The new MX-5 is a brilliant little car, nimble, light, quick; all the appeal of the original wrapped up in a package that meets modern requirements but has the soul of the original. But it doesn't really matter.
No, as good as the new ND-chassis Miata is, it's not going to save Mazda. It simply doesn't have the room to carry the company — and while many have fallen in love with the best-selling roadster ever made, we all have more practical needs to consider.
Thus, the need for a crossover. Yawn. Crossovers. Boring.
But wait. What's this new CX-3 thing? Is it . . . fun? The recipe is all wrong: front-wheel drive, four-cylinder, automatic transmission, and a needlessly jacked up suspension. It should be dull.
But here's the thing, this little lightly powered crossover manages to be more fun to drive than several so-called sports coupes. It's a Miata-with-a-backpack, and it just might be the saviour Mazda needs.
Design
First impressions are excellent. Mazda's new design language has already produced the great-looking Mazda6 sedan, and turned the stalwart Mazda3 into a sort of Japanese Alfa-Romeo. Here, it gives a compact crossover the sort of fresh and modern look the very first Mazda3 had when it hit showrooms in 2004.
The front is dominated by the shield-shaped corporate grille, and the jutting lower portion of the fascia gives the little CX-3 a bit of a growly character. LED daytime running lights bleed into the chrome surround of the grille, a cue perhaps cribbed from BMW.
The floating roof out back is a nice touch, and makes the CX-3 look even smaller than it is. The body lines are two overlapping swooping curves, and give the car a hunchy, just-about-to-pounce demeanour.
Base CX's get a standard 16-inch alloy, which could maybe benefit from a slightly better-looking pattern. The GT versions get an 18-inch which looks great, but will cost you more when its time to swap tires.
Environment
Apart from the iPad-glued-to-the-dash look of the infotainment, the look of the CX-3's interior exceeds pretty much anything in its class, and could go toe-to-toe with entry-level luxury like the Mercedes-Benz GLA. Little details, such as the colour accents throughout the cabin and the single horizontal air vent, give this little crossover an upscale feel.
Slide behind the wheel and Mazda's crossover feels very much a driver's car. Hands automatically grasp the wheel at the correct nine-and-three position, and the seat feels nicely bolstered. Rearward visibility isn't wonderful, but the side mirrors are large enough to handle the issue.
Adopting a more relaxed position, I rest my right elbow on . . . nothing. There's no armrest here, it's a dealer accessory.
Pretty as it is, the little Mazda has a few ergonomic quirks. The cupholders, for instance, are mounted almost exactly where your elbows go. Here, too, the CX-3 is just like its droptop cousin; the cupholders in that are an afterthought as well.
Smartphone storage is a bit more of a mixed bag, with a small tray up front that'll work for most folks, but is too small for larger phones. Still, dual USB outlets are handy.
Cabin space in the rear is quite small — if you're a young parent, stick with the CX-5. The trunk has a two-position floor, so is narrow but usefully sized.
Performance
Under its long hood, the CX-3 gets the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine as found in the Mazda3. Thanks to some packaging considerations, it makes a little less power: 146 horsepower and 146 foot-pounds of torque.
That's hardly about to set the world on fire, but paired with the quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission, the CX-3 feels sprightly off the line. As an urban runabout, it's got plenty of scoot. It sounds pretty good too.
On the highway, the main impression is that Mazda's really done a good job in controlling noise, vibration, and harshness. The CX-3 is a smooth cruiser, even with its short wheelbase. As a commuter, it'll do the job too.
But when this little trucklet really comes alive is on the weekend on a wriggly mountain backroad. It is a hoot, a dive-in-the-corners momentum machine that absolutely loves to dance.
Steering assist is electric, so there's not a ton of feel, but in all other respects, the CX-3 drives like a modern interpretation of the Protege5. Remember that useful little wagon? In the same way, this machine doesn't have big power, but it makes the most of it.
An automatic-equipped crossover that puts a grin on your face? You bet, and with plenty of grip and a faithfully composed chassis, the CX-3 is actually surprisingly quick through the corners. It eggs you on, a willing co-conspirator for backroad shenanigans.
Frankly, Mazda should immediately start figuring out how to turn this car into the next Mazdaspeed machine. Add some turbocharging pep and it could really put the hurt on higher-dollar machinery. As it is, it's a single-serving-sized barrel-of-laughs.
Features
Mazda's infotainment system, while not fully integrated into the dash, is actually very easy to use. There's a single rotary controller, BMW-style, and navigating through the menus is easy. Navigation is a dealer-installed accessory.
The entry level GC model starts at $20,690, while my FWD GS tester hit $24,195. The GT model will hover right around the $30,000 mark after freight and delivery. Fuel economy figures are a claimed 8.2 (litres/100 kilometres) city and 6.7 highway for the front-wheel drive, and 8.8 city and 7.3 highway for all-wheel drive. Observed mileage in mixed driving was right on the money.
Green light
Great looks, inside and out; sporty handling; smooth ride; good fuel economy.
Stop sign
Smallish interior; some ergonomic issues; could handle a little more power for highway passing.
The checkered flag
Most of the fun of a Miata, but with four doors and a trunk.
Competition
Honda HR-V ($20,690): More practical than the CX-3, but less fun to drive, the HR-V is the CX-3's direct rival, and you can expect it to trump the little Mazda in overall sales. The comparison is almost exactly the same as between that of the CX-5 and CR-V crossovers, where the former is zippy and enjoyable, and the latter is built for the day-to-day.
However, the CX-3 skews younger and is also a more stylish vehicle by far. The HR-V is essentially a crossoverized Honda Fit, and that's good, but for people who don't need a lot of back seat room, the CX-3 has the same kind of fresh curb appeal that made the original Mazda3 so successful.
