx3 se 3 door hatchback, I would love to buy a new focus or fiesta but ford only sells 3 door models in Europe now. I will have to get over it eventually unless I want a foreign car, being a ford guy my whole life that is unlikely.
+Max Spoon best thing to do is to go on a test drive cars you're interested in. Definitely check out the Focus ST or VW GTI if you want a more driver oriented hatch with plenty of power for the everyday driver. If you're looking for something more economical, the Mazda 3 and the VW Golf are both great options!
so what would this car become if you lower it? would it just be a slightly smaller 3?
You haven't seen Mini Countrymans that are lowered? Now hose things are confusing.
I wonder how the AWD version does... This was a FWD model correct?
Matt, when do you get the VIN for your Focus RS?
+DZEMAG I have no idea.
Matt whens the r32 review coming?
He had said as soon as he gets his plates from the DMV
Matt how much more power do think it needs if you were to modify it? :)
+agamemnom A tune alone would make this feel like a different vehicle.
Why are their so many winding roads? Why not go in a straight line?
I see a trike one-take somewhere in the future :D
can you review the mazda 3 2.5?
I was kinda disappointed to see this lil guy. . BUT, that was a damn good review. I was kinda routing for it by the end. can we get a fire breathing Hennessy Venom next plz? I'm sure everyone would
quick question how do u get to the snake
They need to make mazdaspeed versions of this and the cx-5
more power, Mazda
as a soon to be graduate needing a small car. this car was on my list, and ranked pretty high for a cheap, reliable, economical, nice looking, "fun" daily driver. but it misses one HUGE mark for me which I am surprised being a Mazda. No manual transmission. Definitely a downer especially since most of all cars Mazda's lineup are available in a manual.
The CX-5 is but this isn't? Doesn't make sense to me
+TheMainMan318 The 3 and the 6 were the same way at first though. There's a chance a manual could be offered on this still. But, like Matt said, the Skyactiv-Drive auto transmissions really are the best torque converter based autos on the market. I'm a manual snob, and I'd be content with daily driving one of these autos.
yeah you're right i guess its nice for it to have a really nice auto, but still for me. with something that has so little power and mazdas spirited driving focus it would be a nice little car i think to have in a manual.
this car doesn't get the 180hp/180tq motor? :(
damn 2800lbs for a modern car
this surprise only overweight merica and they overweight cars
I would swap the engine for a Mazdaspeed 3 engine and lower the suspension, ultimate practicality.