DRIVE SOUTH AFRICA: Mazda CX-3 reviewed by the youngest car critic
We’re stepping up our female-driven motoring content with a new addition to our team, meet India (our seven year old car critic)
She’s been fascinated with cars from the tender age of four – the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree 😊
We took the Mazda CX-3 Hikari for a spin to gauge her reaction.
Madza will be glad to know it got her nod of approval – she is a tough critic to please. There are definitely a few kinks you can’t ignore though.
It’s women’s month and the rare species of women in motoring is not lost on us – which makes this video that much more special.
Mazda has made some dynamic moves in the last decade and the CX-3 is one of them. This is their littlest offering – it’s nippy and fun with superior styling to match. The introduction of the Hikari derivative means there’s a top of the range option to save you the hassle of choice.
India’s first thoughts on the car is that it was too small, but she loved the aesthetics of the suede touch trimming on the dash, and the touchscreen which she can never keep her hands off. It was a bit tricky to use though, sometimes the touchscreen switched off and we had to use the dials instead.
Her tiny hands also finds hidden cupholders and her inquisitive mind reveals parts of the car I wouldn’t normally fidget with. She’s a perfect side-kick,
By her measure the small cluster is suited for a smaller driver, AKA her but she’ll have to wait 10 more years to find out if that’s true.
The area in the driver’s seat seems larger because the cluster is situated deeper into the dash. This might also just be an optical illusion because of where it’s sitting. The round dial speedometer is now in digital format. I guess it’s a matter of preference but my older bones much prefer a dial. The heads up display not only reflects the speed you are traveling at but also the speed zone which is a nifty feature.
Space is a factor worth considering.The roof is low and the cabin space unforgiving making it well-suited for a young couple or business person.
- 0 – 100 in 9.5 seconds
- Fuel consumption – 6.7 litres per 100kms
- Engine: 2 liter 4 cylindre petrol
- Power – 115 kW Torque – 206 Newton metres
- Price: R509 300
What we love about the Mazda CX-3 Hikari spec:
– The upscale cabin with high-end features
– The fantastic safety features
– The firm suspension which allows for great road handling
– The height clearance for dusty travels.
What we’re not too fond of:
– Definitely the lack of space in the boot and in the cabin
– The jarring loud sound of lane departure (although we did find a way to change it later)
– The high rev sound when the car changes gears
– The digital speedometer.
At the price of R509 300 it is a nippy machine for local runs with great fuel consumption.
Features:
– 0 – 100 in 9.5 seconds
– Fuel consumption – 6.7 litres per 100kms
– Engine: 2 liter 4 cylindre petrol
– Power – 115 kW Torque – 206 Newton metres
– 7-speaker Bose audio system
– reverse-view camera
– front/rear parking sensors
– leather trim
– sunroof
– head-up display
– forward collision warning
– automatic emergency braking
– night vision with pedestrian detection
– 8-inch touchscreen infotainment
– Navigation system
– Fully-functional steering wheel
– Cruise control