2016 Mazda CX-3 tops in Car and Driver Comparison Testing

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 small crossover went on sale just this month, and already it has beaten the pants off the competition. At least in Car and Driver’s opinion. In the September issue (pages 87-97), Car and Driver meticulously compares the Chevy Trax LT, Honda HR-V EX-L, Fiat 500 X Easy, Jeep Renegade Latitude, and the Mazda CX-3. In the end, the CX-3 was the hands-down winner. The CX-3 was first in 12 of the 22 rating categories. Most importantly, the Mazda CX-3 wins the “Fun to Drive” category, while also having the best fuel economy in the test.

The Mazda CX-3 didn’t do well in the rear seat and cargo area categories. Of course, if those are important to you as a buyer, perhaps the larger, but still compact, Mazda CX-5 would be a more logical choice? The Mazda CX-3 also didn’t have any “Rebates” so it could not win that category.

Car and Driver found that the CX-3 had it where it counts. The CX-3 was tops in not just the subjective opinion of the testers. The CX-3 was the car with the highest performance in almost every measured instrument test. One important area that Car and Driver does not have a category for is safety. The folks there focus more on handling, speed, that sort of thing regardless of the car’s mission. However, we will tell you that the writers here at Torque News do care about safety. The CX-3 will have advanced forward collision prevention available. That will make it eligible for the IIHS, top safety ranking, the Top Safety Pick Plus. Honda has bowed out of that contest and will not even offer any form of forward collision prevention.

The Car and Driver September issue is on news-stands now (it is about 3 weeks into its month) and you can read the full, ten-page comparison there, or wait for the abbreviated on-line version which will be published soon.