The CX-3 has decent body control and stays admirably flat in corners
New rival for the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur brings a new sense of maturity to the burgeoning small crossover market The Mazda CX-3 is the latest in a long line of potential alternatives to the Nissan Juke, as rival manufacturers continue to play a frantic game of catch-up to launch models in the burgeoning market for small crossovers.Mazda has been clever by linking the CX-3 to the recently launched 2 (although the new small SUV is taller and longer, and considerably more expensive), because this has allowed it to get the car to market relatively swiftly - more quickly, we feel obliged to point out, than any of the Volkswagen Group brands.In truth, the CX-3's asking price is a step above most of the baby crossover crowd. Even the cheapest edition of this car - a front-wheel-drive 2.0-litre petrol with 118bhp - will cost you £17,595, while the most expensive edition on paper is a four-wheel-drive 104bhp diesel automatic, at a wallet-shredding £24,695.This is not a cheap small car, then, and basic editions of the Juke and Renault's Captur are cheaper by several thousand pounds - although Mazda is presumably relying on solid residual values and appealing PCP finance deals, which account for the majority of retail sales at this area of the market anyway.Fact is, Mazda sees this car as much as a rival for the next generation of baby SUVs (for that, read VW Group products) as for the existing market - and to that end, the Japanese brand is trying hard to make sure that no CX-3 feels like an 'entry-level' edition.The lowest trim level, SE, brings air-con, a 7in touch-screen with DAB and Bluetooth, folding and heated side mirrors, and 16in alloy wheels. Stepping up even one level, to SE-L, adds climate control, rear parking sensors, heated seats and rain-sensing wipers.
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