The U.S. Isn’t the Only Place Excited About the New Small CUV—A View from Malaysia
Mazda CX-3 is the name rolling around in the mind of Malaysian auto enthusiasts at the moment. The car is primed to hit the shores of Malaysia with a strong zeal in early December, aiming to be the ultimate compact crossover SUV. The Mazda CX-3 can be surmised as a more rugged version of a traditional hatchback. The car has created a lot of buzz around European countries and now it is being welcomed with great enthusiasm to Malaysia.
The Mazda CX-3 gives several reasons to fall in love, with the compact coming out as an ideal vehicle for both driving around town and great outdoor escapades. The CX-3 is Mazda’s answer to handling, style and an affordable utility vehicle, maybe a new Chelsea tractor.
Well, you do need to shell out RM130K ($22,090 in the U.S.) to own one, so here are 5 things to know before buying the Mazda CX-3.
- It’s all new “Kodo Soul of Motion” design
The all-new Mazda CX-3 is inspired by Mazda’s “Kodo Soul of Motion” design, which looks like an animal leaping into action. The particular aerodynamics of the car enhances the CX-3 design with a powerful sense of energy that brings life to the road. The car sits high, owing to its 18-inch custom-designed diamond alloys. The Mazda CX-3 is a perfect amalgamation of styling cues, muscular design and a crossover SUV look.
- Considerably smaller on inside with aesthetic interiors
The Mazda CX-3 isn’t a car to haul around a large family, although it does offer seating for five people. The second row is more kid-friendly than adult-friendly for a long journey.
Apart from that, the Mazda CX-3 is a treat to drive on road owing to its intuitive comforts and well-judged ergonomics proffering best-driving pleasure. The CX-3 features a trendy cabin with three circular air vents and a minimalist center control stack and a big infotainment screen.
- Safe and secure on roads with nonpareil fuel efficiency
Mazda has done a great job to give budget-conscious buyers an access to high-end safety gear. Yes, the CX-3 is all about that, loaded with nearly all safety features available in a compact SUV. The car is built with ultra-high-tensile steel and has six airbags, ABS and traction control to help protect occupants during any active collision. The Skyactiv technologies of the car have indroduced weight reduction techniques allowing the car to offer astounding fuel economy (35 mpg in U.S. spec).
- Next-generation features on board make it a smart drive
The CX-3 marks the entry of a compact SUV with next generation features onboard. Mazda has designed the crossover by keeping the ergonomics in mind. The car has been crafted meticulously to ensure that the driver gets easy access to all the controls through a large eye-level central screen. This screen is brought alive by the MZD infotainment system, which proffers all the basic details about the car with a navigation system, along with infotainment technologies such as text-message reading and Pandora internet radio.
- Powerful and intelligent engine beneath
The Mazda CX-3 comes with a 2.0-liter Skyactiv gas engine that produces 146 hp at 6000 rpm. This engine may look mediocre, but the economy mode allows it deliver fuel efficiency of 35 mpg
highway (front-wheel-drive version; all-wheel-drive is 32 mpg) along with considerable acceleration — 0 to 62 mph in 8.1 seconds and a top speed of 118 mph. The CX-3 comes in Malaysia (and the U.S.) with a standard six-speed automatic gearbox with the manual and sport modes.
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This seems kinda weird to me… it’s like the looks of an SUV with the space of a car. Why not just get one or the other? I guess if you really like the look of SUVs but don’t like their size, this is perfect.
@David Acosta,
You have hit on the definition of a crossover vehicle (CUV in the automotive vernacular), looks and rides a little like an SUV but delivers fuel economy and performance more like a car. People don’t seem to be caught up in the eiher/or–they’re buying CUVs. –ed.
Wow! Thanks for such an informative article.