Tag Archives: cx-3
Revised Mazda CX-3 Gets Mechanical Upgrades
The facelift for the Mazda CX-3 focuses less on styling and cosmetics and more on the mechanical side of the upgrade. It gained minimum changes to its styling and interior, but more was done on the suspension and engine lineup.
As a rival to the Nissan Kicks, the Mazda CX-3 styling enhancements are very minimal: a touched-up grille and darker pillar trims are the most obvious change. Aside from that, nothing else seems to have been touched by the Japanese automaker. Inside, Mazda ditched the manual handbrake with an electrical item. It freed up space enough for the repositioned infotainment controls, a central armrest, and a cubby space beneath.
Making the front seats more supportive is more padding while the rear seats have a folding center armrest with cupholders. According to Mazda, there are other features such as a thicker roof lining, sound insulation in the doors, and revisions to the door sill trims and rear glazing.
The biggest change can be seen in the mechanical upgrades. Mazda overhauled the springs, dampers, and front anti-roll bar on the new CX-3. Together with a revised steering system, the 2018 CX-3, which was already a fun mini SUV to drive, will ride and handle better than its predecessor.
The engine lineup has gotten a bit of a shake. Though the petrol engines remain the same: a 2.0-liter unit that can produce 119 or 148 horsepower. But the recent adjustments to the pistons and injectors will improve the torque and fuel economy. The previous 1.5-liter diesel was replaced by a 1.8-liter unit, which now makes 113 horsepower, 10 horses more than the current model.
The diesel and the 119-horsepower petrol are paired with a front-wheel drive while the 148-horsepower is an all-wheel drive only.
The revised CX-3 is available starting August 31. The price for the base model is $24,484.46.
Prices Revealed For The 2019 Mazda CX-3 Small Crossover
The pricing for the 2019 Mazda CX-3 crossover has been released. The subcompact SUV will have a starting price of $21,365 when it arrives in dealerships later this month. That’s a $280 increase from the current model, including a $975 destination and handling fee.
Fuel Efficiency
Aside from the pricing, the company just released the EPA rating. The front-wheel-drive version gets 29 miles per gallon in the city and 34 on the highway for a combined 31 mpg. The all-wheel-drive version is rated at 27 mpg in the city, 32 on the highway and 29 combined. These are the exact ratings for the outgoing model. And here we are wondering about Mazda’s promised improved fuel economy.
Performance
During the New York Auto Show, we saw a glimpse of what’s to come in the 2019 Mazda CX-3 crossover. It would carry the same 2.0-liter Skyactiv four-cylinder that produces 148 horsepower and 146 pound-feet of torque. It will be mated with a six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift and sport modes.
The new model also gets Mazda’s G-Vectoring Control driving technology, as well as a sportier and retuned suspension and improvements, making the driving experience quieter and more refined. There’s also an electronic parking brake, a redesigned center console and armrest, additional storage space, and redesigned front seats and additional rear armrest with built-in cupholders.
Standard features include a new direct tire-pressure monitoring system and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, two USB ports, a rearview camera, hands-free Bluetooth calling and audio pairing capability, and the 7-inch Mazda Connect full-color infotainment and diagnostic display, controllable via voice command or control knob.
For an extra $1,100, you may also get the new Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package composed of safety technologies such as smart city braking support with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, radar cruise control with stop-and-go function, LED headlights and LED combination tail lights.
The Touring trim level adds 18-inch wheels and keyless entry while the top-level Grand Touring starts at $26,720 and $28,120 for front- and all-wheel-drive configurations, respectively.
Photos by: Road Show