Video Mazda CX 3 Review | Auto Expert John Cadogan | Australia

Full report: http://autoexpert.com.au/mazda-cx-3

The Mazda CX-3 is a kind of thermobaric bomb - a direct hit into the small SUV segment.

Suzuki, Holden, Subaru and Nissan must be unreservedly thrilled to see the Mazda CX-3 enter the market, designed to seduce 12,000 buyers every year away from the the Suzuki S-Cross, the Holden Trax, the Subaru XV and the Nissan Qashqai.

The Mazda CX-3 features all the SKYACTIV fuel-saving stuff from Mazda2, Mazda3, Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5. Mazda has done an outstanding job on technology and fuel efficiency since the Global Financial Crisis, and they’ve done it while many other leading carmakers have been asleep at the wheel.

The biggest difference between the Mazda2, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda CX-5 is the filthy lucre you’ll need to acquire one. If you can squeeze into a Mazda CX-3 instead of a Mazda CX-5 you’ll save between $7000-$13,000. If you step up from a Mazda2 to a Mazda CX-3, that’s gunna cost you between $5000-$16,000 more. The Mazda CX-3 is pretty much line-ball on pricing against Mazda3, even though it’s actually the Mazda CX-5 that shares more common ground mechanically with the Mazda3.

There are two engines: a 2.0-litre petrol and a 1.5-litre diesel. As you’d expect, more peak power from the petrol, but more low-rpm power from the diesel. No surprises there. A Mazda CX-3 with a 2.0-litre petrol engine is going to be quicker in a straight line than a Mazda CX-5 - even with the 2.5. The baby brother a better peak power-to-weight ratio. But the diesel domain is different - 56 per cent more low-rpm power for the Mazda CX-5's 2.2, in line with its additional displacement.

There are four model grades. From poverty to opulence: CX-3 Neo, CX-3 Maxx, CX-3 sTouring and CX-3 Akari.

There are front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive CX-3s. The fine print in the CX-3 KODO ‘Soul of Motion’ spirit of oneness corporate wanking pre-nup agreement says: No all-wheel drive in the entry-level Neo, and no diesel in the Neo. You can have front drive across the whole range in petrol, but front drive is only available with diesel in the Maxx. All-wheel drive petrol is on offer in Maxx, sTouring and Akari, but all-wheel drive diesel is in sTouring and Akari only. The petrol comes with either a six-speed manual or six-speed auto, but the manual is front-drive only. The auto is $2000 - and the diesel is a $2400 extra. Diesels are all automatic. And the auto is a conventional planetary gearbox - not a CVT or the even more hateful and potentially problematic dual-clutch transmission.

The Mazda CX-3 is not perfect, but don’t forget this is a very impressive compact SUV. Whatever else you might be considering, make sure you test drive the Mazda CX-3. Mazda is way ahead of most competing brands, and if I were you, I’d be looking very hard at the all-wheel-drive, petrol Mazda CX-3 Maxx. That vehicle is just sensational value, for under 30 grand.