Skip advert
Advertisement

Mazda CX-3 2.0 auto 2015 review

We see if Mazda's sharp CX-3 crossover loses its sparkle with an auto box

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Find your Mazda CX-3
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
Hassle-free way to a brand new car
Or are you looking to sell your car?
9/10 sellers got the price they expected
Advertisement

There’s no doubt that the CX-3 is better with the slick manual gearbox, because at its core it’s a sporty car to drive. However, if you need an automatic, the £1,200 torque converter unit does its job admirably. There are no efficiency penalties with the auto box, either, which is a bonus. On top of that, the sharp looks and dynamic ability still make the CX-3 a very strong choice in this class.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Small cars with a sporty character tend to suit manual gearboxes better than automatics, purely because they bring an extra layer of driver involvement. So, given that Mazda’s new 2-based CX-3 is one of the sportier small SUVs, does the presence of a traditional automatic transmission blunt its dynamic edge?

Best crossovers

We’ve driven the six-speed manual CX-3 in petrol and diesel forms, and been impressed with this good-looking, efficient and fun-to-drive package. This is our first UK experience of the auto, a £1,200 extra, tested here in the 118bhp petrol 2.0-litre SE-L Nav model. 

Simplicity is what the CX-3 auto is all about. It has a traditional gearstick and two pedals, and steering wheel paddles are nowhere to be seen. It feels odd at first in the modern cabin ambience and low-slung driving position, but you soon get used to it. 

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Mazda CX-3 vs Nissan Juke & Renault Captur

Around town, the auto changes ratios smoothly, slurring low-speed upshifts and reacting quickly enough to sudden throttle inputs. The sharp throttle response of the regular CX-3 is carried over although, as with the manual version, you need to rev the naturally aspirated petrol unit harder than you might desire, which brings a slightly coarse engine note into the cabin.

Venture out of the city, and the sporty character of the CX-3 comes more to the fore, even in this auto version. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

Performance is pretty sprightly; the self-shifter takes nearly a second longer to get from 0-62mph on paper, but once in its stride it doesn’t feel remotely strangled in the real world. Handling is unaffected, with the CX-3 taking corners with real verve.

Body control is excellent for a small crossover, and although the larger 18-inch wheels add an underlying firmness to the ride it's never uncomfortable. The 16-inch alloys of the SE-L model are a better bet if you're after a smoother ride, but they do look a bit lost in the CX-3's wheelarches.

Knock the shifter over to manual mode and you can nudge it up and down to swap cogs. Unlike some autos it won’t intervene to change for you in manual mode, allowing you to hang on to a lower gear or chase the red line. Sport mode will keep hold of lower gears for brisker progress, although most of the time it just makes the engine noisier. 

Impressively for an auto, fuel economy and emissions are virtually identical to the manual version’s. Our example returned 42mpg over mixed town and motorway driving, which isn’t too far from the official claim of 48.7mpg. A CO2 output of 136g/km is about average for the class. 

There are better autos out there (the VW Group’s DSG box springs to mind), but in this class it’s undoubtedly better than the CVT in Honda’s HR-V. It's similarly priced to its Japanese rival, but neither is particularly good value when compared with the Renault Captur and Nissan Juke

Overall there's no doubt the CX-3’s blend of style, space, quality and driver appeal makes it a desirable proposition. A manual is more in-keeping with Mazda's philosophy, and you'll have to pay for the privilege, but it's worth it.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years
Upcoming Audi models - four-way image
News

Huge Audi new car blitz to bring us 9 models in 2 years

After a quiet few years, the German giant is gearing up for its biggest product onslaught to date
25 Mar 2024
Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power
Dacia Sandero - front
News

Posh new trim level for Dacia Sandero while the Sandero Stepway gets more power

Both the Sandero and Sandero Stepway ranges have been tweaked, gaining more safety features to meet the latest regulations
26 Mar 2024
Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay
Road tax documentation
News

Road tax set to rise in April: here’s how much more you’ll pay

Drivers with newer cars can expect to be paying roughly £10 more per year, a although the biggest gas guzzlers will fare the worst
26 Mar 2024